Koo Wee Rup
Postcode: 3981
Koo Wee Rup is a town in Victoria, Australia, 70 km south-east of Melbourne near Western Port bay. Its local government area is the Shire of Cardinia. It has an approximate population of 2,000. In the early 1950’s many Dutch and Italian families settled in the area.
Built on former marshland now converted to market gardens.
Prior to European settlement the area was occupied by the Bunurong Aboriginal people. It is from their language that the town’s name derives – ‘ku-wirup’ allegedly meaning ‘plenty of blackfish’ or ‘blackfish swimming’.
Koo Wee Rup is Australia’s largest asparagus growing district. It also is a beef farming and potato growing area. The town was previously well-known for its Potato Festival, which was held each March to raise funds for the Westernport Memorial Hospital (now Kooweerup Regional Health Service).
Schools include Koo Wee Rup Primary School, St John the Baptist Primary School and Koo Wee Rup Secondary College.