Kalgan, Western Australia

Kalgan is a small town in the Great Southern region of Western Australia.

Kalgan
Western Australia
The Lower Kalgan bridge at Kalgan from east bank
Kalgan is located in Western Australia
Kalgan
Kalgan
Coordinates34°56′53″S 118°0′46″E
Population840 (SAL 2021)[1]
Established1912
Postcode(s)6330
Elevation32 m (105 ft)
Area250 km2 (97 sq mi)
Location
  • 388 km (241 mi) south east of Perth
  • 17 km (11 mi) north east of Albany
  • 42 km (26 mi) south east of Mount Barker
LGA(s)City of Albany
State electorate(s)Albany
Federal division(s)O'Connor

The town is situated on the banks of the Kalgan River and was first known as Kalganup which means "place of first camp" or "place of many waters". Indigenous Australians used the area as a meeting place up to 19,000 years ago.[2] The name was first recorded in 1831, when explorer Alexander Collie charted the area.

Land was set aside for a townsite in 1837[3] and was sparsely settled, with approximately a dozen people living in the area in 1900.[4]

The town was gazetted in 1912 following land being opened up in the area.[3] The Upper Kalgan Hall was constructed in 1912 and became a focal point for the community. By 1913, the population was approximately 150 people.[4]

The Lower Kalgan Hall was constructed in 1954. Both the lower and Upper Halls are on the Heritage Council of Western Australia listed places.[5]

An independent school, Great Southern Grammar, was built along Oyster Harbour near where the Kalgan River discharges into the harbour. The school was established in 1999 and is the only school in Kalgan.

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Kalgan (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022. 
  2. "Albany Gateway – Kalgan Settlers' Association Inc." 2006. Archived from the original on 22 August 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2008.
  3. "History of country town names – K". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2008.
  4. "The Kalgan Hall". Albany Advertiser. Vol. XXIV, no. 3115. Western Australia. 1 January 1913. p. 3. Retrieved 25 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. "Lower Kalgan Hall". Heritage Council of Western Australia. 27 February 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2016.


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