1802 – Matthew Flinders in the “Investigator” charts the south coast.

1841 – John Eyre walks through the area near the coast, while exploring from South Australia to Albany (WA).

Community Brass Band in Ravensthorpe, circa 1905

1848 - Area first surveyed by the Western Australia Surveyor-General, John Septimus Roe.

1868 - area settled by Dunn Brothers.

1870 – John Forrest surveys near coast for Perth/Adelaide telegraph line.

1871 – Mary Ann Haven is named & John Dunn takes three months to bring sheep overland from Albany with his brother George.

1873 - John Dunn formally granted 4049 hectares.

1877 – Albany/Adelaide telegraph line completed with station at Mary Ann Haven.

1880 - John Dunn killed by local Aborigines.

1882 – First white women visit Cocanarup (Elizabeth & Eliza Dunn and a Miss Gillam).

1896 – Eliza Dunn comes to Cocanarup to housekeep for her brothers.

1898 – James Dunn finds gold at Annabel Creek and is given a reward claim. The Phillips River Goldfield is designated.

1899 – Prospectors arrive at Hawks Nest near Cattlin Creek. Dallison

brothers find gold at “Harbour View” Kundip.

1900 - The two towns surveyed and in 1901 Ravensthorpe and Mary-Anne Harbour gazetted. Mary-Anne Harbour renamed Hopetoun.

Ravensthorpe Police Station, 1901

1901 - Dunn Brothers purchased land in the main street of Hopetoun and the Miners Arms Hotel and a general store built. Population of Ravensthorpe reaches 500 and school opens with 19 students. Hopetoun is established and jetty constructed. Ravensthorpe named after the surrounding Ravensthorpe Range.

1901 to 1907 - construction of No 1. Rabbit Proof Fence (1822 kilometres).

1902 – Arthur Chambers and Dave Neil plant first crop of wheat.

1903 – Heads trial copper smelter built near Hawks Nest. Phillips River Rad Board is formed.

1904 – State Government builds smelter near Cordingup Gap on Esperance road.

Picnic at Manyutup Creek

1905 – No 2 smelter built on Hopetoun road. The mine manager’s house and a hospital are built in Ravensthorpe. First gold mining at Hatters Hill.

1906 – Smelter sold to private company. Commercial Hotel built in Ravensthorpe.

1907 - Palace Hotel, Union Bank & Mechanics Institute (later a hall) built in Ravensthorpe. Port Hotel built in Hopetoun and the jetty extended. A building boom at Ravensthorpe, Hopetoun, Kundip and Desmond.

1908 – WA builds premises in Ravensthorpe.

1909 - Population of Ravensthorpe area reaches 3000. Railway line opens between Hopetoun and Ravensthorpe.

First train to Ravensthorpe

1911 – Cessation of large scale mining.

1913 – German mine managers depart.

1916 – Phillips River Road Board offices burnt down.

1918 - Copper smelters and the mines close and most prospectors move away (mines continue to operate, depending on the price of copper until 1970’s).

1920 – Mining ceases in the area.

1925 - Railway line between Hopetoun and Ravensthorpe closes.

1930 – The Great Depression and a general exodus from the land.

1931 – Claude de Bernales company diamond drilling at Kundip.

1935 – Railway closes and shipping through Hopetoun ceases.

1937 - Hopetoun Port closes.

1938 – Ravensthorpe hospital closes.

1943 – Salmon fishing commences at 12 Mile Beach.

1947 – Salmon cannery built at Hopetoun. Wheat bin erected in Carlisle Street, Ravensthorpe. Ambulance donated for local use.

1948 – First school bus service in the district.

1950 – Weekly bus service from Perth to Ravensthorpe initiated.

1956 – Snow in Ravensthorpe (26 June).

1958 – Elverdton coper mine re-opens; Ravensthorpe Copper NL builds 38 houses in Ravensthorpe. Hospital also re-opens.

1960 to 1969 – Land boom with 325 farm blocks allocated throughout Munglinup, Jerdacuttup, Fitzgerald and north Ravensthorpe. Schools established.

1961 – Phillips River Road Board becomes Ravensthorpe Shire Council.

1962 – Sheep and cattle sale yards established and aerodrome surveyed north west of Ravensthorpe.

1965 – Night basketball courts opened at Ravensthorpe.

1967 – New court house and police station at Ravensthorpe. CBH builds covered grain storage facilities in Dance Street.

1968 – Bank of NSW builds new premises in Morgans Street. Town water scheme and reticulation opened.

1970 – Ravensthorpe golf and bowling club established.

1971 – School upgraded to Junior High School. Elverdton mine closes.

1973 – Fitzgerald National park gazetted.

1974 – SEC takes over Ravensthorpe power supply from Elverdton mine. Second hospital built (extended in 1980).

1975 – Peter The Fisherman Catholic Church built in Hopetoun.

1976 – Opening of new shire hall. First resident doctor commences practises (K O Danker). All phones now automatic STD.

1977 – All main roads in shire now sealed. SEC power in Hopetoun.

1978 – Fitzgerald National park declared International Biosphere Area by UNESCO. Mains water supply for Hopetoun.

1979 – Ravensthorpe Senior Citizens Centre opened. “Back to Ravensthorpe” celebrations coincide with State’s 150 th anniversary.

1981 – First annual windflower show.

1982 – Radio 747 Esperance brings regional commercial radio to the area.

1983 - Hopetoun Jetty demolished.

1984 – Last new land allocated for farming. Hopetoun breakwater (groyne) completed.

1985 – ABC TV available per satellite.

1987 – GWN TV received. Wool boom. Gold mining resurgence at Elverdton until 1991.

1988 – Flooding in Hopetoun.

1990 – First local resident (W Crane) elected to Federal Senate. “Community Spirit” newspaper commences production.

1991 – Optical fibre cable laid along South Coast Highway.

1993 – Commercial Hotel restored as Ravensthorpe Community Centre.

1995 – Telecentres established.

1996 – Community swimming pool opens in Ravensthorpe.

1997 – Culham Inlet causeway opened.

1998 – Renewed interest in Bandalup Hill nickel deposits.

2000 - Flooding in Ravensthorpe.

2001 – Centenary celebrations – Hopetoun, Ravensthorpe, No 1 rabbit proof fence and Ravensthorpe School. Richter 5.4 earthquake at Jerdacuttup.

2002 – Optical fibre cable laid to Hopetoun from highway at Fence Road.

2004 – New hospital completed in Ravensthorpe. Ravensthorpe nickel project commences construction at Bandalup Hill. Wind turbine for power commences at Hopetoun.

2005 - With BHP Billiton construction phase, population increases in Ravensthorpe and Hopetoun. A new airport is built between the towns and air service commences.

2006 - Extensive development for housing in Hopetoun and some in Ravensthorpe. Construction of a new school in Hopetoun commences.