Jarrahdale’s recent Ghost Walk, hosted by the local Heritage Society, was a great success.
On 18th April, a large crowd of 275 people assembled at Bruno Giannati Hall in Jarrahdale, which featured a sausage sizzle, a raffle and characters in costume with whom to take photos.
The event was sold out by the beginning of the week, and thus another group was added to accommodate local demand.
The town’s history is very rich and never fails to impress, and fascinate, locals and visitors alike. Despite Jarrahdale’s small size now, in the late 19th century, it was WA’s fourth largest town, behind just Perth, Bunbury and Kalgoorlie, with many drawn to the booming timber industry centred in the town.
At the commencement of the event at 7pm, the participants were arranged into several groups, each of whom left at intervals. As they made their way through Jarrahdale, one of Western Australia’s oldest inland towns, and home of the state’s first major timber mill, they were greeted by an array of historical individuals, who told their stories.
Actors at the event were of all ages, with children and adults both contributing, which gave the event a broader perspective on the area. Among the stories told were of the town’s foundation, the establishment of the Rockingham Jarrah Timber Company, and others.
The audience were treated to folk songs and guitar playing from the town’s early days, met a group of children excited to witness Queen Elizabeth’s first trip to Australia, heard about indigenous groups and how they used the local river for fishing, encountered the realities for the early inhabitants of accessing proper medical care in the isolated area and learned of the Jarrahdale area’s use for housing POWs during the Second World War, all of which were brought to life by superb, and witty, acting.
Shire President Rob Coales, who attended the event, was very pleased with the outcome, and believed it said great things about local enthusiasm for the area’s heritage.
“We want Jarrahdale to be a tourist town and a trails town. It just shows how people in Jarrahdale come together, really proud of where they live, and open their doors to tourism, and I just think it’s fantastic.
“The 10 stories that we saw tonight, they’re all done by volunteers, they’re all local actors. I’m really proud that they come out here and just show off the beautiful Jarrahdale. I want to thank the Jarrahdale Heritage Society for such a great job.”
