Vasse, Western Australia

Not to be confused with Busselton, which was previously known as "the Vasse".

Vasse
Western Australia
Old Vasse Primary School Precinct, 2013.
Vasse is located in Western Australia
Vasse
Vasse
Map
Coordinates33°41′S 115°18′E / 33.69°S 115.3°E / -33.69; 115.3
Population2,853 (SAL 2021)[1]
Established1927
Postcode(s)6280
Area36.1 km2 (13.9 sq mi)
Location
LGA(s)City of Busselton
State electorate(s)Vasse
Federal division(s)Forrest

Vasse is a suburb of the city of Busselton in the South West region of Western Australia, 10 kilometres (6 mi) west of Busselton and 240 kilometres (149 mi) southwest of Perth. Its local government area is the City of Busselton. At the 2021 census, Vasse had a population of 2,853.

The area was originally inhabited by the Wardandi people.[2] Hurford and Penney seem to have had a bay whaling operation in Geographe Bay in 1846.[3]

The town is named after the Vasse River and Vasse Estuary, both of which in turn are named after French seaman Thomas Vasse, who disappeared in the area in June 1801 during Nicolas Baudin's expedition. .[4] The townsite of Vasse was gazetted in 1927; the area had previously been known as Newtown.[2][5] A hall (originally known as Newtown Hall) was built in 1898, while the Old Vasse Primary School was constructed in 1901 and replaced by a newer school on the same site in 1960; the present cite was in use as a school as early as 1884 and there was a public school in the area in 1869.[6][7][8]

The population of Vasse was around 75 according to a 2001 estimate.[9] It was predominantly a farming area until the establishment of a housing estate in 2004.[2] Along with the government primary school, Vasse is also serviced by a high school at Cape Naturaliste College (established in 2008).[10][11] On 1 August 2023, the boundary between Vasse and Kealy was moved north to Bussell Highway for easier recognition.[12][13]

  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Vasse (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ a b c "Vasse History". Vasse Village. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  3. ^ Martin Gibbs, The Shore Whalers of Western Australia: Historical Archaeology of a Maritime Frontier, Sydney University Press, 2010, p.143.
  4. ^ "History of country town names – V". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  5. ^ "New townsite of Vasse". The South-Western News. 1 April 1927. Retrieved 16 August 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Newtown Hall (Vasse Hall)". Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  7. ^ "Old Vasse Primary School Precinct". Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  8. ^ "School History". Vasse Primary School. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  9. ^ "Demography and Planning: 2011" (PDF). Shire of Busselton. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 March 2016.
  10. ^ "Home". Vasse Primary School. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  11. ^ "School Overview: Cape Naturaliste College". Department of Education. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  12. ^ "Kealy and Vasse Locality Boundary Adjustment". City of Busselton. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  13. ^ "30 June 2023 | Kealy and Vasse Locality Boundary Adjustment". City of Busselton. Retrieved 25 August 2023.