Explore the Valley: Breadbasket for Thousands of Years

Join the Swan Guildford Historical Society and Dr Shane Burke, Senior Lecturer in Archaeology and History at The University of Notre Dame Australia as we Explore the Swan Valley – Breadbasket for Thousands of Years.

This curated, history-focused tour traces millennia of Aboriginal history and culture, the establishment of the colony, and the Valley’s changing landscape through the 1800s - offering insights into how the Swan Valley has been shaped into what it is today. The itinerary includes stops at a number of key heritage sites where the past remains legible in the landscape, built fabric and setting. These include:

• Yagan’s Memorial Park – a significant place to acknowledge enduring Aboriginal history and reflect on the inextricable changes that occurred with the arrival of the British.

• Cruise’s Mill – a tangible example of British adaptation, illustrating settlement-era technology, labour and local enterprise.

• All Saint’s Church – a heritage setting that helps reconstruct the Valley’s 19th-century landscape and the institutions that supported early settlement.

Departing Guildford Colonial Gaol Museum, exploring the Valley by Coach, our visit to Cruise’s Mill includes a short walk (Australian Walking Track Grade 2) on a hardened/compacted surface with gentle inclines and occasional steps. Enclosed, sturdy footwear is required. Please arrive at 8:45am for 9:00am start.