B is for BUSSELTON

Busselton is another town where we have spent many happy holidays over past years, some of which were spent with our three youngest granddaughters and also our eldest grandson.  I also had a great holiday with my daughter and her 4 children and on one occasion camped there with Judy, a friend of mine who was a lot of fun but unfortunately has since departed this life.

It is a wonderful place for family holidays with so much to do and a great jumping off place from which to visit other areas in the region....vineyards, caves, forests etc.

The city of Busselton is located in the renowned Cape to Cape sub-region of the south-west of W.A. The population now exceeds 31,000 people and this growth is expected to continue over coming years. It is situated approximately 220 km (140 miles) south of Perth and is one of the most popular holiday destinations in rural Western Australia.

The early history of European exploration of the Busselton area focuses on the French expedition of 1801 which brought Nicholas Baudin, with his ships "Geographe" and "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 to have drowned.

Busselton was one of the earliest settlements in W.A.  It was first settled by the Bussell family, who relocated there from their location on the Blackwood River after finding superior farm land in this area. The present name derives from the Bussell family and was first officially used in June, 1835.

Busselton jetty is the longest wooden jetty (pier) in the southern hemisphere stretching almost 2km (1841 metres) out to sea from the town.  Because the shallow waters of Georgraphe Bay restricted ship movement, a long jetty was required so that the cut timber from the nearby forests could be transported to the waiting ships.  The last commercial ship visited the jetty on 27 October, 1971 and on 21 July, 1972 the jetty was closed to shipping by Governor's proclamation.

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 $AUS9 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 65 metres of jetty to the water line incurring $AUS900,000 damage in the process. In early 2011 the reconstruction was completed and the pier and railway were reopened to the public.

The underwater observatory was opened on 13 December, 2003 at a cost of $AUS3.5 million Since that time, over 250,000 people have visited the attraction. I tis located 1.8km from the shore - almost at the end of the jetty and can accommodate up to 40 people at a time in its 9.5m observation chamber Descending 8 metres below sea level, visitors can view the corals and fish life through eleven viewing windows.

Busselton foreshore:-

We have enjoyed some most enjoyable meals in this old hotel:-

There are some excellent caravan parks in Busselton where we have enjoyed both camping, renting a cabin and also living in a large holiday home with our 4 oldest grandchildren and a friend of one.  The 7 of us had a fabulous time.  Oh, to be young enough again to enjoy that type of holiday.

Looking from the jetty back towards the shore:-

There is not so much spectacular scenery around Busselton as there is around Albany but it is a wonderful place to stay from where day trips can be made to surrounding areas where there is much to be seen:- (courtesy of W.A. Tourism)

I would recommend a visit to Busselton by anyone who happens to venture over or down to Western Australia.