Retaining Walls in Australind
A town that failed on water
In 1840 the Western Australian Land Company bought 42,000 hectares to build an English-style village, but Wikipedia says the settlement faltered because of poor soils and climate, with no water in summer and too much in winter. The plans were abandoned officially in 1875. That history is a fair prompt for any wall owner here to ask how winter water will be handled.
Small beginnings
Australind had 33 people in 1898 and 418 in 1971, then grew until the town had quadrupled by 1981. The 2021 census counted 15,988 residents, 12 kilometres north-east of Bunbury's centre. Because the town grew in stages, houses may date from different decades, so tell a builder which era your wall and house belong to.
Three waterways
The Collie River bounds Australind to the south, the Leschenault Estuary to the west and the Brunswick River to the east. Estates such as Galway Green and Clifton Park lie within it. Blocks near water raise obvious questions about groundwater and softer soil, so ask the builder how they would find out what is under your wall.
The Shire of Harvey applies
Wikipedia places the town in the Shire of Harvey, not the City of Bunbury. The City's building page covers only land inside the City, so its permit steps may not be yours. Ask the shire which forms, fees and exemptions apply to a wall at your address, and write down who you spoke to.
Smallest church, oldest cottage
St Nicholas Church, from 1848, measures 3.6 by 8.2 metres and is believed to be the smallest church in Australia. Henton Cottage, built in 1841, was the town's first hotel. Both buildings still stand, which shows how long a well-made structure can last when water is managed.
Four materials
One national guide updated on 5 June 2026 prices walls by face area: treated timber $250 to $450, concrete sleepers on steel posts $350 to $650, core-filled block $450 to $800 and natural rock $500 to $1,000 or more. These are national figures, not local quotes. Ask each builder why they would choose a material for your slope and soil.
Height more than length
The same guide says price depends on height and soil pressure far more than on length. Doubling a wall's height from 1 metre to 2 metres doubles the face area and costs more than twice as much. Ask each builder to give the tallest point, say where it is measured from and write down the soil they assumed.
Footings under a load
Hard ground, rock or a load above the wall, such as a driveway or a building, means deeper and stronger footings, says the guide. Tell the builder what stands above the wall now and what you may add later. Ask what depth is quoted, why it suits your ground and who stands behind it.
First sighting from the sea
Australind lies 12 kilometres north-east of Bunbury's centre in the Shire of Harvey. The Elaap and Pindjarup people of the Noongar nation lived here before settlement, and early settlers found them excellent trackers who often worked on farms. The first European sighting of this coast was by Captain Jonk of the Dutch ship Emeloort on 24 February 1658, though he did not land.
Which council covers Australind?
Wikipedia says the Shire of Harvey, so ask the shire about permits rather than relying on the City of Bunbury.
Why did the original settlement fail?
Wikipedia blames poor soils and climate, with no water in summer and too much of it in winter.
What is St Nicholas Church known for?
It is believed to be the smallest church in Australia, according to Wikipedia.
Nearby
Eaton
East Bunbury