Koo Wee Rup /ˌkuː ˌwiː ˈrʌp/ is a town in Victoria, Australia, 63 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Cardinia. At the 2011 Census, Koo Wee Rup had a population of 3,079.
Prior to December 1994 the town was part of the Shire of Cranbourne.
Built on former marshland now converted to market gardens, the town has a population of about 2,900.
The post office opened on 7 January 1891.
In the early 1950s many Dutch and Italian families settled in the area. Prior to European settlement the area was occupied by the Bunurong Aboriginal people. It is from their language that the town's name derives. Ku-wirup is believed to mean "plenty of blackfish" or "blackfish swimming".
Koo Wee Rup is Australia's largest asparagus growing district. It is also a beef farming and potato growing area. The town was previously well known for its potato festival, which was held each March to raise funds for the Westernport Memorial Hospital (now Kooweerup Regional Health Service).
Schools include Koo Wee Rup Primary School, St John the Baptist Primary School and Koo Wee Rup Secondary College.
The town has an Australian Rules football team competing in the Ellinbank & District Football League.
Famous quotes containing the word wee:
“Four and twenty at her back
And they were a’ clad out in green;
Tho the King of Scotland had been there
The warst o’ them might hae been his Queen.
On we lap and awa we rade
Till we cam to yon bonny ha’
Whare the roof was o’ the beaten gold
And the floor was o’ the cristal a’.”
—Unknown. The Wee Wee Man (l. 21–28)