Scenes from Guilderton, Western Australia

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The collage spotlights the West Australian town of Guilderton. It’s a small coastal town at the mouth of the Moore River. The sand bar across the river mouth regularly opens and closes depending on the seasons. In 1983, a brick tower-style lighthouse was built near the river mouth. It was the last of its kind to be built in Australia. In 1931, 40 silver guilder coins were found in the nearby sandhills and hence the area became known as Guilderton. It’s believed the coins were from the Dutch ship, Verguide Draeck (Gilt Dragon) which foundered on a nearby reef in 1656. The Dutch and French had landed on our shores well before the English but it was the latter that hoisted their flag and decided they’d take over this land. The British had a great taste for new territories in those days.