Whereiswitchwae?: Wellstead homestead near Bremer Bay

This morning we decided to pack up the van & go exploring the peninsular which is just around the corner from where we are staying in Bremer bay

Main homestead known as Kent house

John Wellstead was the first European squatter to settle in Bremer bay. In 1840 at the age of 19, he travelled from England aboard the Runnymeade as a new recruit in 51st Regiment of Kings Light Infantry. He finished his army service in 1845 & settled in Albany for awhile, where he met his future wife Mary Ann Crawford a Scot from Aberdeen. They married 1948 & had 5 children over the next 10 years. John went ahead to Bremer bay & built a house & other buildings before Mary joined him there. They had another 6 children at Wellstead.

I love this sign "KEEP OUT OF THE MULBERRY TREES"

Johns cottage was the original shelter built in 1850

Inside the cottage

As the family grew, so more bedrooms were needed. This was known as "GIRLS ROOM"

BOYS ROOM

The workshops, housing the Tack room for all things horsey!!!,
Carpenters & blacksmith worked in here as well

Horse yokes

Old gramaphone

There is a wonderful museum with every type of carriage, car, tractor, motorbike, bric a brac. We spent couple hours wandering around looking at the stuff they have in all the sheds, etc

Dracula's hearse built around 1750 & believed to have visited Dracula's castle!!!!

Loads of old early 1900's motor cars, must be worth a bob or two!!!

Royal mail Cobb & Co stage coach

Horse buggy

Blue bottle collection

Motorbikes

Love these old squeeze boxes!!!

Banksia

View looking out to the Southern ocean
There are some spectacular beaches & coves along this coastline, crystal clear water & white powdery beaches.

Fisheries beach

Native dog beach
Unfortunately when we arrived here, all the rescue services were out in force, SES, water police, rubber duckies, helicopter in air searching. Apparently there were a group down on Native dog beach yesterday & 2 English lads went in for a swim. It's a very dangerous beach with 2 bad rips & the boys got taken out. Their friends manage to rescue one & he is in Albany hospital recovering. But sadly the 2nd lad didn't make it & the rescue folk were looking for his body. Will be a very sad Xmas in UK this year for his family