Kordabup offers two distinct ways to plan a trip, centred on heritage and river landscapes. Devon and Cornwall Group Park commemorates early settlers, while the Forest Hill and Moriarty–Camballup Trails preserve traces of older stock routes. The Styx River also has cultural significance for the Noongar people and striking granite formations. The historic trail sections refer to two different periods; when it comes to the water features, it is important to distinguish between gnamma holes that hold water year-round and a seasonal waterfall.
Memorial park and settlement history
Devon and Cornwall Group Park is a memorial park with a plaque commemorating the early settlers of 1924. The park is of high historical and social significance to the area’s heritage. Another specific historical detail relates to Group 114: it represented families from Devon and Cornwall in England who camped in this area in April 1924. The plaque and the group’s history highlight different aspects: the plaque commemorates early settlers, while the story of the group identifies the families’ origins and their stay at the camp. The year can therefore be understood both as a reference point for the commemoration and in connection with a specific event.
Historic stock routes and their traces
The Forest Hill and Moriarty–Camballup Trails comprise sections of two former stock routes that were not officially gazetted: one dates from 1870, and the other from around 1900. The trails partly serve as historic routes, but are not formally marked. The two dates refer to different points in time and should not be combined into a single year of origin.
Traces along the original route include tree markings, ruins, stone ovens, watering places and river crossings. The features range from built remains to places where water and rivers formed part of the route; they confirm the course of the original route. The dates and these specific traces complement each other in describing the trails: the years provide a historical context, while the features show the kinds of evidence associated with the route.
Styx River: heritage and granite landscape
The Styx River lies in the upper catchment of the Kordabup River near Parry Inlet. The entire Styx River is significant as cultural heritage to the Noongar people. The river flows over a granite rock face into a large pool. Large, well-formed gnamma holes are set into the rock face and remain filled with water throughout the year. Alongside the cultural significance of the entire river, the physical features of this section are also notable: the granite face, pool and gnamma holes describe its landscape.
Styx River Waterfall is a heritage site on the Kordabup River with a large pool and a seasonal waterfall. The difference in seasonality compared with the gnamma holes is important: these remain filled with water all year, whereas the waterfall is seasonal. These are therefore distinct water features with different seasonal characteristics.
Access to Styx River Waterfall
Access to Styx River Waterfall is via Kordabup Road and Fernley Road; a four-wheel-drive vehicle is required. Check local access information before setting out. Planning a visit to this destination therefore involves considering both its seasonal appearance and the stated road route and four-wheel-drive requirement.
Discover more destinations: Neerabup, Yallingup, Kojonup, Walpole, Yeagarup, Denham, Baskerville, Mandurah.
For the broader travel overview: Western Australia.
