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Busselton is a town in the South West region of Western Australia. Founded in 1832 by the Bussell family, Busselton has been one of the fastest growing regions in Australia in the last decade and has a population of over 20,000. Busselton is located 220 km south west of Perth, the capital of Western Australia. Busselton has been voted Western Australia's top tourist town three times in 1995, 1996 and 2005
History
Pre European Settlement
Prior to white settlement in 1832, and for at least 40,000 years, the Busselton area has been home to the Noongar Aboriginal people. The colonisation of Western Australia in 1829 had a major impact on the life of the Noongar people. Many towns in the Busselton area, such as Wonnerup, Yallingup and Cardup, still hold their original Noongar names.European Settlement
The early history of European exploration of the Busselton area focuses on the French expedition of 1801 which brought Nicholas Baudin, with his ships the Le Géographe and Le Naturaliste, to the coast of Western Australia. Baudin named Geographe Bay and Cape Naturaliste after his vessels, and named the river Vasse after a sailor, Thomas Vasse, who was lost overboard and believed drowned.Busselton was one of the earliest settlements in Western Australia. It was first settled by the Bussell family, who relocated there from their location on the Blackwood River after John Garrett Bussell discovered superior farm land in the area. The Bussells moved to the area in 1834, establishing a cattle station which they named Cattle Chosen. Cattle Chosen quickly became one of the most prosperous stations in the colony, and as a result nearly all of the settlers at Augusta relocated to the area within a few years. A number of settlers established themselves at Wonnerup, and eventually a contingent of troops were stationed there under Lieutenant Henry Bunbury. It was originally intended to locate the townsite at Wonnerup, but the area was low-lying and marshy, and Bunbury considered it unsuitable for a townsite. The present area was then recommended by the Surveyor General, John Septimus Roe.
The present name of Busselton derives from the Bussell family. It was first officially used in June 1835. The Bussells, who were not consulted about the name, preferred the name Capel after a relative in England, Capel Carter, but the name Busselton was retained. A town named Capel was later established to the north of Busselton.
Being in close proximity to the tall timber country, Busselton soon established itself as a leading port. In 1850, timber was being exported and the small town prospered. Jetties for this purpose were built at Wonnerup, Busselton and Quindalup. Of these, only the Busselton Jetty remains.
Busselton Jetty
Busselton is home to the longest wooden jetty (pier) in the southern hemisphere, stretching almost 2 km out to sea. Because the shallow waters of Geographe Bay restricted ship movement, a long jetty was required so that the cut timber could be transported to the ships. In 1839 Governor Hutt appointed "the place in Geographe Bay opposite the Settlement at The Vasse to be the legal place for the loading and unloading of goods". The jetty commenced construction in 1853 after persistent pressure by settlers. In 1865 the first section of the jetty became available for ships to moor. In 1875 an additional 131 metres was added to the original structure, as over 10 years of drift sands had made the depth of the water too shallow for mooring. The jetty was continually extended until the 1960s when it reached it's current length of 1841 metres.
The jetty also features a rail line along its length, which operated commercially as part of the railway line into Busselton from Bunbury. The last commercial ship visited the Jetty on 17 October 1971. On 21 July 1972, the Jetty was closed to shipping by Governor's Proclamation in the WA Gazette after more than a century of use. Once closed, Government maintenance of the Jetty ceased and it began to deteriorate, suffering attack by wood borers, rot and the occasional fire. On 4 April 1978, Cyclone Alby swept south down the Western Australian coast from the North-West (a rare occurrence) and destroyed a large part of the shore end of the Jetty. Subsequently, townspeople banded together to try to save the Jetty and eventually persuaded the State Government and the Shire Council to provide some much needed funds for repair.
However, rebuilding the timber jetty proved expensive and funds soon ran out. The Jetty Preservation Society, formed in 1987, resorted to community fund-raising. Over the past 15 years, in excess of AUD $9 million has been committed to Jetty restoration and development projects. A small tourist train operated following repairs in the 1980s and 1990s, but ceased in early 2005 due to concerns over the jetty's aging structure.
