Peppermint Grove Beach, near Capel

Capel
Quiet township between Bunbury and Busselton
Located 197 km south of Perth, Capel lies between the main centres of Bunbury and Busselton and is situated on the Capel River away from the coast. The route from Capel to the beach at the Peppermint Grove Caravan Park (take Mangles Road off the Bussell Highway north of the town) is a pleasant winding country road and the 29 km of beachfront is typical of the South West area being a combination of clean white sands, clear water and dramatic dunes.

The first European to explore the Capel district was Lieutenant Bunbury who travelled up the Capel river in 1836. His report on the area included the observation that 'The land on both sides of the river is rich and fertile and well timbered with Red Gums. The stream is well adapted for the establishment of water mills and the body of water quite sufficient to turn several either for grinding or for sawing timber'.

The river was named by John Garrett Bussell after his cousin Capel Carter. Bussell was an original inhabitant of Augusta who moved north and settled along the Vasse River near Busselton. Initially few people took any notice of Bussell's nomenclature and both the town and the river were known as Coolingup. The name was not changed until 1899.

The first settler into the area was a Mr Child who arrived in 1843 and established the property known as Minninup on Mangles Road. Today Minninup Homestead is listed by the National Trust . It is a delightful rural mansion which is located at the end of the bitumen on Mangles Road. Built in 1848 this huge two-storey farmhouse (it is like an English farmhouse) was built from limestone which was quarried on the property. It has a wide ground floor verandah and a double attic. Although it has been modified over the years it still is a very impressive rural dwelling. It is not open to the public but can be seen from the road.

The development of the area occurred slowly through the nineteenth century. Settlers arrived and established a strong agricultural economy based on orchards and dairy farming. The South West Railway Line arrived in 1896 and the town's Road Board was established in 1907.

In recent times the area around Capel has been successfully mined for ilmenite, zircon, rutile and monazite. These mineral sands have significantly boosted the local economy.

Things to see:  

Minninup Homestead
Minninup Homestead is listed by the National Trust . It is a delightful rural mansion which is located at the end of the bitumen on Mangles Road. Built in 1848 this huge two–storey farmhouse (it is like an English farmhouse) was built from limestone which was quarried on the property. It has a wide ground floor verandah and a double attic. Although it has been modified over the years it still is a very impressive rural dwelling. It is not open to the public but can be seen from the road.

	Tourist Information
	Capel Tourist Information Centre Bubbling Billy Capel Dve Capel WA 6271 Telephone: (08) 9727 2666 Facsimile: (08) 9727 2666
	Hotels
	Capel Tavern Capel Dve Capel WA 6271 Telephone: (08) 9727 2036
	Caravan Parks
	Peppermint Grove Holiday Park Peppermint Grove Beach Capel WA 6271 Telephone: (08) 9727 2351 Rating: **
	Restaurants
	Bubbling Billy Restaurant, & Function Centre Bussell Hwy Capel WA 6271 Telephone: (08) 9727 2666