2 Geckos Travelling Australia: Mon, 9th Jan, 2017 Greenbushes Pool RV camp, Greenbushes to Estuary Waters RV stay, Busselton, WA

Rang Jon for a chat – all good at home, they are getting a bit of rain. Said bye to the others as they headed out sightseeing. Filled up with water while chatting with an English/Irish couple.

Nice and sunny as we headed back onto the main highway heading west to the coast. Passed a couple of loaded timber trucks as we passed through the plantations.

Stopped at Balinup for a cuppa in the little park. The district was first settled in 1859 by Walter Padbury, whose historic homestead Ferndale still stands on the Nannup Road. Balingup was declared a township in 1898. The orchard industry became established here in 1895 when a Swiss nurseryman, Jacob Hawter, established what was then the largest orchard in the State. He also created the first purpose built cool store in the State. The building is still standing today. Dairy farming grew and in 1933 a cheese factory was established but it closed down in 1977 and is now the largest art and craft centre in the southern hemisphere. There is a big tree park nearby famous for its autumn colours. They hold a Medieval Carnivale here each August – that would be interesting.

Into Donnybrook known as the Apple Capital of the South West and now also for the largest free entry playground in the Australia.

Donnybrook is on the banks of the Preston River. Originally settled by five Irishmen in 1842 and gazetted as a town in 1894. It was largely founded on timber production with mills scattered throughout the forest. With the discovery of gold in 1898 hundreds of fortune seeker came to Donnybrook. One of the earliest finds happened on the Trigwell property out of town. The property is now an orchard and cider factory and they have rebuilt the poppet head as a viewing platform. They have lots of historical memorabilia and you can pan or spec for gold in the mullock heaps – wonder if we can use the detector!! Unfortunately they are closed on Monday and Tuesdays. About 1890 the Chapman brothers imported some apple tree seedlings from Victoria. A few seedlings of a then unnamed variety produced beautiful crisp green apples. This fruit was known as Chapman’s Late until 1917 when the name was changed to the famous ‘Granny Smith’, reflecting the true history of the apple. ‘Green gold’ had now arrived in Donnybrook and although the Pink Lady variety is now more popular, Granny Smith apples are still grown locally. Donnybrook sandstone has been mined in a number of quarries around the town since 1899, with three commercial operations still working – we see examples of the stone in a lot of the buildings and war memorials (like the big one at Fremantle and recently in Federation Square in Melbourne). Sadly the last 20 years has seen a big change in the local agriculture as many orchards are struggling to survive against the competition of imported fruit. Some are being turned into boutique wineries and olive farms.

Snapped a few shots of the Apple Fun Park as we headed to check out the ‘Transit Park’.

The Transit Park is for 72 hours and is very neat with concrete slabs, nice toilets, dump point etc but they want $35 per night. All about apples on the back of the brochure.

Followed Goodwood Road (same name as the one to Woodgate) down through native forest and farmland to Capel then out to the coast at Peppermint Grove Beach. Drove along the top of the high dune checking out all the flash homes then back to the park which is still set behind the sand dune so no nice view while we had lunch. Walked down the path to the beach. All the beaches are so lovely and white and the water so blue.

Back out to the highway then down to our camp for the night at Estuary Waters RV stay just north of Busselton. Rob and Alison have opened up their yard to self-contained vans and motorhomes as they like to travel and know how hard it is to find cheap places to park up. Across the paddocks to the sea with the Vasse Estuary, hence the name of the estate.

The neighbours came by later on.

Got out the maps & Wikicamps and planned the next section of our travels. Not much in the way of free camping but there are a lot of National Parks to stay in for a cheaper price.

Drinks with Rob & Alison and two other couples (NSW & Tas) staying in their vans was a 4pm. We had a great time chatting and swapping stories of places to go etc.

At 6pm we headed into town to walk the long jetty for sunset. In 1801, a French sailor named Vasse from the French Expedition ships Geographe and Naturaliste, was lost during a violent storm in Geographe Bay. Subsequently, the river and district was named ‘Vasse’, the bay ‘Geographe’ and the cape ‘Naturaliste’. In 1832, after two years of settlement at Augusta, the Bussells, Molloys and other original settlers applied for grants of land in the Vasse River/Geographe Bay area, thus settlement began in 1834. Busselton is on the shores of the Vasse River and Geographe Bay which provides 30km of white sandy beaches. It was named after the Bussell family.

Busselton Jetty is the longest wooden-piled jetty (1.8km) in the Southern Hemisphere. It was built over a 95 year period, beginning in 1865, principally for the export of timber. Over 5000 ships from all over the world docked here through the ages of sail, steam and diesel, before the port closed in 1972.

Bust of Baudin and info of his travels along the coast.

Info about the jetty’s growth and destruction during Cyclone Alby.

All the bins have great pictures on the sides.

There is a platform enclosed swimming area as well as big nets for ‘large marine animals’ to protect the swimmers!! Lots of volleyball areas too.

The ‘Barrel’ landmark.

Onto the jetty which has the railway lines up the middle – there is a tourist train during the day.

Looking east along the beach.

An old crane has been restored.

Glad we brought our jumpers as the wind is cold. Lots of people walking and fishing.

Nice view of the beach.

Parts of the old jetty still stand.

Interesting facts about fires on the jetty.

About the skeleton jetty which was the rail link to the shore in 1909.

Saving the jetty.

More info along the way.

Good platforms to fish off though no one seems to be catching much. Chatted to one guy who was chasing herring and there are a few squid about.

Wind direction ornament.

Nearly out to the end but there is a big gate across before the underwater observatory so we stood here to watch the sun set. I didn’t check my batteries and they are nearly flat!!