GS Buck Photography

Country Lane ©
Balingup
Western Australia.
#1839.

Photography Copyright to GS Buck©
Canon EOS 40D camera and Canon 10-22mm lens used.

Photographed in Western Australia southwest, just south of the small craft town of Balingup.

This beautiful country lane set among green trees and long running fence lines into a deep gully of golden grass lands.
The entire area around the beautiful town of Balingup has many locations similar to this scene. Hills and valleys among farm lands and long winding roads cutting through gulleys with plenty of fresh water in creeks and streams. Absalute delight travelling the area and photographing serine farm lands where green pastures stretch out forever. Credit: GS Buck

Balingup is a town in the South West of Western Australia, 241 kilometres south of the state capital, Perth, and 31 kilometres southeast of the town of Donnybrook.
The town takes its name from Balingup Pool, located on the Balingup Brook which flows through the town. The name was first recorded by a surveyor in 1850, and is said to be derived from the name of Noongar warrior, Balingan. Other research by Noongar academic and researcher Len Collard has shown the name derives from the language, meaning "one that is situated there at this place".The town is on the South Western Highway. It originally had a station on the railway line, opened in 1898, the same year the town was gazetted.
Balingup was known in the twentieth century for fruit and vegetable growing, and more recently for beef cattle and "magic mushroom" farming. There are two long-established religious communities.
Balingup hosts annual rural festivals, primarily the Small Farm Field Day (late April) and Medieval Carnivale (August).
Nearby are found mushroom varieties of interest to both drug users and law enforcement agencies.Balingup is also one of the few towns through which the Bibbulmun Track passes. Balingup is also the home of local artist Sally Darling, who specialises in portraits and Japanese paintings. The historic Southampton homestead is nearby.
A bushfire swept through the area in 2013 reducing the Southampton homestead to ruins. Credit: Wikipedia

The Red Shed ©
Balingup
Western Australia.
#1838.

Copyright GS Buck Photography ©
Canon Eos D40 camera with Sigma 24-60mm lens.

From my archive.

One of my special fascinations with rural properties around this vast state of Western Australia surrounds the many iconic farming sheds.
This particular farm shed is one of my very favourites for its location in the valleys of Balingup.
Made from corrugated iron and timber end walls with a brick chimney stack that brings me to believe it was inhabited at some stage.
Painted red with a stunning view across a valley filled with fertile green pastures with plenty of water from streams and river.
Constructed from local timbers, iron and stone of different shapes and sizes. Painted roof in colourful left over paint in some circumstances. Window without glass and doors of many styles and colour. No floor just the dirt under foot mixed with cow, horse or chook dung forming a messy muddy base.
Timber rafters to hang old farming equipment and utensils along with lofts where feed and hay can be stored.
Farmers are great hoarders and will never throw anything away in the hope that one day someone somewhere will find use of such hoardings.
Old farm machinery, tractors, carts, vehicles and bikes among other motorised equipment can be found within the shed walls claiming ownership of dust and rust.
Circular hay bales fill many sheds from its pointed iron roof to floor to protect the hay from weather.
Farming sheds house animals when they require special care from illness or segregation from herds to protect them from rogue animals.
Since colonisation of Western Australia the shed has played a huge roll in the development of rural properties.
Families raised children in these small sheds in colonial times while slowly building a home from local timbers or stone. Sheds were easy to construct and gave temporary cover from the weather until a more secure home could be built. Credit: GS Buck

Balingup is a town in the South West of Western Australia, 241 kilometres south of the state capital, Perth, and 31 kilometres southeast of the town of Donnybrook. The town takes its name from Balingup Pool, located on the Balingup Brook which flows through the town. Credit: Wikipedia

Two Perched ©
Western Australia.
#1837.

Copyright GS Buck Photography ©
Canon Eos 30D camera with Canon 200-70mm lens.

From my archive.

