Cowaramup, Western Australia

Cowaramup is a town in the South West of Western Australia, 12 kilometres north of Margaret River in the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River. The name Cowaramup derives its name from Cowaramup Siding, which was located near the townsite, on the now disused Busselton to Augusta railway. The townsite was gazetted in 1925, originally to support the timber and dairy industries.

The name is believed to be derived from Aboriginal word "Cowara", meaning Purple-crowned Lorikeet.^[2]Locals from the region often refer to the town as 'Cowtown', a reference to the use of 'cow' in the towns name and its history of dairy farming. The nickname is now extensively used in advertising for tourism in the town.

Cowaramup is roughly central to the Margaret River Wine Region. It is the closest townsite to a number of wineries and other specialty producers including the Margaret River Chocolate Factory, Vasse Felix Winery and The Margaret River Cheese Company. The town is also close to Cowaramup Bay, a popular swimming and surfing beach. As such a large number of tourists to the region pass through and visit the town and play an important role in the local economy.

The town centre consists of a local store providing basic produce, a post office, a real estate agent and farm agency, a service station/workshop, a liqour store, a social club, parkland and various specialty stores selling everything from gourmet produce, candies and arts and crafts to computing goods. Accommodation in or near the town consists of the Taunton Farm Caravan Park, a motel, a bed and breakfast and various chalets and cottages in the area. There is one restaurant and a cafe in the town as well as numerous others on nearby winery properties. The town has one primary and pre-primary school, a town oval and tennis club and a bowling green. The nearest high school and university campuses are in Margaret River. Police and fire services are based in Margaret River and Busselton.

Most residents live in the townsite and surrounding rural properties, including one remaining dairy farm. The local government administration is the Margaret River Shire Council and the local newspapers are the Augusta Margaret River Times and the Augusta Margaret River Mail. The town is built on Noongar Aboriginal traditional land.