Plantagenet’s cool climate, high rainfall and nutritious soil make it ideal for growing grapes. Local growers produce premium wines from well established and increasingly popular wineries. Preservative-free and organic wines are also produced in Plantagenet.

The Shire of Plantagenet is north of Albany and Denmark, and 350km south of Perth. The Shire takes in the towns of Mount Barker, Kendenup, Narrikup, Rocky Gully and Porongurup. Mount Barker is the commercial centre of the Shire and serves the agricultural industry, which is predominantly cattle and viticulture.

The Shire is home to the spectacular Porongurup Range, twenty kilometres east of Mount Barker. These ancient hills are surrounded by a lush and diverse environment, with abundant species of trees, shrubs, wildflowers, birds and other fauna.

With a population of 5,338 and a land area of 4,876 sq km, Plantagenet contributes $418.1 million of the Great Southern’s gross regional product. Agriculture and manufacturing are the main employers, along with jobs in healthcare and social assistance.

Plantagenet Statistics

5,338

POPULATION

4,876 Sq. Km

LAND AREA

$418.1 Million

GROSS REGIONAL PRODUCT

2,145

JOBS
Explore Plantagenet

Plantagenet

The Shire of Plantagenet is north of Albany and Denmark, and 350km south of Perth. The Shire takes in the towns of Mount Barker, Kendenup, Narrikup, Rocky Gully and Porongurup. Mount Barker is the commercial centre of the Shire and serves the agricultural industry, which is predominantly cattle and viticulture. Explore Regions
Primary Industries in Plantagenet

Primary Production

Broadacre farming and livestock are the backbone of the Great Southern economy. The regional economy also features plantation timber and associated products. Primary production feeds into the rest of the regional economy such as manufacturing and freight services.

Construction and Manufacturing

Steady construction activity takes place on domestic and commercial premises and in civil construction. Machinery manufacturers provide many agriculture-related products and a range of other items for industry and consumers.

Tourism

Internationally-recognised ecotourism assets and natural attractions in the Great Southern are unmatched in regional Western Australia for their scale, diversity and accessibility. Noongar cultural experiences, the built heritage of Western Australia’s oldest European settlement and award-winning contemporary facilities complement the attractions of the natural environment.

Wine and other beverages

The Great Southern wine region is the largest in mainland Australia, and encompasses the subregions of Albany, Denmark, Frankland River, Mount Barker and Porongurup. It produces 25 percent of Western Australia’s wine output.

Premium foods

Productive land and generally reliable growing conditions support premium food producers in the region. Wagyu beef, truffles, seafood, dairy products, organic foods, pantry products and more attract attention for their quality and provenance.

Screen production

Film production in the Great Southern jumped up a notch in 2016 with the production of Simon Baker’s Breath, based on the novel by Tim Winton. Breath was released in 2018, and kicked off a flurry of filmmaking.

Education and training

Public and independent schools serve families throughout the region. Technical and further education is available in Kinjarling / Albany and by extension elsewhere in the region. University courses are delivered at all levels. Tertiary education is supported by affordable student accommodation.

Retail and hospitality

Major retail stores, general shopping and specialty services provide a significant number of jobs in the region. The hospitality sector has a steady employment base with seasonal peaks.
Plantagenet Lifestyle
Mount Barker Murals, ASW
Mount Barker Murals, ASW
Plantagenet is mountain country. We are right in the middle of two mountain ranges, the Stirling Ranges, and the Porongurup, and there is something magic about that. Life is a little quieter out here being surrounded by National Park, but we have fantastic wineries at every turn, a burgeoning arts scene and a sense of community that makes me proud to call it my home.

Mount Barker

Resident, Shire of Plantagenet