Ninety five years ago, an unknown author working for The Bunbury Herald and Blackwood Express wrote this article to preserve the memories of a Bunbury long gone for future generations. Thanks to the author, a Bunbury that has been forgotten can be remembered.

“Looking back through the years that have gone, the seaport of Bunbury must have been a weird and remarkable place fifty years ago. It is even more wonderful to realise that it has raised itself to such an eminence as it enjoys today, in the space of so few years. It can be said, however, without fear of contradiction, that the prosperous position of Bunbury today is entirely due to the band of venturous pioneers who — though they suffered grave hardships — battled on and passed the result of their experience on to their sons and daughters in order that they might take the torch and be in the vanguard in raising Bunbury to a position to be envied."

"It is in order that their memory may not be lost to the oncoming generation that this article has been penned."

"The business structures of those days would provide a striking contrast to the modern buildings of today. The illustrations which are published with this article give some idea of the strides which have been made of more recent years and thus the position will become more clear to the reader in endeavouring to picture this fair town of ours fifty years ago."

"Most of the businessmen of those days have crossed the Great Divide but many have left sons and daughters and grandchildren who are well-known and respected citizens of today."

"Mr R Forrest, father of the late Lord Forrest, was a miller and merchant owning premises at the end of the jetty, while around the corner was Mr John Wenn, who carried on business as a cooper. Mr Hayward, founder of Hayward's store, also owned large premises which are now standing and carried on a successful business which is still existent. A blacksmith's shop, standing where the engine sheds now are, was owned by a Mr Walker, while Mr Thompson carried on the business of a carrier and carter."

"In the days of yore the water came up to the back of the Central Laundry and the Wellington Hotel emptying itself into the lagoon where the Butter Company and the Railway Station now stands."

"This waste of water was in time filled in by the carting of sand from the vicinity of where the Fresh Air League have their quarters. Mine host of the Wellington Hotel was at that time Mr Edwin Spencer, who was an uncle of Mr A F (Gus) Spencer, of Spencer Street. Mr Geo Rich kept a public house known as the Plow and Harrow next to the site now occupied by Mr Carmalt Clifton's motor garage, the remains of which can even now be seen on the location. The two butcher's shops of the period were kept by Mr David Hay and Mr Ramsay, while Mr William Spencer kept a general store on the site now occupied by the Grand Central Coffee Palace."

"Mick White's boarding house was nearby and Liptze, the Jew, also ran a produce store in the vicinity. Continuing further down Victoria Street we come to the Rose Hotel which was kept by Mr Richard Delaporte. It did not have the same splendid dimensions of the Rose Hotel of the present day, but it served the people of the time well. Dundee store was owned by M Hay and Son on premises now occupied by Tippings Ltd. Exporting sandalwood was a part of their business activities as well as that of general merchants."

"Next to the Rose Hotel was a drapery store owned by Mr Rose, and next to that again Mrs Buswell kept an eating house, adjoining which was Mr T Brumley's bakery store. Teede's corner was occupied by a dressmaker, while the National Bank corner, instead of having a counting house, had an eating house occupied by Mr Scott. Opposite was Mr Dobbin's boot shop and adjoining this Ned Connor kept a fancy goods business."

"The only tailoring depot of the period was owned by Mr Jerry Prior, who was next door to Ned Connor and was followed by a general store belonging to Mr John Mainwarring. Prior to Mr E M Clarke opening up a general store on the site now occupied by Toronto House, Mr Gillman used the premises for a general business."

"Stephen Street bore a different appearance from what it does today. Where there is now a spacious and up-to-date theatre, was once the general store owned by Mr John Hands and known as London House, while opposite stood the blacksmithing business owned by Mr H Trigwell."

"All the large business premises were not centred in Victoria Street or the north end of the town. W A Atkins' store on the corner opposite the Prince of Wales Hotel was carried on successfully for many years and the building was not pulled down until the firm of Thos Hayward and Son built their present emporium."

"The balance of the land in the vicinity was vacant with the exception of the block occupied by Fred Davies, who carried on a bakery business where Mr George Teede now has his hairdressing establishment. When Mr E M Clarke decided to change his business premises he built on the vacant land on the corner opposite the Returned Soldiers' memorial."

