Frankland
Postcode: 6396
Frankland is a small town located in the Australian state of Western Australia. The town is in the shire of Cranbrook and is situated approximately 360km from the capital, Perth, 42km west of the Albany Highway,83km southwest of Kojonup, 19km north of Rocky Gully and 90 km east of Manjimup. Frankland derives its name from its location 6km to the east of the Frankland River.
History Frankland, or Frankland River as it used to be known, was named by a surgeon named Doctor Thomas Braidwood Wilson in 1829. Doctor Wilson, who was on his way to Sydney, left Albany to explore the hinterland while his ship, the “Governor Phillip” was being repaired. He named Frankland River and Mount Frankland after Sir George Frankland who was the Surveyor General in Tasmania in 1829. Doctor Wilson’s expedition proved a successful venture for the graziers of Albany. It was seen that the interior held conditions suitable for farming and it was not long after this venture by Doctor Wilson that the settlers began to move inland. The area was settled in 1857. The town and region was known as ‘Frankland River’ until 1935 when it was altered. After the building of a local post office, it is said that the postmaster shortened the name to “Frankland” as the use of Frankland River was considered too long to fit on signs and documents.