The Gazetting of Bridgetown
Bridgetown was gazetted in June 1868. Its history is rich and varied, with residents coming from every social class throughout those years.
To celebrate the sesquicentenary of gazettal, Bridgetown Historical Society undertook an oral history project to demonstrate how a community was formed, what sustained it and how it grew into the vibrant town we now live in.
Forty-three residents, both past and present, were interviewed and their stories, along with stories... taken in the 1930s, 1970s and 1980s, have been woven into the chronicle of this town, showing that communities will survive if they care for each other, volunteer gladly and grasp opportunities when they appear.
It is a tribute to the early settlers who were not put off by adversity, and the past and present Bridgetonians who chose to live here and make Bridgetown their home.
The book, A Mere Country Village, was published in 2018.
Available in paperback for $35.
Paperback books can be posted by emailing: info@bridgetownhistoricalsociety.org.au
Your postcode determines the postage.
Also available as an ebook for $9.99 from The Book Merchant
The book is available from the Visitors Centre Bridgetown, Busselton Visitors Centre,
and the Royal Western Australian Historical Society in Nedlands
This original recipe book, intermingled with orcharding history from Bridgetown, has been collated from recipes donated by families from Bridgetown over the decades. The Lost Orchards of Bridgetown bring stories from the past and recipes that are tried and tested amongst our families.
Much of the historical information was taken from the interpretive panels in the new Orcharding Museum, part of the Bridgetown Police Station and Orcharding Museum. Please visit the Museum for much more information.
It was published in 2026.
It is available for purchase from our Museum, or from the Bridgetown Visitors Centre for $25.
Some of the recipes are from a booklet, Apples the Bridgetown Way, compiled by the Bridgetown 150th Anniversary Committee, the sesquicentenary celebration of Western Australia, and published in 1979. These will be identified with the notation WAY79. Some recipes come from the Geegeelup Village Inc. recipe collection, Granny’s Favourite Recipes date unknown. Some recipes will have comments added by the contributor. All recipes use apples.
We can post this book to you - postage is approximately $11. If you'd like a copy, please contact us at info@bridgetownhistoricalsociety.org.au