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.

This reading has been done from Isabella Keenan's handwritten recollections of her life in the southwest of Western Australia. She wrote it in 1955 when she was 81 and it covers mainly the period between 1860 and 1900.

Isabella (Bella) Keenan (1874-1969) was the 3rd daughter of Stewart and Isabella Keenan and married James Christopher Hennessey in 1903.

John Alfrink shares his journey from his childhood in wartime Holland to building a new life in Australia, reflecting on his family's brave migration, farming challenges, and deep community involvement. He recounts his experiences with local historical preservation, emergency services, and raising a family, highlighting the strong bonds formed in his adopted homeland. John expresses gratitude for the opportunities Australia provided and his ongoing commitment to both his heritage and community.

Maurice Coleman Davies (a.k.a. MCD), born in London and migrated to Tasmania in 1835, became a pivotal figure in the industrialization of the Western Australian timber industry, particularly in the Southwest region. Through his foresight in infrastructure, including ports and railways, and his community-building efforts in Carradale, he significantly advanced timber production and export markets during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. MCD's legacy continued through his sons, who sustained and expanded the business, making lasting contributions to regional development and industry modernization.

Betty Earl (1930-2025) shares her experiences growing up in the Wheatbelt and moving to the Cowaramup district in 1941, describing the challenges of settling on a derelict group settler farm and adapting to farm life during wartime. She recounts family life, community activities like dances and sports, and local developments such as the railway and improvements in roads and facilities. Betty also reflects on changes in farming, shopping, weather, and the community over the past 70 years, highlighting both hardships and the evolving quality of life in Cowaramup.

Kevin Coates discussed his career in forestry, emphasizing the apprenticeship-like learning and the importance of opening up forest areas for fire control and timber assessment. He transitioned to nature tourism, focusing on eco-tourism and birding tours, which eventually became highly successful, with a year's worth of full bookings. Coates highlighted his work with Aboriginal communities, particularly in the Kimberley, and his wife Yvonne's genealogy project. He also mentioned their tours for international schools, which included challenging outdoor activities. Coates reflected on the impact of their tours, noting repeat customers and significant personal connections formed through their work.

Kevin Coates recounts his childhood in Margaret River during the 1940s, describing a small town with gravel roads and limited vehicle travel due to fuel shortages. The main industries were dairying and forestry, with dairy farming being particularly challenging. New Australians, mainly from Baltic countries, were brought to work on the railways as part of a government program, living in tents and working as fettlers. Sport was a significant part of community life, with Australian rules football and cricket being popular. The railway played a crucial role in transporting goods and people, including ice cream. Coates also discusses the dangers of forestry work and the importance of first aid training.

Yvonne Coates shared memories of growing up in Margaret River, highlighting a close-knit community and a happy childhood. She recounted her family's dairy farm, her father's war injury in New Guinea, and the farm's evolution from six cows to around 100. Yvonne described the lack of modern conveniences like electricity and refrigeration, and her early employment in Margaret River. She also discussed her involvement in eco-tourism, influenced by her grandfather's bus company, and her extensive work on genealogy and lonely graves, which led to several published books.

On 24 May 2024 Radio Margaret River broadcast live from the Community Centre precinct. The launch of the book "Settlement - Struggle and Success" by Bill and Jenny Bunbury involved a panel of 5 people discussing their memories and the book. Other panel members included Keith McLeod, Judy Wake and host Margot Edwards. After the panel discussion Barry House spoke to our presenters, as did Karolyn Hoft and Elwyn Franklin about their connections to the hospital.

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.