Guildford is a town rich in history of early settlement and development of the Swan Valley. In 1829, Guildford was established on the Swan River since it was found to be near a permanent fresh water supply. Captain Stirling’s exploration party of boats found Success Hill on which runs a fresh water stream across river from Guildford.
In its past, Guildford used to be the centre of Swan River Colony, now, it is one of the surrounding suburbs of Perth and is located on Great Eastern Highway, 14km from the city centre.
Among the early settlers, was Lew Whiteman and his family. The Whiteman family were the first to establish various industries in Guildford. Mussel Pool was created as a picnic area for their employees. The surrounding land was named Whiteman Park after the State Government purchased it in 1978. The original Whiteman family’s home is now one of the oldest standing homes in Western Australia..
Originally, Guildford was the political centre of City of Swan. It was also an important transportation centre. However, with the introduction of railway line, the importance of Guildford as a transportation centre declined.
You can request for a guide on the numerous heritage walks when you visit the Swan Valley and Eastern Region Visitor Centre. Otherwise, James Street proves to be worth visiting for antique lovers and check out the famous home-made hamburgers at the legendary eatery established in 1946. Dine in historic homestead setting or beautifully refurbished historic buildings.
Every third Sunday of the month, there is a craft market to browse at Guildford Town Hall.
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