Busselton Jetty facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Busselton Jetty |
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At 1,841 metres (6,040 ft), the jetty is said to be the longest wooden structure in the southern hemisphere
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| General information | |
| Type | Jetty |
| Location | Busselton, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 33°38′13″S 115°20′24″E / 33.6369°S 115.3401°E |
| Designated | 22 November 2013 |
| Reference no. | 423 |
The Busselton Jetty is an amazing wooden structure in Busselton, Western Australia. It is the longest timber-piled jetty (which is like a long pier or dock) in the southern hemisphere! It stretches out 1,841 metres (6,040 ft) into the ocean.
This famous jetty is looked after by a special group called Busselton Jetty Inc. They are a not-for-profit organisation, meaning they use any money they make to keep the jetty in great shape.
Work on the jetty began way back in 1864. The first part opened in 1865. Over many years, more sections were added until it reached its full length in the 1960s. The last big ship visited the jetty in 1971. After that, it was closed to ships.
Since then, the jetty has been carefully repaired and improved. It has survived big storms like Cyclone Alby in 1978. It has also faced damage from wood borers (tiny creatures that eat wood), fires, and even threats of being torn down. Today, it's a very popular place for tourists to visit!
There's a train line along the jetty, which used to connect to the railway in Busselton. Now, a special train takes visitors to an amazing underwater observatory. This observatory is like a natural aquarium, and it's one of only six in the world! It opened in 2003. For a while, there was even a waterslide near the start of the jetty, which operated until 2011.
In 2006, the Queen's Baton Relay for the Commonwealth Games came to Busselton. The baton was carried along the jetty. Then, a scuba diver even took it underwater past the observatory!
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Building the Busselton Jetty
The idea for the jetty started in 1839. The local governor decided that the area in Geographe Bay would be the official place for ships to load and unload goods. Building the jetty, first called the Vasse Jetty, began in 1864. Local settlers and business owners, like Henry Yelverton, pushed for it.
The first part of the jetty, about 176 metres long, was ready for ships in 1865. But over the next 10 years, sand built up, making the water too shallow. So, in 1875, another 143 metres were added. The jetty kept getting longer and longer until the 1960s, reaching its current length of 1,841 metres (6,040 ft).
Sometimes, fires happened on the jetty. These were often caused by accidents, like sparks from the train or carelessly dropped cigarettes.
The Jetty's New Purpose
Even when the jetty was used by ships, keeping it in good condition was expensive. The last commercial ship visited on October 17, 1971. The jetty was officially closed to shipping in 1972.
Once it was closed, the government stopped paying for its upkeep. The jetty started to get damaged by wood borers, rot, and occasional fires.
Saving the Jetty from Damage
On April 4, 1978, a powerful storm called Cyclone Alby hit Western Australia. This storm destroyed a large part of the jetty near the shore. After this, people in the town worked together to save their beloved jetty. They convinced the government and local council to help pay for repairs.
Repairing the wooden jetty was very costly. Money ran out quickly. So, in 1987, a group called the Jetty Preservation Society was formed. They started raising money from the community.
In December 1999, another fire damaged 65 metres of the jetty. But the community kept working to save it.
In 2001, a special building called the Interpretive Centre opened on the jetty. It's about 50 metres from the shore. This centre teaches visitors about the jetty's history and its future plans.
A new community group, "The Busselton Challenge," helped raise a lot more money in 2001. This helped the jetty get more funding for a big repair project.
More storm damage happened in 2004. But the project continued! The jetty was recognised as an important part of the state's history. This helped get even more money for a huge refurbishment project, which cost around A$27 million. The jetty and its railway reopened to the public in 2011. In 2017, the old train was replaced with a new, solar-powered electric one. There are also plans for a new discovery centre.
The Amazing Underwater Observatory
The underwater observatory is one of the most exciting parts of the Busselton Jetty! It opened on December 13, 2003.
It's located about 1.8 kilometres from the shore, almost at the very end of the jetty. Up to 40 people can go inside its observation room, which is 9.5 metres wide. You go down 8 metres below the surface of the ocean. From there, you can look through eleven large windows and see beautiful corals and many different kinds of fish swimming by!
Fun on the Jetty: The Waterslide
In 1981, a fun waterslide opened next to the jetty, close to the land. It wrapped around an old lighthouse tower and used pumped seawater.
The waterslide and other attractions closed in 2011 when the land was bought back by the City of Busselton. The lighthouse was later taken down in 2015.
Remembering People at the Jetty
Along one part of the jetty, you can see many special plaques. These plaques remember people whose ashes were scattered from the jetty.
In 2012, the Busselton Council decided to limit new plaques. They are now mostly for people who have done something very important for the jetty or have a strong connection to it.
Images for kids
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The Busselton Jetty stretching out into Geographe Bay, seen from above.