Two Port Lincoln Parrots, perched on an old tree bough, on a late summer evening with sun setting golden in the northwest.
Photographed north of Perth in an outer suburban rural area where trees were scarce and dying among dry paddocks.
Credit: GS Buck Photography ©

The Port Lincoln parrot (Barnardius zonarius zonarius), a striking subspecies of the Australian ringneck, is known for its vibrant green plumage, dark head, and yellow band across the back of the neck. Widely found in southern and central Australia, it is also colloquially called the "28 parrot" due to its distinctive call.Key CharacteristicsAppearance: Medium-sized with a long tail. It features a dark grey/black head with blue cheeks, a green-blue chest, and a bright yellow belly.The "28" Name: The bird gets its unusual nickname from its strident, melodic call, which sounds exactly like the words "twenty-eight".Habitat: Often seen in eucalypt woodlands, mallee scrub, and suburban parks. They frequently gather in pairs or small flocks.Diet: Primarily feeds on seeds and native bulbs, but also enjoys nectar, fruit, flowers, and insects.Nesting: Like many Australian parrots, they nest in deep tree hollows.Official ResourcesTo explore detailed sightings, behavior, and range maps for the Port Lincoln ringneck, you can visit the eBird Species Profile. For more information on identifying native parrots throughout South Australia, check out the Green Adelaide Region Guide.If you are looking to do some birdwatching around the Greenfields area or want to learn more about a specific topic, let me know how you'd like to proceed! Would you like help with:Locating the best birdwatching spots near Greenfields?Tips on bird photography or identification?Information on other native Australian parrots? Credit: Google Search

Sunset Fishing ©
Carnarvon
Western Australia.
#1836.

Copyright GS Buck Photographer ©
Canon Eos 40D camera with Canon 70-200mm lens.

From my archives.

Two fishermen enjoying the late evening warm sunset fishing from the Carnarvon Jetty a few years back now before the jetty was closed.
Silhouette against a warm sunset across the wide open Indian Ocean off the west coast of Western Australia.
Carnarvon is a coastal town situated approximately 900 kilometres north of Perth, in Western Australia. It lies at the mouth of the Gascoyne River on the Indian Ocean. The popular Shark Bay world heritage area lies to the south of the town and the Ningaloo Reef and the popular tourist town of Exmouth lie to the north.
Credit: Wikipedia

Constructed from 1897, the One Mile Jetty has been integral to the cultural identity of Carnarvon and played a significant role in the economic development of the Gascoyne region. The State Heritage Register’s listing of the One Mile Jetty recognises its significant historical value.
The Jetty is located on the southern side of the entrance to the Gascoyne River in Carnarvon at the site of the 1890’s Port of Carnarvon. Carnarvon was one of the first recorded ports in the world to load livestock on board ships for transport to markets. The Jetty was also the departure point for Aboriginal people proceeding to the Lock Hospitals of Dorre and Bernier Islands.
The current Jetty custodians are the Carnarvon Heritage Group, a not-for-profit organisation.
Credit: Gascoyne Development Commission

Greenough ©
Western Australia.
#1835.

Copyright to GS Buck Photography ©
Canon Panasonic DMC FZ20 compact camera.

Greenough /ˈɡrɛnəf/ is a historical settlement situated in a floodplain (the 'Greenough Flats') 400 kilometres north of Perth, Western Australia and 24 kilometres south of Geraldton on the Brand Highway. The settlement's historical buildings are mostly built of local limestone and date to the second half of the 19th century. A sizeable collection of these are owned and managed by the National Trust of Australia. A remarkable feature of the Greenough Flats is its windswept trees, some of which are bent a full 90 degrees due to the prevailing coastal winds.
The mouth of the Greenough River is about 10 km to the north of the town.
The area was first explored by George Edward Grey in 1839 after which he named the area after Sir George Bellas Greenough, the president of the Royal Geographical Society in London. Grey claimed that the area could become the granary of Western Australia.
In 1851 Augustus Gregory surveyed 30,000 acres (120 km²) of land in the region which became known as the Greenough Flats. That was subdivided into 20- and 30-acre (120,000 m2) lots with the view to encouraging English settlers who would be more used to the relatively small (by Australian standards) farm sizes. Within a few years, it had developed into a highly successful wheat growing area with a population of over 1,000. Several community centres were created, notably North Greenough, Central Greenough (initially focused on Company Road between Gray's Store and the Hampton Arms Hotel), South Greenough and Bookara.

The town that never was

Central Greenough on Yamatji Country provides an example of colonial expansion in the mid-nineteenth century.

