Swan Valley - Western Australia

The Swan Valley is the area either side of the Swan River between Guildford at its south western end and Bells rapids at its north eastern end. It is bordered to the east by the Darling Scarp, both Ellen Brook and Jane Brook discharge into the Swan river. There are 14 rural suburbs within the region including Henley Brook, Caversham, Upper Swan, Brigadoon and Whiteman, it occurs in the City of Swan local government area. The area was explored in 1827 by the then Captain James Stirling later to become Governor of the Swan River Colony. Stirling was so impressed with the area the he wrote in his diary, spelling errors are as written in his diary:[1]. “ ...the richness of the soil, the bright foliage of the shrubs, the majesty of the surrounding trees, the abrupt and red colour banks of the river occasionally seen, and the view of the blue mountains, from which we were not far distant, made the scenery of this spot as bieutiful as anything of the kind I have ever witnessed... ” When Stirling returned to establish the Colony in 1829 he created three settlements Fremantle as the port, Perth as the main settlement and Guildford on the southern end of the Swan Valley region. The area north of Guildford was the most successful communtiy at the with descendents of the early families still residing within the shire. Within the first 10 years 2 of Perths oldest churches had been built the first was St Mary""s in Middle Swan followed All Saints Church, Henley Brook built at the site of Stirlings 1827 camp. St Marys was pulled down and rebuilt in 1850""s with All Saints is still the original structure and Perths oldest standing church. The valley is notable for its highly fertile soil, uncommon in Perth area, numerous wineries including Houghton, Sandalford and Lamont""s, several microbreweries and a rum distillery. There are numerous locations for day-trippers and tourists to seek out. During October the annual ""Spring in the Valley"" weekend occurs which seeks to increase tourism into the area. Swan Valley in Western Australia, only 20 minutes from the centre of Perth, is Western Australia""s oldest wine growing region. The Swan Valley is where you will experience a colourful blend of history, people, art, world-class wine, gourmet goodies and fresh produce. The Swan Valley is the ideal location to escape, indulge and awaken your senses! Award-Winning Wineries in the Swan Valley A bustling tourist area, the Swan Valley in Western Australia has a number of award-winning wineries, many of which are family owned and run. These Western Australian wineries offer superb alfresco and restaurant meals as well as cellar door tastings. A trip to the Swan Valley makes the ideal day trip. Swan Valley wineries are open for tasting all year round. Award-Winning Breweries in the Swan Valley Belgian white beer and German red beer are just two of the over 20 locally-made brews on offer in the region. Small batches and a swift turnaround mean our four microbrew outlets are always on the go, making a changing array of beers in a wide range of styles. These vary according to the whim of the brewer, but always include pale and dark ales, Belgian wheat beer, stout and - a first for Western Australia - the Feral Brewing Company""s porter, made from seasonal local produce. In the award stakes, too, Swan Valley beers are beginning to give our wines a run for their money. Our organic pilsner and old-fashioned porter have been voted the best in Australia - you""ll find these and other top valley brews at a growing number of Perth outlets and throughout the valley. And while our talented brewers pride themselves on keeping costs down by selling direct to the public and doing most of the work themselves, the main focus will always be on offering quality hand-made beers using the finest ingredients and traditional methods.