Boardwalk at Australind

Australind
Historic site now part of greater Bunbury
Australind is located 11 km north of Bunbury and 163 km south of Perth and is part of one of the fastest growing areas in Western Australia. Although now effectively a suburb of the ever-expanding Bunbury (although it is actually in the Shire of Harvey), Australind was the site of an unusual and ambitious land scheme during the 1840s.

In 1840-41, only a little over a decade after the establishment of the Swan River colony, the newly formed Western Australian Land Company purchased land in the area and surveyed a town site which they named as a kind of bizarre combination of Australia and India. There was already a horse breeding station in the area and it was hoped that the horse trade would be the beginning of a continuing trade relationship between Australind and India.

The first settlers arrived in 1841 and by the following year over 440 immigrants had settled in the area Marshall Walter Clifton was appointed Chief Commissioner. The plan was to divide a huge land grant of over 40 000 ha into small farming lots of 40 ha and establish an English style village in the centre of this project. The philosophy behind the plan was similar to that of Edward Gibbon Wakefield who had developed the notion of settlements for ordinary citizens to ease the burden of poverty which characterised so much of English society at this time. In the case of Western Australia the settlement had the added bonus of providing the infant colony with a much needed labour force.

The settlement was short-lived and had been abandoned by 1843. The problems (they are the problems of the whole of the west coast) were a combination of poor sandy soils, no water in summer and too much rain in winter. Clifton's wife has left a graphic description of what the first winter in Australind was like: 'rain falling in torrents all the evening; our tent in a sad state of wet; thunder and lightning soon came on; rain such as no one can imagine ... No future settlers can suffer what we do; for when others come they will find things made for them and our experience available. Friends in England should be made acquainted with the dangers of this Australian coast in this season. A fatal grievance prevails on the point and I feel horrified to think of people blindly coming out at any time of year, to be exposed to such awful weather as this.'

Her description of the weather was obviously shared by other members of the colony because it was abandoned soon afterwards.

Things to see:  

St Nicholas Church

St Nicholas Church
Today the only remnants of Australind's early history are St Nicholas Church (in Paris Street) which is reputed to be the smallest church in Australia it is only 3.6 m wide and 8.2 m long and was originally built as a workman's cottage. Services are still held in this church was built in 1848.

Henton Cottage
Over the road is Henton Cottage (1841) which is now part of an historical complex recalling the early settlement of the region. It houses the Tourist Information for the town and showcases a number of local artists. It is crammed with local arts and crafts and is home to Cottage Fairies.

Henton Cottage

Upton House
On the corner of Old Coast Road and Upton Place is Upton House, an elegant two storey dwelling which was built in 1847 for Marshall Walter Clifton. The french windows, wide verandah and casement windows are a far cry from Mrs Clifton's description of the tents in which the settlers originally had to live. It is ironic that the house, most of which was shipped out from England, was built long after most of the settlers had departed. It must have been a strange feeling being the Commissioner of a settlement which virtually did not exist. The land settlement plan was officially abandoned in 1875.

	Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
	Cook's Park on Australind Waters 474 Cathedral Ave Australind WA 6233 Telephone: (08) 9796 0505 Facsimile: (08) 9796 0505
	Caravan Parks
	Holiday Homes Caravan Park Old Coast Rd Eaton Australind WA 6233 Telephone: (08) 9725 1206 Rating: **
	Leschenault Inlet Caravan Park 52 Cathedral Ave Australind WA 6233 Telephone: (08) 9797 1095 Rating: **
	Restaurants
	Collie Bridge Tavern Restaurants Old Coast Rd Australind WA 6233 Telephone: (08) 9725 2433
	Garden Palace Chinese Restaurant Old Coast Rd Australind WA 6233 Telephone: (08) 9725 1333
	Harmony Chinese Restaurant Mardo Ave Australind WA 6233 Telephone: (08) 9725 8988
	Legends Bar & Grill Restaurants Old Coast Rd Australind WA 6233 Telephone: (08) 9725 2433