20150828 WA Brusselton

20150828 Brusselton is our next stop and after a bit of a walk through the town we ended up sleeping besides a scout hall just out of town.

20150829  After some shopping we go in search of the jetty which is apparently one of the most recognized icon in Western Australia and is 1841 metres in length making it the longest wooden jetty in the Southern Hemisphere.  It is now only used for tourism and recreation and get this, they charge you to walk on the it.  I was so stunned I just couldn’t believe that Brusselton charged “ANYONE” to walk on a fucking jetty, now that is where I draw the line, we left, but we did return the next morning as you can walk for free up till 9am and after 5pm.

I downloaded this photo only to give you a true indication of the length of this jetty.

The jetty was to be only 161 metres when construction began in 1865, sand drifts resulted in an additional 131 metres being added and further extensions were added throughout the following 90 years.  After more than a century of use and servicing over 5000 vessels she was closed as a shipping port in 1973.  In 1978 Cyclone Alby caused severe damage, then after spending a mere $27 million to refurbish her the jetty was opened as a a major tourist site for the town.

This bronze monument stands at the entrance of the Jetty and her inscription reads,
 ‘Fish’ 
(the sea in her belly), I don’t get it.

Now this is a different story
 “The Tub” 
A barrel on a thirty foot pole was erected in 1836 at the beach front by the first settlers.  This was considered essential as a prominent landmark for ships and indicated the best landing place for cargo and passengers.  It lasted 34 years until replaced by a timber lighthouse, over the last 158 years the beach front has receded more than 200 metres from the original location of the Tub.

Lined the beach are these huge sands bags which the dogs seemed to use them more than anyone.

The magnets along the jetty display legends and poems relating to the history of the jetty and makes for interesting reading as you stroll the length of the jetty.

There is even a memorial area for the keen fishermen or for who ever wanted to be sent to sea.  One of the plaque read: In Loving Memory of Allan Henry Ainsworth Died on this jetty going fishing, 1988, what better way to go.

The last remnants of the old new jetty and she has many a story to tell of the years gone by.  Horses played a big part of everyday living in those days and the jetty could not have been built without them.  They were used to drive the piles and pull the wagons carrying timber and farm products to ships bringing goods and passengers to the district. Fortunately for the horses the clip clop of their hooves fell silent when in 1911 the rail lined opened for business.
Farewell old jetty
Though little of you remains
Your essence lives on.

These boys strolled along the jetty testing out there skills on the rail line, not bad but I’m sure I could do better.










These old photos really take you back in time, could you imagine wearing all those clothes on a hot sunny day at the beach when dogs roamed free.

The Whaler’s Wife  
The wind blows in her hair as she wistfully watches he husband sail away.  The New England woman surrounded be her few possessions, gently places her hand protectively on her pregnant belly and ponders when she may see him next.














Farewell to Busselton