Margaret RiverThe Heart of Western Australia's Premier Wine Producing RegionBrief History The quaint coastal resort town of Margaret
River is located in the Augusta-Margaret River Shire,
283kms from Perth in the South-West Region of Western Australia. The
region is known for its rich agricultural soils, hardwood
forests and wineries. The major industries includes
viticulture and wine production, dairy and beef cattle,
sheep, horticulture, fishing, surfing and
tourism.Margaret River was gazetted in 1913 as part of
the State's Group Settlement Scheme . The town lies on
the banks of Margaret River near the Indian Ocean and was
believed to be named by John Bussell(one of the first
settlers in the area) in honour of Margaret Wyche, a
family friend from England. More history of Margaret River.
Things You May Not Know !
In 1876, Alfred Bussell's sixteen year old daughter, Grace Bussell and Aboriginal stockman, Sam Isaacs , rode their horses into the raging surf to save passengers and crew on the stricken ship, S.S. Georgette.
The London streets of Pall Mall, Piccadilly and Regent were paved with M.C. Davies karri blocks from Boranup Forest. A police officer who was posted at Karridale in the early
1900's was so loathed by the locals that they would write nasty
notes about him and then gum (stick) them to the trunks of the
Jarrah and Karri trees. Ironically the policeman's name was
Constable Love! In 1924 the Busselton to Margaret River section of the State Railway was declared open for traffic. It was closed in 1957 by the State Government because it became unprofitable to continue running. In 2003 the cost of reinstating the rail line as far as Margaret River was estimated at $140 million. In the 1930's the last Quokka was seen in the area.
In 1961, Western Australia's worst bushfire destroyed the Old Karridale townsite, leaving only a solitary brick chimney still standing from the sawmill. Margaret River is the largest wine producing
region in Western Australia. There are over 700 hectacres of
vines planted and 28 producing wineries.
Margaret River is the host of two premier surfing events , Margaret River Pro and the Margaret River Classic. Both events are held at Prevelly Park and attract national and international surfers. Where To Hang Your Hat ?One of the hardest things to find in Margaret River is accommodation, especially at peak season. The easiest way to find the best accommodation which will suit you, is to visit the Margaret River Visitors Centre .They have a great questionnaire page helping you find what you really want.Just to get you started I have listed a few places which are by no means the only or best accommodation in town. I suggest before you make any decisions you do some research for yourself.Where to Hang Ten Margaret River has some of the best surfing
locations in the world. From Yallingup in the South to
Cape Leeuwin in the North there are over 75 top breaks.
Two premier surfing events are held here each year. Check
out more about surfing at Margaret River. |
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When Margaret River became a town there was
only three houses built in the area.
During the late 1800's to early 1900's, the
From 1900 to 1914 approximately 17 million
railway sleepers were cut from forests in the
Augusta-Margaret River region.
Hidden below the surface of the Margaret River
region is an extensive underground system of over 350
