Railways of Australia

Cranbrook As early as the late 1850?s farming leases were bought in the area after an overland route was established between the Swan River Colony (Perth) and King George Sound (Albany) passing through round Swamp which is now Tenterden. In 1886 works began on the railway line to connect Albany and Perth. Because of the lack of a suitable water catchment area at Round Swamp for a dam to provide water for the steam trains, the centre of the district moved to what is now Cranbrook. The town was named by Hon JA Wright who was born in Cranbrook, England and Round Swamp was renamed Tenterden, a town 6 miles from his birthplace in Kent, England. With the completion of the rail line the town soon flourished and became the central loading point for wool, sheep, sandalwood and grain.