Bannister's Campsite

Statement of Significance

This site is notable for it's association with the first European exploration of the district.

Physical Description

Situated about 200 metres east from the Williams River. The site is on the NE edge of a lake (billabong) section of the river and is in the vicinity of the charcoal pit site. To the east, about 1 km is McDermott's Hill.

History

This is believed by some to have been the campsite of Capt. Bannister and his party when exploring the interior between the Swan River and Albany settlements in 1830/31. This was the first European incursion into the area and the only campsite in the Williams Shire in that journey. Being mid summer, the party would have halted to camp at the river to water their horses and replenish their own water supplies as they would have had no indication of when the next source of water would be reached. It was in this area that fye third agricultural enterprise at the Williams River took place. The apparent failure of Joseph Harris's venture as a pastoralist on the Williams River, had no influences on the brothers, William, Samuel and Lockier Burges who owned "Tipperary" near York. They established a sheep station on Williams crown grant "C", containing 4,231 acres, on the opposite side of the river to Williamsburg townsite. According to Dr Harris, by 1842, the majority of poison plant growing near the river had been identified; also the likely places where the plant grew. With this knowledge the shepherds knew what areas to avoid. From then on, losses of stock from eating poisonous plants became less frequent. It must have been some time prior to 1841, that the Burges brothers established their station on the Williams River. (1) This station was described by Dr Harris in September 1842, as being one of the most beautiful on the river. (2)

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Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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