In December 1999, a devastating fire burnt 20 metres of jetty to the water line incurring $900,000 damage in the process.
On February 9 2006 the Queen's Baton Relay passed through Busselton. The baton was taken along the Busselton Jetty and then taken underwater by a scuba diver. The baton passed by the Underwater Observatory during its swim to allow the media to view the event.
The jetty has also had a significant role in regional politics. Alf Bussell, a descendant of the original Bussell family, tried repeatedly to gain a seat in Parliament for the purpose of seeing the Jetty repaired and maintained. More recently, the cost of repairs has seen the local council seek more Government assistance and money to improve the safety of the jetty.
Underwater Observatory
The observatory was opened in 2003 at a cost of AUD $3.5 million. Since that time, over 150,000 people have visited the attraction. The underwater observatory is located 1.8 km from shore - almost at the end of the Busselton Jetty - and can accommodate up to 40 people at a time in its 9.5 m diameter observation chamber. Descending 8 metres below sea level, visitors can view the corals and fish life through eleven viewing windows.Interpretive Centre
The boatshed-style Interpretive Centre opened in April 2001 and is located 50 m offshore. The Interpretive Centre gives visitors a glimpse into the Jetty's rich past and its future. Changing exhibits of history, the marine environment and art are displayed in the centre. Additionally, a range of souvenirs such as timber products crafted from recycled native jarrah decking and piles from the Jetty are available for purchase.Historical Locations
Wonnerup House
The current Wonnerup House was built in 1859 by the Layman family (original settlers). The original building built between 1837-1841 was destroyed by fire in 1858. The complex also includes the Dairy and Kitchen which predate the main house (and survived the fire of 1858 because they were separate buildings). Over the road are the Teacher's House (1885) and School (1873). In 1837 the Laymen family were afraid to leave the house because of the danger of being attacked by the local Aboriginal people. George Laymen left the house on 22 February 1841 and was speared to death by Aborigines.St Marys Church of England
St Marys Church of England was built in 1844–1845 and claims to be the oldest stone church in Western Australia.John Molloy and John Garrett Bussell were the main forces behind the construction of the church. The church wasn't consecrated until 1848 and it was another decade before a clergyman could be attracted to the region. Along side the church is a graveyard; some of the graves date back to 1841- before the church was built.Weld Hall
Weld Hall located on the corner of Queen and Adelaide St was built in 1881. In August 2001 the Western Australian government announced that Weld Hall had been listed on the State's Register of Heritage Places in recognition of its significant historical and cultural value to the local community.Old Butter Factory Museum
The Old Butter Factory Museum was built in 1918. Butter Factories were a common site in Western Australian towns in the early 1900s. Before the invention of refrigeration most towns had butter factories which gave them public access to fresh dairy products. The factory ceased operations in 1954. The factory is now home to a comprehensive museum that displays the history of the local area.Courthouse Arts Centre
Built between 1854-1856 and later extended in 1873, the building has been utilised as a courtroom, jail cells, stable, post office and bond store (for customs). The historic building has been restored and whilst the original jail cells remain as part of the museum, other parts of the building are now used as a gallery and cafe.Ballarat Steam Train
The steam engine is located in St Marys Park and is said to be the oldest train in Western Australia. It was built in Victoria in 1871 and carried timber from Yoganup to Wonnerup. The engine was given to the local council in 1929 and mounted in the park in 1939.Newtown House
To the south of the town on the road to Margaret River, Newtown House is an old farm built by the Abbey family in 1851. The Farm has been converted into a tea shop which sells arts and crafts.Augusta-Busselton Heritage Trail
Retraces the Pioneer Route from Augusta to the Vasse taken by the original settlers in the 1800s. The trail is over 100Km long, starting at the jetty and finishing in Augusta.Pioneer Cemetery
Situated on the corner of Marine Terrace and Stanley St, the cemetery contains over 1000 graves of many of the districts early settlers.Events
- January:
- Southbound Music Festival
- Busselton Beach Festival
- Festival of Busselton
- February
- February/March:
- Leeuwin Estate Concert *
- March:
- Bluewater Classic Fishing Competition
- May:
- September:
- Busselton Wildflower Exhibition
- November:
Facilities
Airport
Busselton is serviced by Busselton Regional Airport. No scheduled services operate out of the airport, though chartered flights can be arranged. There has been indication by Skywest Airlines that they will operate a scheduled flight from Perth Airport during the peak Summer period.- located on Airport Drive, Yalyalup
Schools
Primary schools in the Busselton area include Busselton Primary, West Busselton, Cornerstone Christian College, Dunsborough Primary, Geographe Primary School and Education Support Centre, Georgiana Molloy Anglican School, Our Lady of the Cape, St. Joseph's, and Vasse Primary.High schools in the area include Busselton Senior High School (years 8-12), Mackillop Catholic College (years 8-12), Cornerstone Christian College (years 8-10, with plans to go the year 12 in the near future), Georgiana Molloy Anglican School (years 8-10, but will be years 8-12 within 2 years), and Cape Naturaliste College (years 7-10) which will open in 2008 in the town of Vasse.
