Torbay, Western Australia

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Torbay is a small township in the Great Southern region of Western Australia.[1] It is located at 35°01'S 117°38'E,[2] twentyfive kilometres west of Albany. There is a crater on Mars named after it.[3]

Industries in the area include dairy farming, beef cattle, some specialist horticulture and arts and crafts, along with rural businesses that service farmers (mechanics, lime supply, machinery and labour hire etc). There is a regular market at the Torbay Hall. Torbay has an active Bush Fire Brigade unit, located also by the Torbay Hall. Children in the area usually attend schools in Albany, travelling there on regular school bus routes. There is a postal mail service to the area, delivered from Albany directly to driveway mailboxes three times a week. The postcode for Torbay is 6330.

Politically, Torbay is within the City of Albany local government area. At state government level it is in the South West region and the Stirling electoral district[4]. Other localities in its immediate vicinity include Bornholm, Elleker, Redmond and Youngsiding.

The Torbay area is in the eastern fringe of the karri forest region, and several farms have notable blocks of remnant tall forest. Large granite outcrops are also common. Beaches on the bay tend towards fine white sand. Where streams occur, they're often clear but dark brown in colour from high-tannin-content vegetation.

The bay also called Torbay is located between the West Cape Howe National Park (where there is a point named Torbay Head) - and the Torndirrup National Park. Popular beaches on the bay include Perkins Beach, Torbay Inlet and Cosy Corner. Cosy Corner is the most well known, a popular family beach with picnic facilities and a nearby store. Children's swimming lessons are held there in summertime. These beaches are all accessible by normal car, and there are more beaches that are 4WD access only. The Bibbulmun Track passes around the edge of the bay, coming down long steps from the steep hills above Cosy Corner and following the beach around the curve of the bay and across Torbay Inlet to near Muttonbird Island.

Coordinates: 35°01′S, 117°40′E

[edit] References

  1. ^ History of country town names - T. Landgate, Government of Western Australia. Retrieved on February 11, 2007.
  2. ^ Torbay. Gazetteer of Australia online. Geoscience Australia, Australian Government. Retrieved on February 11, 2007.
  3. ^ Mars: Torbay. Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS. Retrieved on February 11, 2007.
  4. ^ Electorates and Boundaries. Western Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved on March 27, 2007.