Walpole is located on the south coast, 120km south of Manjimup and approximately 68km west of Denmark.

Aboriginal people first lived and moved through these parts more than 20,000 years ago. Early seafarers along the south coast of WA in 1622 were discouraged from close exploration by strong winds and the lack of visible safe anchorages. However, the sealers and whalers later spoke in glowing terms of sheltered inlets, huge trees and great deep rivers. These reports brought William Preston and his party to officially explore the Walpole-Nornalup area in 1831.

In 1845 a group of Englishmen settled on the Deep River. Permanent settlement followed in 1910. The district was opened for agriculture in 1930 with the introduction of the Nornalup Land Settlement Scheme

The new township was gazetted as Nornalup in 1933 and this was officially changed to Walpole in August 1934.

The area is surrounded by giant tingle and karri forests and is close to the world renowned Tree Top Walk.