Wooden

We drove to Mandurah today about one and a 1/2 hr drive to look at a motorbike that Glyn has seen for sale, he wants a bigger bike! We will know in a day or so if the guy selling accepts Glyns offer.

This is the old Mandurah Bridge, which spans across the Peel Estuary, in the early 1950's the road board had built a wooden fishing Bridge under the road where it's still used for fishing and crabbing.

1828 'Swan River Mania' inspired Englishman Thomas Peel to bring a number of workmen, equipment and stores to Western Australia in exchange for a grant of land.
The contract stipulated that Peel must arrive in the colony by 1st November 1829, however the ship Gilmore, carrying Peel and his followers did not arrive until mid December and Peel's original land grant was forfeited.

Peel built a small settlement named Clarence, at what is known today as Woodman's Point to await the arrival of two other ships the Hooghly and Rockingham which carried settlers, equipment and stores also belonging to Peel. After many mishaps and plagued by ill health Peel eventually brought his remaining settlers to the area known today as Mandurah.

At that time, Mandurah was a day's journey by sea and two or more days by horse and cart, travelling across very rough country. The area remained isolated until 1850 when a road was built and a ferry punt constructed across the estuary.
Thomas Peel died in 1865, and Mandurah continued to expand slowly over the years.
(Info. From Mandurah Museum)