Amelup: Windmill, walks and nature

Amelup: Mill history and landscape

Amelup offers several themes to consider when planning a trip: The Lily brings together windmill and railway-station architecture, while nearby Stirling Range National Park, walks and seasonal nature tours are also highlights. If you are looking for a hotel in Amelup, the specific activities can help you weigh up your interests and travel dates. In particular, consider the locations, seasonal dates and varying demands of the walks.

Windmill and railway station building at The Lily

The Lily’s Dutch Windmill is an authentic, masonry ground-sail windmill based on a 16th-century design. It is fully operational and produces high-quality stone-ground spelt flour. Milling is done with traditional, large Dutch millstones. This brings windmill construction and spelt processing together in one place.

The Lily’s grounds also include a reconstructed 1924 Federation-style railway station building from Gnowangerup. The dates given for the two structures refer to different things: for the windmill, the 16th century refers to its design, while the railway station building is dated 1924. Visitors interested in architecture will therefore find two distinct historical points of reference here.

Walks and planning your time

Stirling Range National Park is home to the only major mountain range in southern Western Australia. It rises to more than 1,000 metres above sea level and offers challenging walks. Stirling Range Retreat is next to the national park and provides good access to Bluff Knoll. Mount Trio Bush Camp and Caravan Park also borders the national park.

The Stirling Ridge Walk is an extreme, extended mountain hike. An overnight bivouac is usually required, and the route is intended for experienced, well-prepared hikers. This makes the hike’s duration and level of difficulty important factors in your planning. Another route mentioned is the Mabinup Creek Trail, which is accessible from Mount Trio Bush Camping and Caravan Park.

Seasonal nature tours

The Hidden Treasures Orchid and Wildflower Bus Tours depart daily at 9 am from the Stirling Range Retreat office. The seasonal period runs from 15 August to 31 October. The Dawn and Dusk Bird Walks depart from the same office daily at 8 am and 3 pm during September and October. The periods overlap in September and October, but the departure times differ. If you want to include a tour in your trip, check the dates for your preferred travel period.

The tours have different focuses: one features orchids and wildflowers in its name, while the other focuses on bird activity. One hundred percent of the fees for the Dawn and Dusk Bird Walks are donated to BirdLife Australia to help protect the habitats of threatened species. Taking part in these bird walks is therefore linked to a specific conservation purpose.

Bluff Knoll and cultural significance

Nearby Amelup, signage at the Eastern Lookout describes Bluff Knoll as culturally significant to the Noongar, the traditional Aboriginal owners of this region. It also identifies the mountain as a sacred place connected to a powerful ancestral being. This adds the cultural significance of Bluff Knoll to the Noongar to the nature and walking perspective.

For the broader travel overview: Shire of Gnowangerup.