Murray & Peel Districts in 2005
Some photos taken around Pinjarra & Mandurah on 28 December 2005.
| Number | Description |
| MURPEL01 | Pinjarra Railway Station as it is today. On this site was the original wooden structure which was burnt down some years ago. The Fairbridge bus used to pull in here each morning on the way to the High School to pick up the mail and freight. These days the twice-daily Australind (Perth-Bunbury) stops here plus it's a base for Hotham Valley Railways who run historical train trips to Dwellingup amongst other places. 2005. |
| MURPEL02 | After leaving the railway station the bus would trundle over this famous Pinjarra landmark - the bridge over the Murray River. And here it is. Legend has it that a ghost crosses this bridge on one night each year. 2005. |
| MURPEL03 | Looking down from the Murray River Bridge, this is the river - rather murky looking but plenty of water considering it's December. The river wends its way over towards Mandurah. 2005. |
| MURPEL04 | Aren't churches always so photogenic? Must be the brickwork. This is the church just across and down to the right over the Murray River Bridge. Over many years the river has risen up on occasion and flooded this site. The last time was in the early 1960's. 2005. |
| MURPEL05 | Another view of the church and part of the churchyard. You can see the Murray River Bridge in the background. 2005. |
| MURPEL06 | A scenic view behind the church on the banks of the Murray looking east towards the bridge. 2005. |
| MURPEL07 | The Pinjarra Post Office would be a familiar landmark to anyone who used to go to Pinjarra on a regular basis. From memory, in the early 1960's, Terry Brayn, Thos H. Brayn's (Principal) son, ran this place or worked here. That made it difficult posting letters on the quiet! 2005. |
| MURPEL08 | The main street of Pinjarra has hardly changed a bit in 40-50 years apart from shops changing names. The Copper Kettle has gone and so has Jansen's cafe. 2005. |
| MURPEL09 | Remember this site? If you were a Pinjarra High School pupil, chances are that you've nipped over the highway and bought a Peter's pie and perhaps a Coke at the shop on the corner at the odd lunch time. It was called Mann's store in the early 1960's. 2005. |
| MURPEL10 | The front of Pinjarra Senior High School. This used to be the main entrance with Principal's, Deputy's and admin offices right through that door. The door is no longer there. Not sure where the main entrance is now. 2005. |
| MURPEL11 | Looking down the side of what was (is) the manual training rooms at the High School. The nearer room was used for Domestic Science. The next room was woodwork and metal work. The old Technical Drawing room (Mr Norm Dix's other workplace) has disappeared. 2005. |
| MURPEL12 | This is peering into the quadrangle through metal gates meant to keep me out! Right over there is the entrance through to the Science Lab and then rooms 8,7,6 and so on, as you progress down the corridor left to right on screen. 2005. |
| MURPEL13 | The High School verandah of what was the Domestic Science room, looking across to the change rooms. 2005. |
| MURPEL14 | The road to Mandurah is quick and easy. A far cry from the days of the original Farm back in 1912-13 and those who holidayed in Mandurah and basically walked there. The is the estuary from the city side of Mandurah. 2005. |
| MURPEL15 | The old Mandurah traffic bridge hasn't changed much over many decades and here it is. But these days Mandurah roads are almost in grid-lock state with all the holiday traffic. 2005. |
| MURPEL16 | A popular pastime with Fairbridge Mandurah campers was fishing and crabbing under the Mandurah road bridge. This is under the bridge. Not much fishing or crabbing today. 2005. |
| MURPEL17 | From underneath the Mandurah bridge, this is looking out towards the estuary mouth. The Mandurah camp site was over there up on the left. 2005. |
| MURPEL18 | South of the Estuary these days the roads have all changed and given way to canal-style living and very sumptuous housing. I think this is the site of Mandurah camp - now housing and probably private jetties. Behind this photo the land curves off into the Estuary where we used to play. Beyond this street is a well-wooded public park - the trees are too many and too old to be the old camp site. 2005. |
| MURPEL19 | Back in Pinjarra again. Word has it that this building was originally located at the Old Farm south of Pinjarra and was moved here many years ago. Don't know whether it was an existing building when the Old Farm was taken on as Fairbridge, or built by Fairbridge people, or if indeed it was built later. If anyone can enlighten me I'd be very grateful. 2006. |
| MURPEL20 | Another view of the above building (now St Vincent de Paul) and the one to the left. Originally there were 4 cottages in this row, all ex-Old Farm buildings. Only these two now remain. If you're looking for them, they are behind the Mitre10 store on the Pinjarra main street, and adjacent to the hairdressers shop. You can't miss them. 2006. |
A History of Fairbridge Farm School, Pinjarra, Western Australia
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