Driving south on Bussells Hwy in the Margaret River Region we come across a little town with lots of cow statues along the road, outside shops and in the park. One starts to wonder what this is all about …
Is it something symbolising the name of the town?
No, nothing to with this. In fact, the name of the town is derived from the word cowara (name given by the aboriginal people to a lorikeet in abundance here) and ‘up’ which means ‘place of’ in the language of the Noongar people.
So, what is it with these cows then you wonder …?
- The town was established as a settlement for dairy farmers in early 1920’s
- Given that the name is difficult to pronounce it was shortened quickly to become Cowtown, also as a reference to the dairy industry
- In 2010, the Cow Parade was held in the Margaret River Region. (In case you don’t know: Cow Parade is the world’s largest public art event. Started in 1999 in Chicago, it has been held in all major cities around the world. It is a fundraising project whereby local artists buy a cow, paint/decorate it and display it around the city. After the event, the cows are auctioned off and proceeds go to local charities)
- Shortly after the show all cows were sold off and the displays were only a fond memory
Two years later, two locals thought ‘Surely CowTown should have … a cow … in town … or maybe two … or maybe a whole herd?’
And the rest is history ….
The Travels of Birgit 