History Buffs

Step right this way...

The picturesque village of Guildford was established during the founding of the Swan River Colony in 1829 and today it is one of only three towns in Perth on the National Trust register. Guildford has also been officially added to the State Register of Heritage Places. Exquisite colonial architecture is just the tip of the iceberg in historic Guildford – there are also fascinating museums, churches, theatres and the oldest wineries in the State to discover nearby.

The Swan Valley’s history starts more than 40,000 years ago with the original custodians of the land, the Noongar Aboriginal people of the Whadjuk tribe. The Whadjuk people have a deep connection with the land and tell of a Dreamtime serpent, the Wagyl, which once travelled across the country, carving out the Swan Valley and the Swan River. They say the Wagyl still lives deep beneath the Swan River waters.

Historic locations such as WA's oldest church, All Saints in Henley Brook, are denoted on the Swan Valley and Guildford maps with this symbol .

The Swan Valley is also home to the oldest vines in the State. Western Australia’s first vines were planted at Olive Farm in 1829, at the Millendon winery’s original location in South Guildford. While Sandalford is best known for its wines today, the Roe family were initially significant table grape producers for the region. By 1950, Houghton (now Nikola Estate), Sandalford, John Kosovich, Pinelli Estate, Garbin Estate and Talijancich wineries were all boasting flourishing vines. Most of these vintage vines are still family owned and run by descendants with generations of passionate winemaking in their blood.

Guildford HeritaGe Walking trails

Guildford was one of the first towns established when WA was settled in 1829, so it is brimming with historic significance and is also pretty as a picture. With lush, green flat grounds, Guildford is a a glorious spot for a stroll, or follow one of four self-guided walking trails. Each offers a history lesson, tales of colonial life and an introduction to some intriguing characters who have called Guildford home.

To get started on your exploration of local history, collect a copy of the trail map from the Swan Valley Visitor Centre or download a copy from swanvalley.com.au/guildford

You will also find the heritage locations mentioned on these pages denoted on the fold-out map on page 53/54 of this guide.