1950s
Despite Europeans claiming the land, Noongar people set up semi-permanent camps to the north of Guildford and around the traditional meeting ground at Success Hill. For the most part, Noongars held onto our traditional ways and resisted attempts by European landowners to turn us into a servile class.[viii]
In 1851, the Convict Depot was established in Guildford and over the next 18 years a total of 9,000 men arrived in the colony.[ix] The convicts, and later, ‘Ticket of Leave’ men (who had been granted parole), began to live and work in Guildford, building roads, houses, bridges and other public works.