Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SWAN VALLEY & GUILDFORD
Perthites love to swan around this semi-rural valley on the city's eastern fringe to partake in
the finer things in life: booze, nosh and the great outdoors. Perhaps in tacit acknowledge-
ment that its wines will never compete with the state's more prestigious regions (it doesn't
really have the ideal climate), the Swan Valley compensates with plenty of galleries, brew-
eries, provedores and restaurants.
The gateway to the valley is the National Trust-classified town of Guildford, established
in 1829, around the same time as Perth and Fremantle. A clutch of interesting old build-
ings, one housing the visitor centre, make it the logical starting place for day trippers.
Guildford is only 12km from central Perth and well served by suburban trains.
History
Guildford is built on the conjunction of three rivers and was an important meeting and ce-
remonial place for the Wadjuk people. When the British arrived and travelled up the Swan,
access to fresh water led them to establish one of their first settlements here. In 1833, four
years after the colony's founding, resistance leader Yagan was shot and decapitated in the
Swan Valley.
The fertile valley land was soon turned to farming. Vines were first planted in the 1830s
at Houghton's but it was after the arrival of Croatian settlers (from around 1916) that the
farmland was increasingly transformed into wine production.
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Sights & Activities
In Guildford, the centre of town is Stirling Sq, at the intersection of Swan and Meadow Sts.
The cluster of buildings opposite the square includes the
Old Courthouse
(1866), which
houses the visitor centre and has interesting historical displays. In the same grounds are the
gaol
(Old Courthouse; adult/child $2/free; 10am-2pm Wed, Fri & Sat)
and
Taylor's Cottage
(1863; admis-
sion included with gaol entry). Various
heritage walks
start from here; get information from
the visitor centre or download a trail card from its website. Two kilometres east is
Wood-
bridge House
(Ford St; adult/child $5/3;
1-4pm Thu-Sun)
, an 1885 colonial mansion overlooking the
river.
The following sights are in the nearby Swan Valley.
