Built Heritage
The South West is home to many buildings and places that tell the fascinating story of the region’s past.
From Wellington Dam to the Busselton Jetty and the timber mill cottages of Pemberton, numerous historically significant sites dot the region’s landscape.
These sites contribute to a ‘sense of place’ in local communities and add to the region’s overall identity. No wonder the South West is such a special place to live and visit.
Heritage tourism
Want to learn how the South West was shaped through the efforts of its early residents? Then follow the Working Life Heritage Trail, a link of heritage-themed attractions developed by the South West Development Commission in partnership with local heritage site operators.
The trail suggests self-drive routes, making it easy for people to take time out to discover a bygone era of steam engines, working lighthouses and pioneers.
Wellington Dam
Imagine what life was like for the people who lent their hands to the construction of the Wellington Dam during the Great Depression.
The building of the dam was part of a drive to fund public works for the purpose of providing jobs for thousands of people desperate for work. Workers set up camp onsite in a forest clearing.
