Busselton Attractions

Busselton (pop. 7780) is one of the oldest settlements in Western Australia. It was founded by the Bussell family at the mouth of the Vasse River in the 1830s. It is now the commercial center of the surrounding agricultural area (dairy farming, beef cattle), a timber town (jarrah forests) and a popular holiday resort with a good surfing beach to the west of the town and sheltered inlets for swimmers.

Two handsome old 19th C buildings are St Mary's Church in Peel Terrace (1844; fine timber roof) and Prospect Villa in Albert Street, a mid-19th C brick building, now a government office. Opposite, in Victoria Park, is Ballarat, the oldest steam engine in Western Australia. On the banks of the river is an old butter factory with its original equipment. There is also a film museum.