Located on Yamatji Country approximately 25 km south of Geraldton and 380 km north of Perth, the Greenough Flats form the flood plain of the river system close to the mouth of the Greenough River.

During the 1860s Greenough became a thriving agricultural area and developed as the local administrative centre; housing churches, schools, stores, government, and law enforcement offices necessary to service the increasing population.

Today the heart of Greenough – a collection of eleven preserved heritage buildings including a gaol, courthouse, police station, churches, and school – continues to share the stories of our people and capture the extraordinary history of our state and the region in the 1800s. Credit: National Trust of Western Australia

Clinch's Mill ©
Greenough
Western Australia
#1834.

Copyright to GS Buck Photography ©
Panasonic DMC FZ20 camera.

From my Archives. Photographed 2005.
One of the most interesting historic locations in Western Australia.
Just south of Geraldton along the Brand Highway, scattered on both sides of the highway, historic buildings rich with colonial history.
The community have worked tirelessly to care for our history over many years. Their dedication and work can only be described in the structures restoration work and the volunteers who promote the area with care and love. Thank you all for preserving our heritage and history. Worth a visit. Credit: GS Buck

Clinchs Mill ia a three storey building built of limestone with brick quoining and with an iron roof. It has a single storey boiler house attached. It was the first flour mill in the district built by Walter Padbury and extended by Thomas Church in the 1880s. It is still one of the most imposing structures in the front flats.
Greenough /ˈɡrɛnəf/ is a historical settlement situated in a floodplain (the 'Greenough Flats') 400 kilometres north of Perth, Western Australia and 24 kilometres south of Geraldton on the Brand Highway. The settlement's historical buildings are mostly built of local limestone and date to the second half of the 19th century. A sizeable collection of these are owned and managed by the National Trust of Australia. A remarkable feature of the Greenough Flats is its windswept trees, some of which are bent a full 90 degrees due to the prevailing coastal winds.
The mouth of the Greenough River is about 10 km to the north of the town.
The area was first explored by George Edward Grey in 1839 after which he named the area after Sir George Bellas Greenough, the president of the Royal Geographical Society in London. Grey claimed that the area could become the granary of Western Australia.
In 1851 Augustus Gregory surveyed 30,000 acres (120 km²) of land in the region which became known as the Greenough Flats. That was subdivided into 20- and 30-acre (120,000 m2) lots with the view to encouraging English settlers who would be more used to the relatively small (by Australian standards) farm sizes. Within a few years, it had developed into a highly successful wheat growing area with a population of over 1,000. Several community centres were created, notably North Greenough, Central Greenough (initially focused on Company Road between Gray's Store and the Hampton Arms Hotel), South Greenough and Bookara.

Red Stone Ruin ©
Bindoon/Gingin
#1833.

Copyright GS Buck Photography ©
Canon Eos 40D camera with Canon 70-200mm lens.

From my Archives. Photographed 2005.

Exact location not available. Private property.

The location of this old red stone cottage will not be provided. I photographed this beautiful old cottage, from a back road through the large gum tree, that created a wonderful frame for the old stone cottage.
The location was surrounded by fertile green pastures, after good winter rains.
The location north of Bindoon, driving along to a back road to the town of Gingin to the west.
Beautiful region, with many old cottages dotted about the country side.
Bindoon is a town 84 kilometres from Perth city on the Great Northern Highway within the Shire of Chittering.

History
The name Bindoon is thought to be Aboriginal in origin and to mean "place where the yams grow". The name has been in use in the area since 1843 when an early settler, William Brockman, named the property he had surveyed as Bindoon. The townsite was gazetted in 1953.

Shire of Chittering (Bindoon)Location: Located roughly 56 km to 84 km north-northeast of the Perth CBD along the Great Northern Highway.Area: Covers approximately 1,220 km², stretching from the Darling Scarp hinterland.Townships/Localities: Consists of Bindoon, Muchea, Wannamal, Lower Chittering, Upper Chittering, and Mooliabeenee.Highlights: Famous for the award-winning Bindoon Bakehaus and its vibrant agricultural, viticulture, and equestrian communities.

