Hiking and biking in the Murray Shire
Coming up on 7 September is the Dwellingup 100. This event, first held in 2009 has become Perth’s largest one-day mountain bike race, attracting some of Australia’s best riders as well as novices. It also incorporates the Mighty Jarrah Trail Run. Riders and runners who take on the challenge of the Dwellingup 100 get to experience the best single track and fire trail the region has to offer.
The Dwellingup 100 is not only for experienced mountain bikers and trail runners. Other distances are on offer to cater for all abilities from ages eight and upwards. The event offers four distance options for riders and three for runners (in the Mighty Jarrah Trail Run).
For more information, visit www.dwellingup100.com.au
Dwellingup, about an hour and a half from Perth was established as a timber mill town in the late 19th century and was rebuilt after the disastrous bushfire that destroyed most of its buildings in 1961. Set within beautiful jarrah and marri forests and water catchment areas, it offers some of the best walking and cycling trails in Western Australia.
Dwellingup is currently the focus of some significant strategic tourism product development including the redevelopment of the Dwellingup History and Visitor Information Centre into a National Trails Centre as a meeting place for all trail users. This is supported by the Australian Government’s Building Better Regions Fund, the State Government through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries – Sport and Recreation, Lotterywest, Tourism WA, Alcoa, Shire of Murray, Hotham Valley Tourist Railway and Dwellingup Community Association.
Dwellingup is one of ten town sites that the Bibbulmun Track (Western Australia’s world class, 1,000 km walk trail) passes through. It is also on the popular Munda Biddi mountain bike trail which begins in Mundaring and winds its way through beautiful country to Albany via Manjimup, Walpole and Denmark.
Image: Participation in this event and fundraising in support will raise funds for the organising charity, Muscular Dystrophy WA, which is working with the Shire of Murray to make it all happen. (Credit: Russ Baker)