Bridgetown, Western Australia. Tranquillity, hospitality and breathtaking views make Bridgetown the ideal place to stopover, catch your breath and establish a base from which to explore the South West's wealth of attractions. Just 3 hours' drive from the state capital Perth and 1 and 1/2 hours from the coastal strip and the regional centre of Bunbury, the Bridgetown area is a unique microcosm, offering the very best of the South West.
The town itself enjoys a rustic charm with a unique wooded backdrop and an enviable array of eating houses. Once the apple growing centre of the state, Bridgetown is now famous for its rolling hillsides, scenic drives, jarrah forests, starry nights and the longest continually flowing river in the state... the mighty Blackwood.
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Bridgetown is situated inland from the coast in Australia's South West tourist region. Bridgetown is in the centre of the Blackwood River Valley which surrounds the town and undulates to the southern coastline. Bridgetown is one of the largest towns in the area.
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Blackwood River Valley
Enjoy the fruit fresh from the farms, taste local vintages or wander through antique village shops. With the Blackwood River at it's heart, the valley will immerse you into a country setting where you can escape to lush farmlands and see undulating hills with streams and waterfalls.
Scenic Drives
The area surrounding Bridgetown can be explored with different drives varying from 3km to 113km in length which lead to interesting locations such as Orchards, Galleries and Historical Buildings. The roads meander past rivers and farmlands and pass through stunning Jarrah forests.
Historical Buildings
Those of you fascinated with history will be thrilled with the old buildings in Bridgetown. The first home built in the region has been restored and is surrounded by pleasant gardens. A guided Heritage walking trail runs through town and St Paul's Anglican Church is of great character.
Year Round Festivals
This serene country town is also famous for its long running special events such as the Blackwood Marathon Relay, Blues at Bridgetown Festival, Blackwood Classic which is the longest powerboat race in the world and a Festival of Country Gardens with over fifty gardens on display.
Bridgetown has a Mediterranean climate with mild summers and cold winters. Rainfall is plentiful during Winter and provides the ideal area for fruit growing such as Apples and Cherries and also for farming sheep and dairy production. The weather is very pleasant for much of the year. In Summer (December to February), the average maximum temperature is 28°C with an average minimum temperature of 12°C. In Winter (June to August), the average maximum temperature is 16°C with an average minimum temperature of 5°C.
First explored by Thomas Turner, who traced the Blackwood River 1834, it was E.G. Hester and John Blechynden who arrived and settled in the area around 1857. The government acquired some of Blechynden's land in 1868 and it is on this land that the town now stands. Officially proclaimed on June 4, 1868 and named Bridgetown after the barque (ship) “Bridgetown” which carried the first exports of the region back to the United Kingdom.
Apples were grown in the district in the following decades, and has proved to be one of the area's enduring industries with over 8 000 tons being shipped out of the area before World War II and 100 000 cases being packed in the 1960s.
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