Denham is the major town in the Shark Bay region and is the site of the first documented European contact with Australia in 1616 when Dirk Hartog nailed a pewter plate to a post at Cape Inscription. The plate was removed in 1697 by William de Vlamingh who replaced it with one of his own.

In 1699 William Dampier became the first Englishman to set foot in Australia when he explored the surrounding shores and named the area "Sharks Bay", though this has now evolved to Shark Bay. One of Dampier's crew died whilst in the Bay and is the first known European to have been buried in Australia.

In the mid 1800's pearls were commercially collected in the area and a guano mine was established. Then in the early 1860's the Government encouraged pastoralists to settle the area. During the 1870's and 1880's many small settlements were scattered around Shark Bay and finally the town-site of Denham was named and gazetted officially in May 1898.

Over the years Denham was a centre for the pearling and fishing industries but these days Shark Bay is known internationally as an "Eco-Wonder", being one of only 11 places in the world that meets every criteria for listing as a World Heritage Region. It is estimated that 150,000 tourists now visit this area each year.

Places to visit include the Stromatolites. These are the earth's oldest living fossils and can be seen at Hamelin Pool which is approx 100 km from Denham on the Denham - Hamelin Road.

Shell Beach where, instead of sand, you will find Billions of tiny white shells which have formed beaches stretching for miles. Easily accessible from the Denham - Hamelin Road just north of the turn-off to Hamelin Pool.