[1] It is a section of the larger south coast of Western Australia and neighbouring agricultural regions.

The region officially comprises the local government areas of Albany, Broomehill-Tambellup, Cranbrook, Denmark, Gnowangerup, Jerramungup, Katanning, Kent, Kojonup, Plantagenet, and Woodanilling.

[3] The Stirling Range is the only place in Western Australia that regularly receives snowfalls, if only very light.

It has some of the most productive cereal grain and pastoral land in the state, and is a major producer of wool and lamb.

European settlement began with the establishment of a temporary British military base, commanded by Major Edmund Lockyer, at King George Sound (Albany) on Christmas Day, 1826.