Australind, Western Australia

Australind is a town in Western Australia's South West region, about 12 km northeast of Bunbury. It is part of the Shire of Harvey and had a population of 14,539 in 2016.

 History 
The area was originally home to the Wardandi people. Early European explorers, including Captain A.P. Jonk and Nicolas Baudin, visited the region in the 17th and 19th centuries. In 1840, the Western Australian Land Company purchased land with plans to establish an English-style village, naming it "Australind," a mix of Australia and India. The area struggled with poor soil and climate, causing the settlement to fail by 1875.

The first European to see the coast near Australind was Captain A. P. Jonk, who sailed past in the VOC ship Emeloort on 24 February 1658 while searching for the lost ship Vergulde Draeck. He didn’t land. A few months later, Captain J. P. Peereboom on the Elburg anchored near present-day Bunbury, met three Aboriginal people, and then returned to Batavia (now Jakarta) on 16 July 1658.

The town saw some growth after a bridge was built over the Brunswick River, but development slowed when the Perth-Bunbury railway was built in the 1890s. By the 1970s, Australind began growing as a suburban area, particularly after the opening of new schools and the construction of the Bunbury Golf Course in 1948.

 Geography 
Australind is bordered by the Collie River to the south, Leschenault Estuary to the west, and Brunswick River to the east. It includes estates like Galway Green and Clifton Park.

 Facilities 
The town has shopping centers, including Australind Village and Treendale Shopping Centre, and recreational facilities like the Bunbury Golf Club. There are also primary and secondary schools in the area.

 Transport 
Australind is served by a bus route from Bunbury, but the Transwa Australind rail service does not stop in the town.