The only tertiary institution in the area is the South West Regional TAFE.
Hospital and health care
Busselton Regional Hospital is located Mill Road, three Kilometres west of the town centre. The hospital contains a 7 bed emergency department, radiology department, pathology centre and birthing suites.In October 2005 the Western Australian government announced that Busselton would receive a new $65 million hospital. The new Hospital will contain.
- an increase from 7 to 13 beds in the emergency department
- 48 beds with a High Dependency Unit
- eight-bed day surgery
- two operating theatres
- two birthing suites
- Community Health Centre facilities (specialising in child and community health and providing speech pathology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and other allied health and therapy services)
- a hospice
- expanded radiology services
- pathology services
- a new renal dialysis unit
- The original plan to locate the new hospital in Vasse has caused an uproar among some Busselton residents. Many believe that placing the hospital at Vasse will cause increased travel time and inconvenience to the majority of Busselton residents. The central location of the Vasse site offers greater accessibility for people living in the wider area, this has lead to the state government favouring the use of the Vasse site instead of the current site.
Medical centres in Busselton include the Broadwater Medical Centre (Broadwater Boulevard), Busselton Medical Centre (Albert Road), and the Duchess Medical Centre (Duchess Street). There are also several doctors surgeries in the town.
Cemeteries
The main cemetery in Busselton is on the Vasse Hwy in Yalyalup. A pioneer cemetery is located more centrally, in Marine Terrace, Busselton.Places of Worship
At present, there are only Christian places of worship in Busselton. These include the Anglican St Mary's (Peel Terrace), Assemblies of God (Kent Street), Church of Christ (Queen Elizabeth Avenue), Jehovah's Witnesses (Pettit Court), Potter House (Strelly Street), the Roman Catholic Our Lady of the Bay (College Avenue) and St Joseph's (Kent Street), and the Salvation Army (Kent Street).Post Offices
There are three post offices in the Busselton area: Busselton main (Prince Street, Busselton), West Busselton (Bussel Highway, West Busselton), and Vasse (Bussel Highway, Vasse).Library
The Busselton town library is located on Stanley Street, Busselton.Golf Courses
The Broadwater Par 3 Golf Course is located on Fairway Drive, while the Busselton Golf Club can be found on Chapman Hill Road.Media
Busselton is serviced by 3 local weekly newspapers; the Busselton Margaret River times(Thursday), Busselton Dunsborough Mail(Wednesday) and the Capes Herald(Tuesday). The West Australian is available from Monday to Saturday and the Sunday Times is available on Sundays.Busselton is serviced by two commercial television channels, GWN and WIN. The public broadcast channels ABC and SBS are also available.
