Ellensbrook, Heritage site in Margaret River, Australia.
Ellensbrook is a 19th-century homestead built beside Ellen Brook in a grassy clearing using granite, limestone, paperbark, and local timber. The property includes a stone dam wall, waterwheel, family grave site, and historical gardens maintained by the National Trust of Western Australia.
Ellen and Alfred Bussell established the property in 1857 using resources from the land and labor from convicts, sailors, and Noongar people. From 1899 to 1916, the property operated as a residential home for Aboriginal children under Edith Bussell's direction, marking a significant shift in its purpose.
The site was originally called Mokidup, a Noongar camping ground near Meekadarribee Cave, which holds sacred meaning for indigenous people. Visitors walking through the property can sense the deep connection between the land and the Noongar people who lived here.
The property is best explored on foot, with the gentle terrain around Ellen Brook easy to walk through. Access leads from a nearby car park along a short walking path with clearly marked visitor areas.
The property was a significant site of cooperation between settlers and Noongar people, who contributed labor to construction and farming activities. This working partnership in the early colonial period set it apart from many other contemporary settlements.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
