Guide to Australind Western Australia Australia

Australind is a growing town on the shores of the Leschenault Estuary, about 12 km north-east of Bunbury and 160 km south of Perth, in the Shire of Harvey. With about 16,000 people, it is part of Greater Bunbury, but it keeps a relaxed, waterside feel.

This is the Country of the Elaap and Pindjarup Noongar people. Australind is best known for the blue swimmer crabs of the Leschenault Estuary, which draw families every summer, and for its early history: in 1841 it was the site of an ambitious but short-lived settlement scheme, which left behind some of the oldest buildings in the region.

Known For

• Blue swimmer crabbing in the Leschenault Estuary
• St Nicholas Church, said to be Australia’s smallest
• Estuary walks, jetty and waterbirds

Things To Do in Australind

Leschenault Estuary

The 14 km long estuary is famous for crabbing in summer, when people wade the shallows with scoop nets for blue swimmer crabs. It is also good for whiting and bream, kayaking and windsurfing, and dolphins and more than 50 kinds of waterbirds can be seen. Fisheries rules apply to crabs and fish.

Australind Jetty and foreshore

The jetty and foreshore have walking paths, playgrounds and the Leschenault Waterways Discovery Centre. The Karragarup Play Space and sculptures at the Ridley Place foreshore are popular with families.

St Nicholas Church

Built in 1848 as a worker’s cottage, the tiny church measures only about 3.6 m by 8.2 m and is said to be the smallest church in Australia.

Henton Cottage

Built in 1841 as the Prince of Wales Hotel, Henton Cottage is one of the oldest buildings in the region and now houses a shop.

Walking trails

The Eaton Australind Historic Walk Trail follows the estuary, and the Dandjoo Bilya Trail and Paperbark Boardwalk wind along the Collie River.

Leschenault Peninsula

Across the estuary, the Leschenault Peninsula Conservation Park has bushwalks and kangaroos.

Where To Stay

Australind Tourist Park on Old Coast Road has powered sites, cabins and a dump point, close to the boat ramp. Leschenault Inlet Caravan Park on Cathedral Avenue, opposite the estuary, has tourist sites, welcomes pets and has a dump point. The old Christina Street RV stop closed in 2024. Fuel and supermarkets are in town, and all roads are sealed.

Eat & Drink

The Treendale Farm Hotel and the Australind Tavern are the local pubs, and cafes include Kuza Coffee and the Treendale Cafe and Bakery. There are also Thai and Indian restaurants.

History

Dutch sailors sighted the coast in 1658, and Nicolas Baudin’s expedition explored the estuary in 1803. In 1840, the Western Australian Company bought land here, and in 1841 Marshall Waller Clifton led about 440 settlers to found Australind, a name combining Australia and India, as the company hoped to breed horses for the British Indian Army. The scheme failed within a few years, but some settlers stayed. The town has grown rapidly since the 1990s.

Getting to Australind

Australind is about 160 km south of Perth, around an hour and three quarters’ drive via the Forrest Highway, and about 15 minutes north-east of Bunbury. Buses run to Bunbury.

December to March is crabbing season and the busiest time on the estuary. Spring is great for birds and walking trails, and winter is cool and wet.