"Business activities extended up the White and Vasse roads, J Connorbeer having a blacksmith's business where the Residency now stands G W Floyd adjoining with a wheelwrights business while on the opposite side of the road John Banting builder and contractor, had his headquarters."

"Vasse Road possessed three tanneries, but owing to the keen competition in buying skins they were forced to close down, thus Bunbury lost what might have proved to be a very valuable industry."

"William Calf carried on business on a site which is now known as Kelly's Hall. This was afterwards sold to James Lamb who in turn disposed of it to Mr Wallace Prosser, who carried on a tanning and boot manufacturing business and had twenty five men working for him. Dr Lovegrove lived on Bury Hill now occupied by the Hon Edwin Rose, MLC."

"Other old identities were D Gibbs, father of John and Harold Gibbs, who lived in Wittenoom Street. He was a builder and contractor and, with the assistance of Mr Jas Wenn, recently deceased, and his two sons, built the 'Star of the South,' and the 'Bell of Bunbury,' two schooners, on the north shore beach."

"The Lumpers and Waterside Workers of today would have had cause for complaint if the shipping was as scarce today as it was fifty years ago. Ships came in once or twice a year to load sandalwood or wool and at the same time brought supplies. J and W Bateman's ships visited the port once a year until Mr C Davis started a mill."

"Messrs W B Mitchell and Avery shipped horses overseas on occasions, while Bunbury itself relied upon coastal vessels to bring stores until about twenty years ago when the railway line was built between Perth and Bunbury. A principle of barter was carried on to a certain extent with the 'Yanky' ships which visited the port, potatoes and pumpkins being exchanged for American flour. A bolt of unbleached calico could be bought from these ships for the sum of £1. American money was far more plentiful than English until the establishment of the WA Bank when all American coin was called in."

"Naturally the jetty was not of the same magnitude as of the present day. Lord Forrest's father built the first portion and this was added to later by Messrs Rich and Floyd. It was then brought under Government control."

"A number of incidents are connected with the visit of the first trading steamer to Bunbury. It was the 'Georgette' commanded by Capt Finnerty, who gave chase and rounded up the 'Katulpa' which had on board a party of Fenians who had escaped from the prisons on the mainland. The 'Georgette' was however, unable to take any action on account of the 'Katulpa' being outside the three mile limit. It was the 'Georgette' which brought the late Lord Forrest and his brother Alex, and party back from Adelaide. An archway was erected in the street with the words 'Welcome Mr Forrest' on it, while the Picton children were brought in by Mr Millward to sing 'Old John Forrest Came Home Today.' Mr William Spencer read the address of welcome. The 'Georgette' was ultimately wrecked near the Margaret forty years ago."

"The 'Start' traded on the coast between Fremantle and Busselton, carrying passengers, stores and mails. Capt Allen was in charge. This vessel, when on its way back from Melbourne, where it went for repairs, foundered in the Bight. The terminus of the railway was on the site now occupied by the electric light station, and the lines continued on to the jetty by way of Millars yards; but this was afterwards altered to where the present station now stands and the line was taken through the northern end of Victoria Street to the jetty."

"This article would not be complete without mention of the early days of the Show. The first showground, which was enclosed by a post and rail fence, was on the ground now being used by the Drill Hall authorities, there being a few little pens to provide shelter for stock. Later the show was shifted to Johnstons at Leschenault and from there it went to the five mile at Picton, but was a failure there and was ultimately brought back to Bunbury, where it was held on the recreation ground until the new ground at South Bunbury was bought and the show held there three years ago. The principal attraction on show days was the pony racing on the beach between the boat sheds and the Butter Factory, when sweepstake racing was indulged in."

"The curfew bell rang every night at ten minutes to ten as a signal that all good people should be inside. This bell stood at the end of the present school grounds. Perth was reached in two days by mail coach for which Mr G Rich was contractor while the mails between Bridgetown and Busselton and Bunbury were carried on horseback by the late Mr J Lawrence."

"To give some idea of the difference in remuneration between now and then, we instance the case of Mr G R Teede, who was schoolmaster and later Town Clerk, and did all the collecting for the noble sum of £20 per annum."

"Thus endeth an interesting review of the days that will never come again."

Article courtesy of the National Library of Australia and the unknown author, who achieved their goal in preserving Bunbury's memories. The original article can be viewed at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/87012246/8866407