CRANBROOK Cranbrook is the next town encounted if travelling north from Albany towards Perth. Cranbrook is both a crossroads town, but also now b-passed by the main hgy. The commercial impact of the by-pass is on display with empty streets and empty businesses. The name is taken from the town of Cranbrook in Kent, England, about 65 kilometres south east of London. It is believed to have been named by Mr J A Wright, who was manager of the Western Australian Land Company which built the railway. Cranbrook is a small town in the Great Southern region of Western Australia between Katanning, Kojonup and Mount Barker, situated 320km south of Perth. It is billed as "The Gateway to the Stirlings", referring to the nearby Stirling Range National Park. The settlement grew after it was one of the original railway stations on the Great Southern Railway when the railway opened in 1889, and was gazetted a townsite in 1899. The town of Cranbrook does have a nice feel about it. The wide open avenues obviously abet this feeling. Cranbrook has a great century plus classic corner hotel. The Cranbrook Museum is located opposite the pub. The word is this great little museum. The Cranbrook War Memorial is sited opposite the ‘council’ building. This War Memorial goes out of its way to pay the ultimate respect to those that gave their lives. The Cranbrook Catholic and Anglican Churches are potential heritage listings. The Baptist is modern and the United  humble. Cranbrook is off the main highway, but the place does deserve the diversion. The Museum and the treatment of the war dead determine this Heritage diary