Shire of Esperance’s business landscape

Kepa Kurl is the Wudjari name for ‘Esperance’.

‘Kepa’ translates to water and ‘kurl’ to boomerang. Kepa Kurl means ‘where the waters lie like a boomerang’ and refers to the shape of the two bays closest to the Esperance townsite.

Located nearly 700 kilometres and an approximate seven-and-a-half-hour drive from Perth’s central business district, the Shire of Esperance covers an area of over 53,000 square kilometres and extends from Munglinup to Israelite Bay and north to the Daniell rail siding. With a population of nearly 14,0001 residents, Esperance has one of the lowest population densities for its size.

Boasting over 500 kilometres of breathtaking coastline, five national parks, internationally recognised Ramsar wetlands, whale watching, deep sea fishing, diving and walking trails, it’s no wonder that the Shire attracts large visitor numbers and has maintained a stable and sustainable community, recording little population fluctuation or the urban drift often experienced in other regional towns.

Stunning natural features are complemented by diverse seafood enterprises, a thriving $500 million agricultural sector, productive mining industry, the deepest port in southern Australia, busy airport, excellent road and rail links, recently completed $25 million foreshore redevelopment program, town centre revitalisation project and world class primary industries.

As the world rebounds and recovers from COVID-19 restrictions, international and interstate tourism numbers are anticipated to rise again and join the flock of domestic visitors who continued to enjoy Esperance’s beauty and charm through periods of border closures.

A recently finalised tourism strategy puts a spotlight on the opportunities within the industry, further broadening the key objectives of the Economic Development Strategy, which supports high value and value-add industries that will further enhance the Shire’s well-established commercial sectors.

Business opportunities are well recognised and welcomed through the release in 2022 of the Invest in Esperance Prospectus, which demonstrates the Shire’s commitment to attracting and supporting small business as it enters ‘a time of change and opportunity2’ within this thriving, and growing, regional economy.

1i.dcommunity – Shire of Esperance population and dwellings (2021). https://profile.id.com.au/rdage/population?WebID=120

2Invest in Esperance Prospectus - https://www.esperance.wa.gov.au/invest-esperance