Busselton or “Busso” is a coastal city located in the stunning landscape of Western Australia’s southwest region. Founded in 1832 by the Bussell family, the city is home to the longest wooden structure in the world, the amazing Busselton Jetty, and has a population of just over 26,000 people.
The warm, temperate climate of Busselton and the long, white sand calm beaches that stretch the coast into picturesque Geographe Bay make this coastal city a firm favourite for family holidays and weekend getaways.
Just two hours south of Perth CBD, Busselton offers visitors the opportunity to take a break from the hustle and bustle of busy city life. It is only a short trip to the world-class Margaret River wine region, where you can taste delicious wine, eat delicious food, and visit craft breweries. There are plenty of activities to keep the kids busy too.
This iconic seaside town has culture, a stunning foreshore, incredible restaurants and bars, and a thriving property market. The South-West is WA’s most visited regional area. This popularity is unlikely to change as progress continues on the $60 million Busselton-Margaret River Regional Airport upgrade, which will enable Qantas to fly direct from Australia’s east coast.
Busselton’s foreshore’s $10.5 million redevelopment also promises to bring an exciting element to this lovely southwest city.
Read on for everything you need to know about Busselton.
History of Busselton
Busselton forms one of Western Australia’s earliest settlements. Founded in 1832 by the Bussell family, it was in 1836 that the town was planned and surveyed. The surrounding Tuart forests helped cement Busselton as a leading timber port in the state, and it was in the early 20th century, Busselton became known as a resort town. By 1996, Busselton had become one of the fastest-growing areas in Western Australia, and its annual growth continues to grow in this post-COVID market.
Things to do in Busselton
Walk Busselton Jetty: Busselton Jetty is the longest wooden jetty in the southern hemisphere at just over 1.8 km. The jetty is open from 8:30 am to 6 pm every day, and it takes around 30 minutes to walk to the end, where you’ll find the Busselton Underwater Observatory. Tours of the Underwater Observatory depart hourly from the Interpretive Centre at the jetty base. If you don’t fancy a walk along the jetty, you can jump on the Jetty Train that transports passengers back and forth.
Visit ArtGeo: The ArtGeo Cultural Complex is a creative hub for visual and performing arts on Busselton’s foreshore. The hub’s buildings include an art gallery, workshops, and a historic Courthouse. Tours guiding visitors through the 158-year-old heritage-listed buildings are also available.
Experience Tuart Forest National Park: Just north of Busselton, Tuart Drive winds through the world’s last remaining Tuart forest. This incredible forest boasts native flora and fauna and is just stunning to drive or walk through.
Swim around Busselton Jetty: the historic 3.6-km Jetty Swim occurs each February, and entry to the event sells out quickly. The swim celebrates Busselton’s iconic jetty and foreshore. Around 7,500 spectators descend upon the foreshore for the event each year to watch friends and family participate in this event. This incredible event includes music, entertainment, a skateboard exhibition, a pre-swim meal, and family beach games.
Are you feeling fit? Enter Ironman: since the inaugural event in 2004, thousands of men and women have toed the line at this iconic endurance event. With qualifying slots for the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, up for grabs, this annual event welcomes hundreds of spectators to witness the 3.8km swim pristine Geographe Bay, the 180km cycle through the Tuart Forest, and the 42.2km run along the Busselton Foreshore. The atmosphere is electric.
Busselton Fringe Festival: this festival runs across various venues for a week each February and showcases street theatre, stand-up comedy, circus, dance, musical theatre, burlesque, cabaret, and more. Along with the shows, expect to treat your tastebuds with many pop-up bars and delicious food from local restaurants.
Enjoy CinefestOZ: CinefestOZ is an annual five-day film festival set in the Busselton, Bunbury, Dunsborough, and Margaret River regions, showcasing a line-up of both national and international films. The festival has grown in popularity and attracted many incredible Australian filmmakers and talent over the last few years.
House prices in Busselton
If you are a First Home Buyer, it’s unlikely you’ll pay any stamp duty in Busselton, as the median price of $427,500 falls below the $430,000 exemption. A population forecast to grow nearly 50 percent by 2026 is easy to see why people are flocking to this seaside town.
Schools
There is a good choice of schools available in Busselton and its surrounding suburbs:
- Busselton Primary School
- Busselton Senior High School
- Capel Primary School
- Cape Naturaliste College
- Cornerstone Christian College Ltd
- Dalyellup College.
- Dunsborough Primary School
- Georgiana Molloy Anglican School
- Geographe Education Support Centre
- Geographe Primary School
- South West John Calvin Christian College
- St Mary Mackillop College
- Vasse Primary School
- West Busselton Primary School
Types of property in Busselton
From short-term letting investment properties to townhouses, duplexes, established homes, and new residential developments to rural properties, Busselton caters to all tastes.
Why choose C&R Settlements for your southwest property settlements?
C&R Settlements are experienced in Busselton property settlements and recently settled for Margaret River Hotel.
We offer our residential settlement clients a stress-free real estate transaction with our experienced settlement professionals. As settlement agents who specialise in residential property, our experienced team has completed over 50,000 settlements to date.
If you are considering a move to WA’s beautiful South West, contact our local office today.
