Pingrup
The town of Pingrup was officially gazetted on May 9, 1924. It is a small agricultural based country town renowned for being a friendly, crime free and family oriented tourist destination.
Sightseeing
Lake Bryde
Situated approximately 35km north-west of Pingrup, Lake Bryde is an
ephemeral wetland that is part of a chain of lakes running from Pingrup to
Lake Grace.
This is a great spot for bird lovers, there being 23 recorded species of waterfowl in these wetlands. Historically Lake Bryde was used as a water source during times of drought and is now a venue for picnicking and water based recreation.
Shearer's Hand Piece
This giant-size replica stands out in all its glory on top of what locals
call the 'Shears Shed', encouraging visitors to investigate what it
represents.
At the height of the 1990s, shearers from around the State and the nation would come to Pingrup to pit their shearing skills against each other in regular competitions.
The shed is a perfect example of rural ingenuity and resourcefulness and a demonstration of the old adage 'waste not, want not'. Originally the CBH (Cooperative Bulk Handling) grain shed, when it was decommissioned the Kent Shire, local Lions Club and Pingrup community saw an opportunity to convert the shed into a Shearing Complex.
Competitions were held here every year up until 2001, and if you stand close enough you can still catch the lingering smell of past sheep and, perhaps, even the hard-working shearers.
Pink Lakes
These colourful lakes are part of what's called the Chinocup Lake System,
which runs in a north-south direction between Lake Grace and Pingrup. The
traveller may not be aware that the reason they are pink is due to a
microscopic salt-loving bacteria called Halo Bacteris that produces red
pigment. The lakes are part of an old river system.
For further information, please visit the Shire of Kent website or phone 08 9829 1051. Further contacts for places of Historical Interest - Pingrup Telecentre 9820 1101, Pingrup Roadhouse 9820 1086, Hilary Willcocks 9820 1053, Yvonne Featherstone 9820 1078 featherstone3@bigpond.com or Jenny Altham 9820 4014.
