Port Denison - WA

Port Denison is a large crayfishing town of 6500 residents located on the WA's Mid West coast, situated 4 km southwest of Dongara.

Port Denison was initially known as Irwin Port in 1866 due to its position near the mouth of the Irwin River. However, officially named and gazetted in 1867, it was renamed in honour of Sir William Denison, a Governor of Tasmania who in 1851 had visited Western Australia in connection with transportation of convicts.

The Denison/Dongara region had become, from the 1850's particularly important for the expansion of land for Perth's sheep graziers, who had run out of viable country. Following explorations by George Grey in 1839 and by the Gregory brothers in 1846 excellent grazing land was discovered between these twin towns and Geraldton to the north. As such this area is steeped in WA colonial history.

Denison, together with adjacent Dongara has a large range of services and accommodation options. This area is important for tourism and offers many recreational possibilities. Note that it easy easy to bypass Denison by continuing east from Dongara on the GNH to Perth (and vice versa) - however visitors who do so miss some great coastal scenery.