Greenbushes Discovery Centre

02/06/2026

Out now and always worth a read whether visiting or local

The June edition of the Greenbushes-Balingup Newsletter is now available for reading online at https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-4206664606/view

Hard copies are currently being printed and will be hitting the streets soon.

02/06/2026

Don't forget this weekend is our first of events in Greenbushes.

1pm in the Centre
$10 per head (numbers are limited so don't miss out)

https://www.facebook.com/share/1G9A1xuz3A/

01/06/2026

Mining Monday

We are sure these two gents will be identified. The number plate too possibly.

And a reminder, any comments that might "crack" us up need to be respectful.

30/05/2026

Into our second member of state parliament for the district in our new series.

John Russell Walter was born in 1863 in Somerset in England. He attended the University of Oxford and was a keen and competitive cyclist.

He went to Ontario and studied at the Toronto Agricultural College for 2 years before coming to Australia in 1887. His brother was already here, and John married Louisa Emily Thomson in Bunbury in 1891. Her mother father was James Guy Thomson and her mother part of the Roe family.

John's brother was the local magistrate William Ardagh Gardner Walter who was often referred to as WAG Walter. Blackwood Road was previously Walter Street named in his honour.

John was elected to the Nelseon Road Board in 1901 and was chairman in 1909. He also served as the state member for Nelson from 1903 to 1904 after the death of Steere. He continued to serve the community as the President of the Agricultural Society and a Justice of the Peace until his death on 20th June 1944. His memorial is in Bridgetown.

Bridgetown Historical Society ABC South West

28/05/2026

This town is not Greenbushes, so why is it here?

We were recently asked about Cecil Wood a school teacher and we said we would have a look. Sometimes we run out of ideas so we do actually love these.

Cecil William Wood was born in Malvern Worcestershire and stood 5' 7" according to his WW1 attestation papers. He was the head teacher at Hester in 1920 and then at Newtown in 1920 and 1921.

Cecil had married in 1919 to Dorothy Clara Forster in Subiaco. The couple had two children Ronald and Ernest. Ernest was born at Holyoake (near 'Dwellingup) in 1923. Cecil's mother Annie Loder lived in Holyoake and that was the connection.

Dorothy died on 13th April 1933 when they were living at Vincent Street Mt Lawley. Sadly the following year Cecil died on 28th July 1934 in Subiaco. His obituary says he was in the 51st AIF, and that he was the son of Annie Loder of Holyoake. He was 41 years old.

Another obituary said he was the "loved friend of Miss Ellie Sweet".

27/05/2026

We're always happy to have some new ideas in town.

Want to live and work here? Open a shop? Here's your chance!

https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-greenbushes-151271168

26/05/2026

Always looking for a new series of stories for this page, we're looking at the politicians.

Sir James George Lee-Steere's name was so well known in WA. His father was Lee Steere, yet James and the family were usually seen with the hyphenated version. He was knighted under the Order of St Michael and St George, and had KCMG after his name. His wife Catherine was the daughter of Sir Luke Leake who died in Western Australia in 1838.

Sir James was first elected to represent the Wellington district which he served from 1870 til 1880. He was then the member for Swan from 1880 til 1884. Nelson district which was Greenbushes electorate is where he was elected in 1890.

A speech in 1894 at Greenbushes is where he advocated for Miners' Rights and for women to have the vote as well. His comment was that women would never vote for a bad man. Women were able to vote from 1899, largely to ensure Federation, as most had eastern colonies links.

Sir James was the first speaker of the Legislative Assembly in 1900 and was in office when he died in 1903.

25/05/2026

We get a lot of queries about various earthworks around town from tourists. They raise concerns about amenity and environment.

Thanks to Talison Lithium we are always able to direct them to maps, images and information. This image is one of our go to ones as it does show the expansion plans. The little "bunny ears" to the south is the Cemetery.

The image clearly shows dam expansions and wast rock landforms and where they will be.

25/05/2026

Mining Monday we have another aerial.

Have a close look on the left side. Houses? Really looking for the eagle eyes and the brains trusts here!

Show your older family, enlarge the screen, and make notes!

South Greenbushes was a busy little town and is completely gone. These glimpses are vital to record the history of the area.

Let us know!

24/05/2026

This is a sweetheart badge.

Some of our most interesting displays you really have to look hard for. The wheelbarrow and the owl are so easy to spot. These ones not so easy.

These little brooches are miniature replicas of the badges of military regiments, naval units, the Royal Flying Corps and the RAF, generally known as sweetheart brooches because they were often given as romantic keepsakes by members of the armed forces to their wives and girlfriends before they left for the front.

The one in our collection is a Royal Australian Navy gadge with beautiful blue enamelling and the Kings crown from World War 2.

If you can't spot it when you come in, just ask.