BRIDGETOWN, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

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The town, located on the banks of the Blackwood River, is the centre of a thriving apple and stone fruit growing district.
Location: 267 km south east of Perth.
Origin of name: thus named in part because it is at the first bridge across the Blackwood River, and partly because the Bridgetown was the first ship to put in at Bunbury to pick up wool from the district. The town was originally known by its Aboriginal name of Geegelup, it was renamed in 1868.
Brief history: Thomas Turner explored the Blackwood River in 1834 and was followed in 1845 by Augustus Charles Gregory who returned to survey the area in 1852. John Blechynden and Edward Hester settled the town in 1857. The townsite was excised from part of Blechynden's land. John Allnutt was the first to introduce apples in to the area.
Natural features: Blackwood River; Jarrah Park.
Built features: St Pauls Anglican Church (1911); Greenbushes Historical Park, Whittaker's Timber Mill, Swimming Pool, Bridgedale, Memorial Park, Brierley Jigsaw Gallery, Sutton's Lookout; villages of Hester, Yornup and Cardup.
Heritage features: Blackwood River Bridge (the longest Jarrah bridge in WA); Bridgedale Homestead (1862).