Video Archive

An introduction to The Old Settlement, home of the Margaret River and Districts Historical Society. Featuring a visit from the Perth photography group in 2021. Come and experience how the early settlers lived in the area. Have a look around the old settlement, run by volunteers.

Jamie Hart recorded this footage of the Margaret River Old Settlement in 1994.

In 2022 the Margaret River and Districts Historical Society celebrated 100 years of settlement in the area. The settlement scheme started in 1922. The aim was to open up the sparsely populated south west of the State for dairying in order to reduce dependence on imports from interstate.

Artist Jacob Butler, aka Shakey, created a fabulous mural at The Old Settlement. Radio Margaret River interviewed him about the mural.

The Karridale Fire of 1961 is a documentary by the Karridale Progress Association.

This film features the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse and Hamelin Bay. Also a popular destination for tourists it concludes with an excursion into the Augusta Jewel Cave.

A film surveying the lifestyle and industries of Western Australia and the role of the Royal Australian Mail Service throughout the state.

Life in a country town dependent on the timber industry in the karri country, South-west WA. Shows karri forests, tree felling, reforestation, controlled burning of undergrowth, hauling and milling the karri timber.

This documentary describes the bush workings and logging operations that underpinned Western Australia's sawmilling industry, once the third largest industry in the state behind wheat and wool. It is also a tribute to the skill and innovation of the bushmen and engineers who brought about the changes and who designed and built those weird and wonderful machines that were unique to the industry and to this part of the world.

The film, made in Australia's south-west forests, portrays the overlap of the steam-era and motorised forest-based timber industry. It includes axe use; cross-cut sawing; portable motor-saw; bullock teams; winding gear; steam rail; wheeled arch - horse team; steam cross-cut; frame-saw; paving blocks.

Well-known local Lloyd Shepherdson talks about his past, his family and his childhood which was surrounded by the timber industry.

A talk by Don Briggs, author of the book "Pioneers of the Western Australian Timber Industry". The history of of the early south west timber industry and the pioneers that made this happen.

Terry Halsall, volunteer at Margaret River District Historical Society lovingly restores the bellows from the blacksmith shop. The bellows are currently on display at The Old Settlement along wit many other artefacts.