Cooking – Trek's Walkabout

Star date 10/5/26

Busselton was one of the places I was very keen to see. I had heard so much awesome things from my mother, and on some youtube channels.

We got a really good special at Discovery Parks so stayed there for 5 nights. We had a few days over the stay of catching up with chores, washing and other bits. We also visited the famous historic Busselton Jetty taking the solar train ride along the 1.8km jetty.

Extending 1.841km out from Geographe Bay, the Jetty is a heritage listed icon for the seaside town of Busselton and is the longest timber-piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere.

When the Jetty was built in 1865, it spanned a total of 161m. However, over the next 100 years many extensions were made which led to the Jetty’s enormous 1.841km length that stands tall today.

Busselton Jetty officially closed as a Port in 1973 which ceased all shipping and government maintenance.

At the end of the jetty. You can also buy tickets for the Underwater Observatory which we have heard it is very good. With a real time view looking into the ocean around the jetty.

There are murals of whales on the boardwalk at the end of the jetty.

Following the decline of government funding and the crippling effects of Cyclone Alby on the 4th of April 1978, which swept down the coast and much of the first 700m of the oldest section aligning with Queen Street was damaged beyond repair. a community group was formed to raise funds for much needed restoration and maintenance.

Between 1987 and 2003, the community organisation now known as the Busselton Jetty Environment and Conservation Association (BJECA) raised sufficient funds to replace 50 per cent of the Jetty structure, establish the train service, and construct the iconic Underwater Observatory and Interpretive Centre.

In 2011, a $27 million refurbishment of the Jetty structure was completed with $24 million of this amount contributed by the Western Australian State Government and the rest contributed by the Shire of Busselton and BJECA.

The old Sea baths constructed in the area of water between the original jetty and the new Viaduct.

From the jetty some of remains of the Skeleton Jetty can still be seen.

After the Jetty ride we walked around the foreshore. Grabbed some breakfast. A great park with an awesome pirate ship play area. A big green space with tall pine trees, eateries, the information centre. A short distance from the town centre. With a really cool pirate ship play area.