Kendenup, Western Australia

Kendenup is a small town and locality in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, within the Shire of Plantagenet. It is known for its view of Porongurup Range and the Stirling Range. It is 345 kilometres (214 mi) south east of Perth and 22 kilometres (14 mi) north of Mount Barker. The Great Southern Railway (established 1889) passes through the town, being one of the original stations on the line. At the 2006 census, Kendenup had a population of 1,290.

The town was once the centre of a vast sheep station, and was, in the early years of the Western Australian colony, one of the largest farming enterprises so far established.

At the time of the first European discovery, the area was known to local Aboriginals as "Moor-ilup". "Kendenup" is another local indigenous word which was used to describe the area.

The upper reach of the Kalgan River runs nearby.

Alexander Collie led an expedition from King George's Sound (Albany) in April and May 1831 accompanied by the Noongar man Mokare. The expedition commenced by journeying up the Kalgan River and overland to the base of the Porongorups. Collie was granted 2,000 hectares (5,000 acres) in the Kendenup area having been satisfied with its agricultural potential.

Other early land grants in the district were made to:

In 1838, Captain John Hassell sailed from England en route to Van Diemen's Land in the Dawson, intending to settle on a 200-hectare (500-acre) grant on the Tamar River. Running low on water, he stopped at King George Sound in Albany where he met with the Government Resident, Sir Richard Spencer who persuaded him to consider acquiring land in the vicinity. Hassell ultimately purchased George Cheyne's Location 27 and after returning to Hobart and New South Wales, arrived back at Albany on 6 March 1840 in the China which he had chartered for the purpose. His stock included 800 sheep, 12 cattle and 10 horses from New South Wales which he walked overland to establish a homestead and farm which he called "Kendenup". Hassell, who was known widely as Captain Hassell, acquired further properties and by 1850 had expanded the operation to 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) freehold and 15,000 hectares (38,000 acres) leased.

Hassell's partner and brother-in-law was Frederick Boucher who had established the British and Australian Bank in London in 1838. The bank failed in 1841 and as Boucher's assets were tied in with the collapse, Hassell found himself having to work closely with the bank's trustees as partners. Lieutenant Peter Belches was appointed as the bank's trustees agent to realise on Boucher's assets.