Donnelly River

History

The town was named for the river which flows through it, which in turn was named by Governor James Stirling after Admiral Ross Donnelly, a friend of his wife's family and Rear Admiral of the Red. Although the town was officially called "Wheatley" the name Donnelly River or Donnelly River Village is more commonly used. Some previous residents and other locals also refer to the town as "The Donnelly". The Donnelly River site was first used as a timber mill by the Wheatley family in 1912 to cut cross arms and telegraph poles, but it closed after two years. In 1947, Bunnings made plans to build a new mill on the Wheatley site to work timber in new permit areas held by the company, with a steam engine purchased from Onkaparinga Woollen Mills in South Australia - Donnelly River became the only steam-driven mill in the South West, officially opening in 1951. The mill and town subsequently provided employment and family homes for a large community for nearly 30 years - many of these families have remained in the district. It was shut down in 1978 as part of a Forests Department policy to close less efficient mills; it is now heritage listed.

Most-observed species

• Australian Ringneck

  Barnardius zonarius (Shaw, 1805) · Aves
  1,151
• New Holland Honeyeater

  Phylidonyris novaehollandiae (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  1,120
• Australian Magpie

  Gymnorhina tibicen (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  1,031
• Red Wattlebird

  Anthochaera carunculata (Shaw, 1790) · Aves
  932
• Silver-eye

  Zosterops lateralis (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  790
• Gray Fantail

  Rhipidura albiscapa Gould, 1840 · Aves
  783
• Common Bronzewing

  Phaps chalcoptera (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  685
• Western Rosella

  Platycercus icterotis (Temminck & Kuhl, 1820) · Aves
  675

Most recent

• M 5.2 — 2018-11-08
  64 km SSW of Kojonup, Australia
• M 4.5 — 2018-10-12
  63 km SSW of Kojonup, Australia
• M 5.3 — 2018-09-16
  57 km E of Manjimup, Australia
• M 4.1 — 2009-04-08
  43 km SW of Kojonup, Australia
• M 2.7 — 2006-03-04
  9 km ESE of Donnybrook, Australia
• M 2.5 — 2002-02-18
  22 km SE of Collie, Australia