History

The History of St Mary’s Anglican Church began in April 1834 when the schooner Ellen arrived in Geographe Bay from Augusta. On board were the Bussell brothers, John, Charles, Lenox, Vernon, and Alfred. Accompanying them were Phoebe Bower and George Layman.[1] After finding the conditions for farming at Augusta to be unsuitable, the brothers were granted approximately 3,573 acres surrounding the Vasse River. It wasn’t until June 1839, that Captain John Malloy, his wife Georgiana, and their children arrived from Augusta and settled in the Vasse region also.

Throughout the years at Augusta and at the early days of settlement at Vasse, one of the main stalwarts of the Bussell brothers, back in England, was their cousin Elizabeth Capel Carter. Prior to his departure to be part of a new colony in Western Australia, it was John Bussell’s desire to follow his father into the life of ministry. In fact, he departed England before his ordination could occur. (His father was Reverend William Marchant Bussell, Curate St. Mary’s, Portsea, England. Died 1820).

Elizabeth Capel Carter shared John Bussell’s desire for religion to be an important part of the new settlement’s development in Augusta. So, she organised a fund, 'for the erection of a church and parsonage at Augusta, Swan River, Western Australia’. This fund raised a total of two hundred and eighty pounds. Twenty of which came from Queen Adelaide via her godmother, Lady Elizabeth Capel, a Lady-in-waiting at the Court. However, as by now most settlers had made their way to the Vasse region, the Bussell family advised their cousin, that Augusta was virtually deserted and the church should be built at the new settlement, close to the Vasse River.

A lady who is a relative of a family residing at Augusta,
feeling the great disadvantage which that sequestered settlement

labours under, for want of a provision for public worship,

has set on foot a subscription, limited to a very small
sum, for the erection of a church and parsonage, which, it is
hoped, will meet with encouragement. The plan will be
found in the Appendix. * 2

*APPENDIX, No. VI.
PROPOSALS FOR THE ERECTION OF A CHURCH AND PARSONAGE AT
AUGUSTA, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. - CONTRIBUTIONS SIXPENCE EACH.

" A LADY, warmly interested in the welfare of relations and friends,
settled at the above-named Colony, is extremely anxious that they, and
the respectable community to which they belong', should not, in giving
up the many advantages of their native land, be deprived of its most
precious privilege-the means and opportunity of religious worship
and instruction. In order to promote their attainment of this blessing,

she has undertaken to raise a subscription for the erection of a
Church, on the principles of the Establishment and under episcopal
jurisdiction, and a residence for a minister of the Church of England.
She has limited the sum to be contributed to sixpence, not only

because she trusts to find it sufficient, but that it overcomes any

reluctance she might otherwise experience in making her solicitations for
this distant though promising part of our empire-to feel she is asking
for that which it can inconvenience none to bestow, however numerous
and extensive may be their charities.
It is calculated that 5001. will be sufficient for the above-mentioned
purpose.
Subscriptions will be received by the Rev. Thomas Dale, M. A.,
Minister of St. Matthew's Chapel, Denmark Hill, and Evening Lecturer

of St. Sepulchre's, London; and by John Cole Symes, Esq.,
Fenchurch Street, London; by Lawrence Desborough, Esq., Grove
Hill, Camberwell; and George Spence, Esq., Jesus College, Cambridge."

[2] THE STATE AND POSITION OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA; COMMONLY CALLED: THE SWAN-RIVER SETTLEMENT.

By CAPTAIN FRED CHIDLEY IRWIN,

OF H.M. 63RD REGIMENT; LATE COMMANDANT OF THE TROOPS, AND ACTING GOVERNOR OF THE C0LONY.

[1] CATTLE CHOSEN: THE STORY OF THE FIRST GROUP SETTLEMENT IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA 1829 TO 1841 By

E. O. G. SHANN, M.A. University of Western Australia. p73.

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Proposed Church Site Augusta WA 1834

Image courtesy of State Records Office of WA.

