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Today we made history as we stepped ashore at Busselton off the first cruise ship to ever visit here. We anchored a long way out and had to tender in and, although the day started off wet and grey, the warm welcome we received could not be dampened in any way. The locals went all out, dressed in costume, bands playing, market stalls set up, volunteers handing out maps and information and providing free guided tours, free shuttle buses to the nearby town of Dunsborough, and much more. Many from the ship used the town as a jumping off point to explore the Margaret River region, famous for its wine, but we chose to explore the town itself. We had the most delightful day, made even better as the sky cleared and the sun came out.
Busselton sits on Geographe Bay. The bay and many other places in Western Australia still bear the names given to them by the French Baudin expedition, which charted over two-thirds of the Australian Coastline between 1800 and 1804. This was an amazing scientific expedition (aboard were astronomers, botanists, zoologists, mineralogists,geographers) that not only charted so much of our coastline, but collected specimens and a vast amount of knowledge about this land. We tend to focus on our British heritage and forget about the French and Dutch explorers who ventured here so long ago. Their stories are also fascinating.
Busselton has preserved its heritage well. We enjoyed looking through some beautiful buildings, including a lovely stone Anglican Church and the old Courthouse complex, consisting of the original courtroom, police station, bond store gaol cells and stables. The floors are of the original jarrah timber. Even the gaol cells were lined with the beautiful timbers of jarrah and kari.
The jetty is probably the most well known symbol of Busselton. It stretches almost two kilometres out into the bay and is the longest timber-piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere. It played a key role in the growth of the region, facilitating the trade in agricultural supplies, timber, coal and sandalwood. Now it is a tourist attraction with an underwater observatory at the end and a little train that carries people along its length.
We arrived on the first cruise ship to call in here, but no doubt many more will follow. I hope they don't spoil this lovely spot.
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