Harvey: Art Trails, Water and History

Harvey brings together a variety of experiences: at Harvey Dam, paddling and picnicking take centre stage, while paths along the Harvey River connect art and garden walks. The Big Orange adds a special touch with its viewing platform; the Memorial Shrine and museum tell stories of history and remembrance. This variety makes Harvey appealing to travellers who don’t want to limit their days to a single theme.

Water and picnics at Harvey Dam

Harvey Dam offers walking paths as well as picnic areas with shelters and barbecue facilities. This makes it possible to plan a visit to the water as time outdoors, without paddling having to take centre stage. If you want to get out on the water yourself, you can paddle there by kayak or canoe. Motorboats are not permitted—a clear distinction when choosing between a quiet stay by the shore and getting active on the water yourself.

The paths and picnic areas complement paddling with other ways to spend time at the dam. When planning your trip, you can therefore consider whether to focus on a canoe trip, a break in the picnic area or a combination of both. The shelters and barbecue facilities are specific features of this destination; they say nothing about the amenities of holiday accommodation.

Art and walks along the Harvey River

The Noongar Kaartdijin Bidee, or Noongar Knowledge Path, is an art walk along the Harvey River. Ten original works of art were created by the local Noongar community. The walk starts either at the Stirling Cottage Gardens or at The Jungle on the South Western Highway in Harvey. It thus combines a riverside walk with artworks whose local authorship is part of the experience.

The May Gibbs Trail offers a different focus. This short path runs along the edge of the Stirling Cottage Gardens beside the Harvey River. Visitors can enjoy a leisurely stroll through the gardens while learning more about May Gibbs. Compared with the Noongar Knowledge Path, the focus here is on the gardens and the author; on the Noongar path, the ten artworks shape the walk. The two options give your day a different focus without needing to be combined into a single route.

Discover Harvey through its views and places of remembrance

The Big Orange stands on a ten-metre-high tower. Inside, an additional climb of four metres and 62 steps leads to a viewing platform. Visitors can also view information about Harvey’s history and photographs at the attraction. The views, climb and historical insights make this a different experience from the riverside paths.

The Harvey Internment Camp Memorial Shrine has been a place of prayer, remembrance and education for more than 80 years. Visitors can explore exhibits that tell the story of the internment camp and the shrine. Those who want to learn about Harvey beyond its recreational activities will find a place here with an explicit focus on remembrance and education.

The Harvey Railway Station Precinct and Museum 1890s also has a connection to May Gibbs: an exhibition recalls the time the author of Snuggle Pot and Cuddle Pie spent in Harvey. Together with the May Gibbs Trail, it offers a different way to explore this connection than a walk through the gardens. The station thus presents Harvey through an exhibition and its author, while the trail incorporates walking and the garden setting.

Choose Harvey as a destination

When choosing holiday accommodation in Harvey, you can start by considering the themes you want to shape your trip: time by the water, an art-themed walk, a visit to The Big Orange or a visit to a place of remembrance. The attractions mentioned differ in character and give you specific points of reference for deciding how Harvey suits your interests. This way, choosing accommodation starts with the question of which sides of the town you’d like to discover.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Quinninup, Darlington, South Yunderup, Rosa Glen, Leeming, West Perth, Cuballing, Stirling Estate.

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