ON THE MOVE: BRIDGETOWN
THIS SMALL TOWN IN WA’S SOUTH WEST COMBINES COUNTRY CHARM WITH THE VIBRANT BUSTLE OF A CREATIVE COMMUNITY.
This small town in WA’S south-west combines country charm with a bustling creative community.
MEDIAN HOUSE PRICE $350,000 for a three-bedroom house. MEDIAN RENTAL PRICE $310 per week for a three-bedroom house. BY THE NUMBERS The market for a three-bedroom home ranges from $190,000 to $679,000. “There’s strong demand for traditional weatherboards on properties that are larger than one acre,” says Trudy Clothier of Blackwood Valley Real Estate. MARKET WATCH “Bridgetown attracts a varied demographic of people, mostly those wanting out of the city. We get some retirees, and young families who want a better life for their kids. It’s a very friendly country town, with a good community spirit, low crime rate and most of the facilities you’ll need,” Trudy says.
WITH ITS HERITAGE STREETSCAPES lined with blossoms, and prime position on one of the most scenic stretches of the Blackwood River, Bridgetown’s aesthetics have long made it a magnet for the older set. But in recent years, an increasing number of young families have arrived. Some simply love that it offers four distinct seasons, a rarity in Western Australia. “That’s one of the attractions,” agrees born-and-bred Bridgetownian Pip Mills, 58. “You always know what season you are in here. People say it reminds them of Europe, along with the hills, the deciduous trees and the insanely rich soil that lets you grow anything.” With its location at the centre of the state’s South West region, major destinations such as Margaret River, Manjimup and Bunbury are within easy driving distance. It’s a community marked by creativity. Keep an eye peeled, and you’ll soon see proof. Pompoms hanging off a branch or a woollen rosette prettying up a gatepost are vestiges of a bid to become the yarn-bombing capital of the world. An art trail showcases the talents of sculptors and painters. And the main drag, Hampton Street, is distinguished by its lack of fast-food outlets. Instead, there’s an eclectic array of boutiques and places to eat and drink, many of them in buildings that have changed little since the late 1800s. “The experience is very authentic, it’s a real country town,” says Pip. “Most of the businesses you walk into, you’re dealing with the owner-operator.” As cook and owner of the Bridgetown Pottery-restaurant, which she runs with her husband Bevan, Pip has been putting her creativity on a plate for more than 30 years. She’s also been behind some of the events that have helped put the town on the cultural map, such as the Bridgetown Blues Festival each November and a long-table lunch on one of the town’s iconic bridges during the Bridgetown in the Winter festival. Along with agriculture and timber, nearby Greenbushes mine is one of the long-standing drivers of the local economy. Tin has been mined for 130 years but today the main focus is valuable lithium. Accordingly, business is booming: operator Talison Lithium is set to double its workforce in coming years. It’s a town that’s supportive of newcomers, according to Pip. “It’s very welcoming; I know for my family, we’ve had friends from all walks of life.” She says you get out what you put in — “the ways you can get involved are limitless”. Another local who can attest to this — and can take a little credit for it, too — is Jo Moore, 42. As the manager of the Bridgetown Family and Community Centre, she oversees a packed schedule of activities aimed at bringing people together, ranging from playgroups to book clubs. “Bridgetown is special because it has old country charm, but it’s also quite contemporary,” Jo says. She admits that this was a surprise when she first moved here from Perth 10 years ago, heavily pregnant with her first child, Ivy. She hadn’t expected to make friends. “I assumed I wouldn’t have any!” Jo says. “But the opposite has been true. I love Bridgetown because it just feels like home; and it felt like that from the beginning.”