Great Southern regional profile
Overview
The Great Southern region is located on the south coast of Western Australia, adjoining the Southern Ocean, where the coast extends for approximately 250 km. It is also bordered by the South West region on the west and extends 200 km north where it meets the Wheatbelt region. The total land area is 39,007 sq km (including offshore islands), representing approximately 1.5 per cent of the State's total area.
The historic port town of Albany, which is the State's oldest European settlement, has one of the best natural anchorages in the Southern Hemisphere and is the region's administrative centre. It is also the transport hub from where most of region's crops and livestock are shipped.
More information about the Great Southern region is available on the Great Southern Development Commission website.
Towns and local government
The major population centres in the Great Southern region are the towns of Albany, Katanning, Denmark, Mt Barker (Plantagenet), Kojonup and Gnowangerup.
|
Major centres |
Population by LGA (2023 ERP) |
Distance from Perth |
|
Albany |
40,949 |
409 km |
|
Katanning |
4,290 |
295 km |
|
Denmark |
6,618 |
414 km |
|
Kojonup |
1,967 |
255 km |
|
Gnowangerup |
1,269 |
256 km |
|
Mt Barker (Plantagenet) |
5,669 |
359 km |
|
Ravensthorpe |
2,277 |
526 km |
The population figures relate to Estimated Resident Population (ERP) in 2023 for the Local Government Areas (LGA). Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics ERP 2023.
The region consists of the following local government areas:
- City of Albany
- Shire of Broomehill-Tambellup
- Shire of Cranbrook
- Shire of Denmark
- Shire of Gnowangerup
- Shire of Jerramungup
- Shire of Katanning
- Shire of Kent
- Shire of Kojonup
- Shire of Plantagenet
- Shire of Ravensthorpe
- Shire of Wagin
- Shire of Woodanilling.
Building projects
Current projects
Completed projects
Health profiles
Please download the health profile for the Great Southern region from the Publications page.