Denmark was first explored in 1829 by Surgeon Lieutenant Dr Thomas Braidwood Wilson, RN. Wilson and a small group of volunteers including the then well known Aboriginal guide Mokare left from Frederickstown now known as Albany. The group firstly travelled north and named Mount Barker, from there the travelled south until arriving at Mount Lindsey. Then shortly after following a river towards the coast that Dr Wilson named the Denmark River, after a friend Dr Alexander Denmark, RN.
During the 1880’s graziers from nearby inland areas had discovered summer pastures for their cattle, this begun a practice of droving herds south for the summer. The graziers continued droving south through to the 1930’s.
In Late 1895 brothers Charles and Edwin Millar from Victoria erected their first saw mill in Denmark to provide timber for worker’s cottages and for the Denmark bridge. About fifty cottages were built with some examples may be seen on Price Street.
Karri was the main timber used, after milling being sent to England and Europe and a work force of about 450 was needed and peaked at 750 in the late 1890’s. By this time the town had grown to 2000. The Millar’s Denmark operation closed in 1905 suddenly with the decrease in timber supply. Soon after Denmark was a ghost town. Wa Government purchased the town from the Millar’s brother in 1907 for 50,000 pounds.
Mixed farming including dairy, fruit and vegetable growing and fishing where the main industries of Denmark. Dairy farming became the main industry for the next sixty years, with first Cheese factory being built on the eastern side of Denmark Bridge.
Wine grapes were first planted in the 1970’s with those original plantings still producing quality fruit to this day. Nowadays Denmark has a number of vineyards mostly situated in the Scotsdale Valley. Vineyards vary in size from a few acres to forty acres. All varieties are grown well with a few outstanding include Riesling, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot and Shiraz.
Tourism in Denmark has been on the increase from the late 1970’s. Now you can find all the good things in life. The beach, forest rivers, wine, cheese and many gourmet trail products.