Growth and Development
Over the past 20 years the Shire of Busselton has maintained a growth rate of around 5% per year. This growth rate is one of the highest in Australia. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics the Shire had a permanent resident population of 25,950 in 2004 with the town of Busselton accounting for 67% or 17,400 of the total. The Shire's permanent population is expected to continue to increase significantly to approximately 34,000 in 2011 and 46,000 in 2021. According to the Australian Bureau of statistics during the year 2004-2005 Busselton's growth rate for the 12 month period was 6.5%, bringing 1700 new residents to the shire and increasing the population to an estimated 27,546.
| Assumption | 2006 | 2011 | 2016 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3% AAGR (Low) | 27,050 | 31,360 | 36,350 | 42,140 |
| 4% AAGR (Medium) | 28,400 | 34,540 | 42,000 | 51,100 |
| 5% AAGR (High) | 29,780 | 38,000 | 48,500 | 61,900 |
| AAGR of 3.8% to 2011, 3.5% to 2016 and 2.8 to 2021 | 28,000 | 33,900 | 40,250 | 46,200 |
- AAGR = Annual Average Growth Rate
For the past decade, Busselton has experienced population growth at rates above 5%. This rapid increase in the population is predicted to continue well into the future. Busselton's growth over the past decade has been centered along the shores of Geographe Bay; this has created a narrow urban strip 15 km long and around 1 km wide. The heavy coastal development has lead to a shortage of beachside blocks. Coupled with the high demand this has lead to a sharp increase in land and house prices. The Shire of Busselton is attempting to alleviate the pressure on the coastal strip by opening up large parcels of land to developers further inland. The inland lots are substantially less expensive than the coastal blocks.
List of residential developments
| Development | Developer | Number of lots |
|---|---|---|
| Ambergate North | Busselton Shire | 4,300 |
| Abbey Waters | Satterley Property Group | 250 |
| Ibis Gardens | Satterley Property Group | 150 |
| Port Geographe | Hanson Property | 1200 |
| Provence | Satterley Property Group | 2,000 |
| Vasse Newtown | Hanson Property | 2,000 |
- List is incomplete
Sister cities
- Sugito, Japan
- St Tropez, France - Under consideration
Busselton and Railways
Western Australia's first railway line was built just north of Busselton at Lockville in 1871. The privately-owned line was used for the transport of timber *. From about 1927 to 1957, Busselton was also on the WAGR railway line running from Bunbury to Flinders Bay.
Busselton Legislative Areas
Shire of Busselton
The town of Busselton is located in the 1454 km² shire of Busselton, which is home to 26,000 people (2005 est.) and also includes the towns of Dunsborough and Yallingup.Wards
The shire has been divided into 6 wards.- Central Rural Ward (1 Councillor)
- Central Urban Ward (5 Councillors)
- East Rural Ward (1 Councillor)
- East Urban Ward (2 Councillors)
- West Rural Ward (2 Councillors)
- West Urban Ward (2 Councillors)
Localities
The Shire of Busselton is divided into several localities (Suburbs).State Government
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Federal Government
Busselton is located in Lower House seat of Forrest and is represented by Hon Geoff Prosser.Climate
Busselton's climate can best be described as mild Mediterranean. Moderate weather conditions are enjoyed, with an average maximum temperature of 22º C and a minimum of 11º C. The summers are generally hot (an average daily maximum of 28°) with cooling afternoon sea breezes, and a winter that delivers cooler temperatures (9° min. - 19° max.) and rain that supports diverse agricultural industries, including a world-famous grape-growing region. The annual average rainfall for Busselton is 864 mm, with the wettest period being from May to September.
Busselton Health Study
Busselton is the location of one of the longest running epidemiological studies in the world. Since 1966, the residents of Busselton have participated in surveys concerning such health topics as cardiovascular disease, pulmonary function, diabetes, and allergies, resulting in over 200 publications. The program was initiated by Dr Kevin Cullen, and is administered by Busselton Population Medical Research Foundation and the University of Western Australia.
See also
References
- Shann, Edward O. G. (1926) Cattle Chosen. Oxford University Press, London. Republished in 1978 by University of Western Australia Press, Nedlands, Western Australia. ISBN 085564138x.
External links
- Busselton Online
- Busselton portal
- South West portal
- Busselton accommodation and tours
- Busselton Jetty
- Accommodation and tours in southern Australia
- Busselton Health Study
- Climate averages for Busselton
Local Government Areas of Western Australia | Towns in Western Australia
"Busselton, Western Australia"