Guilderton, Western Australia
Guilderton is a small coastal town north of Perth, Western Australia at the mouth of the Moore River in the Shire of Gingin.
| Guilderton Western Australia | |
|---|---|
 Lookout view of Guilderton at the Moore River mouth | |
  Guilderton | |
| Coordinates | 31.35°S 115.50°E |
| Population | 172 (2016 census)[1] |
| Established | 1951 |
| Postcode(s) | 6041 |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | Shire of Gingin |
| State electorate(s) | Moore |
| Federal division(s) | Pearce |
It was originally known as Gabbadah, an Aboriginal term meaning "mouthful of water" until its gazetting as a town in 1951. The river mouth regularly opens and closes depending on the seasons, and alternates between a closed lagoon and a tidal estuary.
The town is a popular holiday destination for Perth residents, who commonly refer to it as Moore River.
History
The area has been used as a camping and recreation spot since 1905 when the residents of nearby Gingin petitioned for a road to be constructed to the area. The area was declared as a recreation area in 1907.
In 1931, 40 silver guilder coins from the 17th century were found in the sandhills near the entrance to the Moore River – thus the name Guilderton. The coins were thought to be from the wreck of the Dutch ship, Vergulde Draeck (Gilt Dragon) that had foundered on a reef north of the river-mouth near Ledge Point in 1656.
Soldiers used the area during World War II both for rest and recreation and as a base for horseback beach patrols.
The township was gazetted and named Guilderton on 28 November 1951; the area was known locally as Moore River until this time.[2]
In 1983, the Federal Department of Transport established a lighthouse at Wreck Point, Guilderton near the river mouth at a cost of $240,000. This was the last brick tower style lighthouse built in Australia.
References
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Guilderton (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- "History of country town names – G". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
External links
- "Gingin Shire History". Shire of Gingin. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 2 August 2006.