So, I thought that Jacqui and I would spend a day in Busselton.
It’s fair to say that not everyone can afford a world trek. And sometimes even a couple of weeks away can be difficult.
But what about a day trip. Most people can manage that. And it’s still travel. Just closer to home. Why not make discoveries in your own backyard.
Now, Jacqui and I have been traveling to Busselton for years. We both started going there with our parents when we were kids.
Once we had kids, we took them there as well. And now that our kids have grown, we head there as a couple.
Where Is Busselton?
Busselton is a coastal town a couple of hours drive south of Perth. It was, and to a certain extent still is, a sleepy little seaside holiday spot. Perfect for the bucket and spade brigade.
The town of Busselton was settled in 1832, which is only 3 years after the first European colonisation of the state. It was put in place to provide a base for opening the area for farming.
As there was a large logging industry inland from here, Busselton also became a port town. For this purpose, a large jetty was built. This jetty is 1.8km long and is the longest wooden pile jetty in the southern hemisphere.
Jacqui and I have scuba dived from the shore here out along the jetty, and it’s easy to see why they built it so long. The water for the most part is only about 3-4 metres deep. It’s only towards the end that it gets down to 8-9 metres deep.
The jetty has suffered extensive damage during a couple of cyclones over the last 100 years but has been rebuilt. These days the logging industry has largely given up, and Busselton continues to thrive through tourism.
Even though we have been there countless times, we knew that there was more to this lovely town than we had been seeing. So, I did some research to see what was about, and we set off.
The Busselton Tourist Trail
This one looked interesting to me, so we were determined to give it a go. The directions were, to head to the tourist bureau on Queen Street. Once there you were given a map and for a $10 fee, they would equip you with an app for your phone.
As you follow the map, the app gives you the history of the various sites. Sounded great. Except that the tourist bureau has moved. So, we decided to work it out on our own.
Busselton Courthouse
I can’t believe that we had never been here. Located on Queen Street, down near the foreshore, sits the old courthouse and jail.
Part of the courthouse has been turned into a café, which looks to be very popular.
Entry to the site is free, and the guide was very helpful. Sign boards located around the site, also tell individual stories about the people who worked there or were prisoners there. It really helps to personalise the place and really bring it into focus.
We probably spent about 40 minutes here and found it fascinating.
If you’d like to know more about the old courthouse precinct, just click here to visit their website.
Queen Street
Queen Street is the main street in Busselton. In days gone by the train used to travel down Queen Street, and straight out onto the jetty. The train has gone now, and the road was resurfaced many years ago.
Along Queen Street there are several statues placed, as part of the heritage trail. Some are of individuals, and others are indictive of the people that worked and lived in the area. Each has a plaque with a story to tell.
It used to be that if you wanted somewhere to eat in Busselton, that there was a couple of pubs, a burger joint and a fish and chip shop. That was about your limit.
Today however, the choices have really expanded. There are all sorts of Asian cuisine, a French bistro and several cafés. There are also a few touristy souvenir shops as well.
Busselton Historical Museum
Located in Peel Terrace, this is an absolute gem. We had driven past this a few times over the last couple of years, but it was always closed. Apparently, there was a fire a couple of years ago and it took them this time to get everything cleaned up and ready for the public again.
The museum is set in the old butter factory. But, along with this, they have had some extra historical buildings moved onto the site and restored.
We spent 2 hours here and it wasn’t enough. We could have easily done another hour or so. It probably didn’t help, that due to our age we recognised a few bits and pieces from our childhood.
The museum gives a great insight into the history of the area. There also a particular interest given to the Group Settlement Scheme.
If you’d like to know more about the Busselton Historical Museum, just click here.
Group Settlement Scheme
Just after World War One, in the early 1920’s. Britain had a lot of returned servicemen who were out of work. At the same time, the government of Western Australia was looking to further open and develop the southwest.
The idea was that these men and their families would be given some basic farm training in England, then brought to Australia and given 100 acres of land each.
They then had to clear the land for farming. They were given some basic supplies to build a temporary shelter, and a living wage while they completed this work.
Where they were sent was tall timber country. This would be a daunting task for a small farmer today, so I can’t imagine how hard it must have been then. They were given the wrong type of axe to chop wood. They were given one horse, and a cart that needed two horses to pull it.
The families found that the only way they could succeed was to work as a group. When they finished clearing, a small house was built for them on the site, so that they could commence farming.
Only at this stage, were they told that all the set-up costs, the house, the wage and their voyage to Australia, was a loan. A loan which now became a mortgage for them. For many, this was the final straw and the walked off the land.
Lunch
Okay, so as I said, Busselton has a huge range of places to get a feed. However, we are creatures of habit. Jacqui’s mum and dad always used to go to the Esplanade Hotel, down near the foreshore. And so do we.
Good old fashioned pub grub, and lots of it. Just the way I like it.
And what do you do for dessert? Naturally you walk down to the foreshore for an ice cream. I always get the coffee flavor. It’s my favourite.
The Jetty
We finished the day off with a walk down the jetty. As a child Jacqui used to walk to the end of the jetty with her mum and dad. She’d then jump in the water at the far end, and swim back. With her parents walking along to keep an eye on her.
Then the movie Jaws came out. And Jacqui stayed out of the water for the next 30 years.
She doesn’t swim the jetty anymore. But we both enjoy walking it. It brings back strong memories of fishing from it as kids. And then taking our kids fishing there as well.
No doubt, over the next few years we’ll teach the grand kids to fish here and keep the cycle going.
It costs $4 for a day pass on the jetty, and you can walk to the end. There’s also a miniature train which goes up and back every 30 minutes or so, and this costs $14. All proceeds go towards the upkeep of the jetty.
At the end of the jetty is an underwater observatory. You descend through the various levels to the seabed. Fish love structures, so there’s always plenty around. The observatory is an extra $20.
We headed back down the jetty a little slower than the way up, as the breeze was right in our faces. To be fair, it was a nice cool breeze, so it was quite refreshing.
The Beaches
As it’s still October, it was a bit chilly for swimming. But there were still a few hardy souls who were giving it a go. Busselton’s beaches are lovely white sand beaches which slope gently into crystal clear waters.
When the weather is right, they are hard to resist.
When we came off the jetty, it was time to start the 2-hour drive for home. Naturally, being responsible drivers, we made sure to break up the trip at the halfway mark. Which was a good excuse for another ice cream.
So that was our day trip to Busselton. A thoroughly enjoyable day out. But did we miss anything? What other gems are there in Busselton that we haven’t seen yet? Drop me a line and let me know.
If you’re in the area, then Margaret River is just down the road. Here is a post that I wrote about it.
Cheers and happy travels