St Mary's Anglican Church Busselton

St Mary's Church of England, Busselton, Western Australia, 1920
(Photo courtesy of State Library of WA)

St Mary's Anglican Church Busselton

St. Mary's Anglican Church, Busselton, 7 June 1949
From the Collection of photographs from Bishop Frewer and Rev. Doncaster.
(Photo courtesy of State Library of WA)

St Mary's Anglican Church Busselton

St. Mary's Anglican Church, Busselton, 7 June 1949
From the Collection of photographs from Bishop Frewer and Rev. Doncaster.
(Photo courtesy of State Library of WA)

St Mary's Anglican Church Busselton

St Mary's Church, Busselton, ca. 1900
(Photo courtesy of State Library of WA)

St Mary's Anglican Church Busselton

St Mary's Anglican Church, Busselton, ca.1932
(Photo courtesy of State Library of WA)

St Mary's Anglican Church Busselton

St Mary's church, Busselton 11/04/1932
(Photo courtesy of State Library of WA)

St Mary's Anglican Church Busselton

St Mary's Anglican Church, Busselton,
Jim McGeough collection of photographs.
ca. 1985
(Photo courtesy of State Library of WA)

St Mary's Anglican Church Busselton

St Mary's Anglican Church, Busselton, 6.12.66
From the Norman Wylie collection.
(Photo courtesy of State Library of WA)

St Mary's Anglican Church Busselton

St Mary's Anglican Church, Busselton, and cemetery.
Jim McGeough collection of photographs. ca 1985.
(Photo courtesy of State Library of WA)

St Mary's Anglican Church Busselton

St Mary's Church, Busselton Mothers' Union, 1949
Left to right: Mrs. Dimmock, Mrs. R. Smith, Mrs. Pearce, Mrs. Marsh, Rev. R.E. Davies, Mrs. W.
Holgate, Mrs. Bishop and
son, Mrs. D. Johnson, Mrs. Munro, Mrs. Simmons, Mrs. Alsford, Mrs. Law behind Mrs. Buckenara, then Mrs. Biggs and behind Mrs. Elliott, and Carol Crow, front Mrs. Holgate and behind Mrs. W. Johnston, Mrs. Reeves, Mrs. Crow, Mrs. Woodvine. Sitting Mrs. H. Carter, Mrs. Egglestone & Sandra, Mrs. Lord, Mrs. Sayers, Mrs. Davies, Mrs. Cowley, Mrs. Veal, Mrs. Bowra, Mrs. P. Carter, Mrs. Forster & 3 Buckenara children.
(Photo courtesy of State Library of WA)

Jumna, Busselton

The Jumna was a miniature paddle steamer built by St Mary's then Rector, Canon Robert Davies (left) in 1939, which was able to carry up to three people and chugged along the Vasse River in Busselton. The idea for the Jumna was first conceived by the Canon in the mid 1930s and it made its first journey in early 1940 and its last on April 20, 1963. The Jumna has been restored and placed in a weatherproof cage at the Old Butter Factory museum, complete with a specially painted backdrop of the Vasse River. (busseltonmail.com.au 3 Feb 2010)
(Photographs & description courtesy of the State Library of WA.)

Jumna, Busselton

Busselton Historical Society

Members of Busselton Historical Society and Junior Farmers in period dress to commemorate the 120th anniversary of St Mary's Anglican Church, November 1968
(Photo courtesy of State Library of WA)

Rev. H. Needham

Rector Rev. H. Needham in the grounds of St Mary's Church Rectory, Busselton overlooking the Vasse River. ca 1900.
(Photo courtesy of State Library of WA)

Duke & Duchess of Gloucester. 10/10/1946

As part of their farewell tour of Western Australia, the Duke & Duchess of Gloucester visited Busselton and attended Morning Prayer at St Mary's Church led by Rector Rev. R. E. Davies.
The Duke of Gloucester was Governor General of Australia from 1945-1947.
(Photo courtesy of State Library of WA)

St Mary's Anglican Church Busselton

St Mary's Church.
ca. 1935-1955
From the Geoffrey Keen collection of photographs.
(Photo courtesy of State Library of WA)

Re-enactment of the laying of the foundation stone 1932.

Re-enactment of the laying of the foundation stone of St Mary's Church, Busselton. 1932.
Present: L.W. Peake, Canon Ker, Mrs Lawrence and sister (nee Cross), Albert Thurkle, Fred Bussell and other Bussells, Carolina Brockman, Kemp Killerby.
(Photo courtesy of State Library of WA)

St Mary's List of Clergy

List of Clergy who have served the Church of Busselton.

St Mary's Anglican Church Busselton
At the heart of Busselton since 1841

History

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ADDRESS

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St Mary’s Church acknowledges the WADANDI BIBBULMUN people as the traditional custodians of the Busselton Region and we pay our respects to their Elders, past, present, and emerging.

St Mary's Anglican Church, Busselton 2024