For the people of Kojonup, these traditional country ways are just as relevant today as they were 160 years ago, when the first European settlers arrived in the area.

Well-equipped with facilities to cater for just about every sporting activity, Kojonup is the ideal location for an activity holiday.

A fully-equipped recreation complex in the town includes squash courts, bowling greens, a first class swimming pool and several turf ovals.

Kojonup Golf Course enjoys a reputation as one of the best provincial courses in Western Australia, and there is a well-equipped tennis club, with eight hard courts.

If spectator sports are more your scene, why not time your visit to coincide with the annual Wandecla Polo and Polocrosse Tournament or the Australia Day Picnic Races.

From the imposing granite outcrops in the hills to the valley pools fed by the many streams that run through the shire, Kojonup has a view to suit every taste.

If you want to escape the stresses of city living and relax amongst beautiful countryside lush with wildflowers and alive with wildlife, there can be few better places than Kojonup.

Take life at your own pace - stroll through the town’s flora and fauna sanctuary and admire the beautiful orchids, gum trees, wattles and banksia's.

Time your visit to coincide with the annual Wildflower Festival on the long weekend in September, and see Kojonup alive in a wash of colourful wildflowers.

Enjoy traditional Bush Tucker prepared for you by local Aborigines and then take a guided walk out into the bush.

Indulge in some peaceful bird-watching - whether you are an expert ornithologist or just a casual observer, you are bound to be rewarded by the sight of some of Kojonup’s many rare and beautiful birds, including Rainbow Bee-eaters, Peregrine Falcons and Fantailed Cuckoos.

For lovers of wildlife, a wide variety of marsupials still live in the open forest country, including kangaroos. Keen gardeners will find much to inspire them in Kojonup. Some half a dozen homes take part in the Australian Open Garden Scheme, opening their gardens to the public at various times throughout the year, particularly in the Spring and early Summer.

The Heritage Rose Group is particularly active in the area, and rose lovers will find some 150 varieties, including heritage varieties, throughout the region’s gardens.

Kojonup has a long and proud history, stretching back centuries to the days when nomadic Aborigines were first attracted to the area by the freshwater spring and abundance of game. Even the name Kojonup has a historic significance, referring to the “Kodja” or stone axe made by the Aborigines from the local stone of the area.

First settled by Europeans in 1837, Kojonup was a military outpost with its own Military Barracks, built in 1845. Today, the Barracks still stands on its original site and houses the Kojonup Pioneer Museum.

The museum contains many relics from the Kojonup of old, and tells the history of the town in pictures and text. A four roomed, stone structure, the Barracks are in near perfect condition and is one of the oldest military buildings in Western Australia.

The 1860’s and 1870’s were a period of growth and consolidation for Kojonup. The first school in the area was set up in 1863, and the town’s first Police Station was built in 1869. The first hotel licence was granted in 1868, and in 1871, the town came of age with the election of the first District Road Board. The appointment in 1865 of a mounted Police Constable marked the phasing out of the military presence at Kojonup. By the late 1860’s the military had left and the Barracks became a focus for community gatherings, much as it is today.

The town’s tourist centre is based in the Old Railway Station - a building which like much of the architecture in Kojonup reflects more than 160 years of settlement.

Many of the earliest buildings are still standing. Built in natural materials such as stone, mud bat, and wattle & daub, they are a living reminder of life in the town over a century ago.

More recent history is commemorated in a beautiful memorial to the young men of Kojonup who gave their lives in the World Wars. Located in the foyer of the Town Hall, this memorial has a beautiful leadlight ceiling surrounded by wood-panelled walls inscribed with the names of each of those who died. It is a beautiful and fitting testimony to a sad yet proud period in the long history of Kojonup.

Five star Farm Stay accommodation, three star Motel/Hotel, and a two & a half star caravan park, plus the beautifully restored Royal Hotel or The Cherry Tree Pool Campsite situated on the Carlecatup River all offer a friendly welcome to visitors.

In addition, many local people open their homes to visitors for Bed & Breakfast during the annual Wildflower Weekend.