Boranup Gallery is the artistic heart of Boranup Forest, situated adjacent to the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. Karri forest dominates the valleys here and lines historic Caves Road, making  a truly enjoyable scenic drive. Pre-dominantly 120-year regrowth, the forest was originally milled during the late 1800s timber boom. But it is still impressive and holds a special place in the hearts of many locals and visitors alike.

Scenic pull-off areas along the road make for great photo opportunities.

The pale-barked Karri Trees (third tallest trees in the world) that reach heights of 60m or more. Boranup is an Aboriginal word that means “place of the male dingo” and the forest lies in the land of the Wadandi (people of the Wadan, the ocean spirit) one of the fourteen Nyungar language groups of Western Australia. Wadandi land extends from Bunbury to Augusta.

Visitors to Western Australia are often struck by the number of place names ending in “up” such as Cowaramup, Boyanup, Nannup, Yallingup and Balingup. These place names are the land’s original Aboriginal place names in Noongar language (‘up’ means ‘place of’.

White settler MC Davies was first granted land in the Boranup Forest in 1882 to establish timber mills. Given a 42 year lease, M.C. Davies established the Karridale Mill in 1884, becoming the most advanced saw mill in the colony. In 1891, a new steam mill was commissioned at Boranup, but was destroyed by fire a few years later.

Two thirds of the forest consists of Jarrah and Marri trees with the remainder being Karri.