Main Street Historic Walk – Site 31

Cement brick building built in 1938/9 for Mr R. Burlinson who setup the town's first chemist shop. It was sold in 1949 to another chemist Tim Burking who operated here for a few years until 1952 and built a new chemist shop across the road.

In 1952 J.R. and Ron Duncan opened up a drapery shop until 1970 when it was sold to J. van der Sluis, the local baker who converted it into a bakery shop. Then Alex Bilchuris also a baker continued there until 1982 when it became a craft shop known as Kookaburra Crafts. In 1986 the Wilkie family purchased the site and built the present Margaret River Town Square shopping complex with site no 30.


If you would like to learn more about the local history of Margaret River, visit The Old Settlement Museum down the river.

The Bramley school, the group settlement building, the blacksmith workshop and the other buildings offer an insight into the history of early life in the district and the families that once lived and worked the land.The Old Settlement

For opening hours and more information about The Old Settlement and the Margaret River Historical Society visit mrdhs.com.au



References

Reference map of Margaret River with site numbers

Margaret River Town 1894-1984 by Mavis Wise

Margaret River Stories by Guy Jennings, ISBN 9780646575346

A History of the Catholic Community of Margaret River District by Merilyn Hutton

Margaret River & District Historical Society photo collection

John Alferink from my recollections of the town after being in the area for over 68 years, John Alferink 2021