Margaret River – 1850
In 1850, the first Europeans came to live in the area. Alfred and Ellen Bussell established their farm ‘Ellensbrook’ at a traditional Noongar camping area called Mokidup.[v]
Noongar people continued to live in the area and some, including Nannup, Nilgi, and Sam Isaacs worked for the Bussell family.[vi]
Whadjuck/Ballardong Nyungar, Professor Leonard Collard, wrote that Noongar people’s work for the Bussells included ‘language translation, flora and fauna identification, farm labouring, herding sheep and cattle, milking, making butter and cheese, whaling, fishing, bullock driving, horse training, timber clearing, mail delivery, childcare and lumbering at local timber mills’.[vii]