The lost heritage trail of Ellen Brook

11 Jan

Hidden away in the suburb of Belhus, straddling the border of Averly, there is a little known "heritage trail" surrounding a historically important homestead. Originally the home of Henry Bull, it's thought to be the oldest home in Western Australia - built between the years of 1831 and 1832.

During Bull's tenure, the homestead was also closely associated with the murder of Yagan, an aboriginal warrior who was resisting British colonisation.

The land was one of the very first farming properties in the area and was later known for milling flour (under William Cruse) and growing grapes once the land was owned by George Hardey Barrett-Lennard in the late 1890s.

While on private property, the thin strip of public open space allows you to view the entire homestead. This includes Henry Bull's cottage, workers accommodation, (probably) the oldest dunny in the state, a lime kiln and a reconstructed mill and waterwheel. A dam and mill race constructed for the millhouse are also present.

And if you venture a bit further, there is a derelict bridge over the Ellen Brook. This dates back to the 1890s (and was rebuilt in the 1980s) but was originally the site of a limestone causeway built by convicts and aboriginal prisoners in 1851.

Sources:

https://inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/3fa36a1e-c1e4-4da9-8d93-2c83d0494e94

https://inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/22a9fb54-9ea6-4a31-b2c6-ad1058d1a5c9 (includes photos)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_Brook

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Bull_(settler)

https://freotopia.org/people/bullhenry.html

https://inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au/public/inventory/details/026ba0b3-1ad1-4905-9839-e48a453ade79

https://www.facebook.com/museumofperth/photos/a.475465605869808/974464222636608/?id=475453692537666

https://inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au/public/content/pdfloader.aspx?fbclid=iwzxh0bgnhzw0cmtaaynjpzbexmfkwyksysxu2qnzkdezwcnnydgmgyxbwx2lkediymjazote3odgymda4otiaar5xdwcatzqi0xkayamjnbx8qiisu4roskcsnalvgngpzs8ksj7f1lekyz0pdg_aem_afkcrhfdforvvnk_g0lf9a&id=e53cf544-5322-44fa-8d5a-79b874364088&type=assessment&utm_content=buffer3bd61&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belhus,_Western_Australia

https://inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/54e4ec88-25ce-4325-9d87-d0164b41b7f6

https://inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/2b649c06-b95d-457c-9d16-baf17b532658