Shire of GinginLocation: Located approximately 80 km north of Perth, stretching from the Swan Coastal Plain across to the Indian Ocean.Area: Covers about 3,223 km² of mixed agricultural and coastal land.Townships/Localities: Encompasses the inland town of Gingin as well as the coastal communities of Guilderton, Lancelin, Ledge Point, and Seabird. Credit: Google Search

Old Valley Homestead ©
Chittering Valley
Western Australia.
#1832.

Copyright GS Buck Photography ©.
Fuji Fine Pix 2800 compact zoom camera.

From my archives, photographed 2001.

Discovered this old corrugated Iron, timber and brick planted former homestead, with large timber shed at the rear, in a beautiful valley, among the fruit growing area of Chittering Valley, 70km north of Perth.
Tucked into the valley basement looking splendid among the green pastures.
The old place looked deserted at the time I photographed and very doubtful anyone did live there.
This photo is one I photographed a few years ago on a trip through to Toodyay. The trip from Bullsbrook in the west through Chittering and onto Julimar and Toodyay is an beautiful drive through green valley pastures with cattle grazing peacefully.
Chittering is a town and rural district approximately 70 km NNE of Perth, Western Australia. It is located along the Brockman River within the Shire of Chittering. It lies between the towns of Gingin and Toodyay, in the Wheatbelt region.
The area was first explored by George Fletcher Moore in 1836 and has been known by that name since Moore recorded it on his maps. The name is Aboriginal in origin and is thought to mean place of the willie wagtails. Credit: Wikipedia.

Hay Shed ©
Ferguson Valley
Western Australia.
#1831.

Copyright GS Buck Photography ©
Canon Eos 20D camera with Canon wide angle 10-22mm.

From my archive photographed 2012.

The old timber cottage, now used as a hay shed, is located in the rolling green hills around Wellington Mill. Wellington Forrest area.
The Ferguson Valley was best known to the locals who live there as the hidden gem of the Southwest of Western Australia. The sprawling, rolling hills, with trans-seasonal appeal, the golden glow of the valley as the summer sun sets and vibrant, lush greens of winter define a collective local understanding that what we have is magical.
The Ferguson Valley best known to the locals who live around the valley as the hidden gem of the Southwest. The sprawling, rolling green lush hills, with seasonal appeal, the golden glow of the valley as the summer sun sets with vibrant, lush greens of winter defines a magical collective and understanding that what the local s have is stunning and love to share with visitors from all parts of Australia and the world.
Located 28km southeast of Bunbury and 15km east from Donnybrook, the town well known for its apple orchards.
Credit: GS Buck.

The Ferguson Valley, located in Western Australia's South West region between Dardanup and Collie, offers a rich history spanning thousands of years of Noongar Aboriginal heritage, early settler agriculture, and a modern evolution into a premium food, wine, and tourism destination.Indigenous HeritageTraditional Owners: The valley sits on the traditional lands of the Noongar people, who have occupied and managed the land for over 50,000 years, utilizing the rich jarrah and marri forests for food, medicine, and cultural practices.
Traditional Owners: The valley sits on the traditional lands of the Noongar people, who have occupied and managed the land for over 50,000 years, utilizing the rich jarrah and marri forests for food, medicine, and cultural practices.Early Exploration and Settlement (1800s)Naming: The region and the Ferguson River get their names from John Ferguson, an early property owner in the 1840s. The area was officially mapped and named in 1844 by surveyor H.M. Ommanney.Farming Pioneers: The 1870s saw the establishment of early European farming properties, such as John Charlton Fowler’s Sergeant Dale. Early settlers supplemented their agricultural incomes with sandalwood harvesting.Community Growth: As the district’s farming and timber populations grew, the Upper Ferguson State School was opened in 1893, and St Aidan's Church and cemetery were established.
Naming: The region and the Ferguson River get their names from John Ferguson, an early property owner in the 1840s. The area was officially mapped and named in 1844 by surveyor H.M. Ommanney.Farming Pioneers: The 1870s saw the establishment of early European farming properties, such as John Charlton Fowler’s Sergeant Dale. Early settlers supplemented their agricultural incomes with sandalwood harvesting.Community Growth: As the district’s farming and timber populations grew, the Upper Ferguson State School was opened in 1893, and St Aidan's Church and cemetery were established.
Timber and Agriculture (Early-Mid 1900s)Timber Boom: The arrival of timber milling at nearby Wellington Mills drove significant regional expansion, though operations mostly ceased by the mid-1910s and 1920s as timber supplies dwindled.
Wine and Tourism Evolution (Late 1900s to Present)Agricultural Shift: The late 20th century saw a major agricultural shift. Farmers discovered that the valley’s rich, ironstone-gravel soils and Mediterranean climate were perfect for viticulture. Today, the region is a burgeoning wine hub, yielding renowned Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chardonnay.Gnomesville: In 1998, a quirky new chapter in local lore began when the first gnome was placed in a roadside bush area. This sparked an international phenomenon, resulting in "Gnomesville"—a free, sprawling village home to over 3,000 resident gnomes.Today, the Ferguson Valley is a premier South West destination known for its rolling hills, boutique breweries, and world-class mountain biking and bushwalking trails at Mount Lennard and Wellington Dam. Explore the heritage sites using the Dardanup Heritage Trail or plan your trip via the Destination WA portal.
Credit: Google Search

