Pinjarra historic attractions

Edenvale Homestead

In 1873 “Liveringa” was built as the original homestead by Edward McLarty. In 1888 he built “Edenvale” to accommodate his growing family. Edenvale was built using locally fired clay bricks and contains 18 rooms with 2 cellars. The unique aspect of this complex is the close proximity of a number of buildings which were the essential features of European settlement — a place of worship, the cemetery, a school, judicial and local government institutions, as well as some of the earliest private dwellings. The complex now is home for a number of local resources and community groups, including the Heritage Tearooms, the Murray Arts and Crafts, Roger May Machinery Museum and the Pinjarra Patchwork & Quilters Group.

Old School House

The original school was built in 1860, and the existing building in 1869, when the headmaster’s cottage was also constructed. The Old School House served as a school until the early 1920’s and was subsequently used as a Courthouse, Road Traffic Office and Parish Hall. It currently houses the Quilters Group. Quilts and other items produced locally are on display and for sale.

Fairbridge and Fairbridge Chapel

At the age of 17, Kingsley Fairbridge visited his Grandmother in England and was distressed by the sight of poor children, grubby and exhausted from lack of fresh air and food. On April 15, 1912, Kingsley and his wife, Ruby, arrived in Albany, WA. They arrived in Pinjarra on July 16 of the same year and established the world’s first Fairbridge Farm School. Between 1913 and 1939, 1195 children came to Fairbridge under the care of the Fairbridge Society. From 1949 until mid-1950, some 270 young people arrived at Fairbridge under the care of the State. During the 1960s, many more boys and girls went through the Farm School under the single and two parent scheme. However, these young people were not under the care of the State or Fairbridge, but remained the responsibility of their parents. The total number of children to come to Fairbridge under all schemes from January 1913 until March 1983 was 3580. Free entry.

Address: Fairbridge Village, off South West Highway, Pinjarra
Opening Hours: Mon 8am-6pm; Tue-Thurs 8am-5.30pm; Fri 8am-6.30pm; Weekends & Public Holidays 9am-5.30pm

Pinjarra Bridge

The history of the bridge over the Murray River has not been a very successful one. The current bridge, completed in 1954, is the fifth, and the longest lasting. The first attempt was in 1840, but the structure was washed away by the flooding river. The second try was successful and the bridge was completed in 1842, after a delay through shortage of funds and the need to reinforce the stone piers later in the year. In 1847 the river flooded again and this bridge was washed away. In 1853, work began on the third bridge. The 1862 flood extensively damaged it, but it was repaired. The 1895 flood undermined the bridge piles, and a decision was made to replace it with a fourth bridge in 1897. The bridge was replaced by the present one in 1954, which is built on land resumed from St John’s Churchyard.

St John’s Church

Reputed to be the fifth oldest church in Western Australia, St John’s was built during 1861 and 1862 by a local settler, Anthony Cornish. The vestry was added a few years later, and the porch in 1879. The total cost, including the shingle roof, pews and pulpit was just over £300, with some of the carpentry work being carried out by convicts from Fremantle.

Coopers Mill

In 1843 Joseph Cooper began building a windmill for grinding wheat at windmill Point on an island at the mouth of the Murray River where it entered the Peel inlet. He did most of the work himself, leaving the running of his Redcliffe farm to his eldest son. By 1850 the mill was in use. After the mill was emptied of its machinery it lay unused for many years then later it was used as a smokehouse for curing fish. The Cooper family had bought the land around the building plus a ten acre block in the middle of the island. Eventually the house and mill fell to ruin and much of the stone and brickwork was taken away by the local people to be used for chimneys for their houses. The structure was prevented from collapsing when repairs were made with the help of Mr. Reg Cooper and the Royal West Australian Historical Society. It is believed that the mill will continue to be a landmark from the estuary and a memorial to old pioneers for generations to come.

How to get there: Culeenup Island can only be accessed by boat. To view Coopers Mill from land take Pinjarra Road towards Mandurah. Turn left at Tonkin Road, and follow it to the end.