Orchard Farm Cottage ©
Donnybrook
Western Australia.
#1830.

Copyright GS Buck Photography ©
Canon Eos D7 camera with Canon 70-200mm Lens.

From My Archives, photographed 2010.

Travelling from Donnybrook, Aprox.250km south of Perth and within a days drive. through rural regions south along the Southwest Highway to Bridgetown, presents many opportunities to photograph beautiful scenery of green bushland, rich fertile farmlands and national parklands.
This particular property set in a small pictures valley where growing fruit is the prime income.
This small quaint cottage sits in an orchard among the fruit orchard setting. Presenting a nice pleasant rural scene.
The farm cottage was uninhabited at time I photographed the scene.

Small rural towns along the Southwest Highway include Newlands, Kirup, Mullalyup, Ballingup, Greenbushes and Bridgetown. All wonderful locations to visit.
I have been informed that this cottage no longer exists, sadly.
Credit: GS Buck

Fruit growing in Western Australia began in the early 19th century, evolving from small-scale coastal settlements into an internationally renowned agricultural powerhouse. Today, the state’s multi-million dollar industry is concentrated in the Mediterranean-climate South West, spanning from the Perth Hills to Albany.Early Beginnings (1830s–1880s)Early European settlers planted the first fruit trees—including citrus, apples, and stone fruit—along the Swan River and in pockets of the Darling Range. Initial development was slow due to dense forests, poor soils, and a reliance on horse-drawn transport. The arrival of Chinese market gardeners in the 19th century further shaped the horticultural landscape, establishing market gardens on Perth’s wetland and peaty soils.Expansion and the Export Boom (1890s–1950s)The 1890s timber boom and the opening of new railway lines made commercial orchard development feasible in the Perth Hills (e.g., Kalamunda and Pickering Brook) and the South West.The Golden Mile of Fruit: Regions like Harvey, Donnybrook, and the Manjimup/Mt Barker areas became prominent for apples, pears, and citrus.Overseas Markets: By the early 1900s, commercial trial shipments to London proved successful. Despite setbacks during the World Wars and shifts towards dairy farming, the South West established itself as a premier fruit-exporting region.Modern Innovation and Global Varieties (1970s–Present)Western Australia cemented its agricultural legacy by developing globally acclaimed apple varieties through the Department of Agriculture:Pink Lady Released commercially in 1973, this internationally famous apple was developed by horticulturist John Cripps, who successfully cross-bred the Australian 'Lady Williams' with the 'Golden Delicious'. (marketed as Bravo™): Continuing this legacy, the state introduced this dark-red, sweet apple in the 2010s to rave consumer reviews.
Apples, Stone Fruit, & Wine Grapes: Grown extensively in the cooler, southern regions including Manjimup, Pemberton, Donnybrook, and the Perth Hills.Citrus: Thrives in the warm, irrigated channels of the Harvey and Bindoon districts.Tropical Fruits (Bananas & Melons): Grown in the semi-arid, irrigated banks of the Gascoyne River in Carnarvon.For more information on the industry's contemporary practices and historical records, visit the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development or learn more about the early pioneers via the Pickering Brook Heritage Group.
Credit: Google Search