Guilderton

History

The area has been used as a camping and recreation spot since 1905 when the residents of nearby Gingin petitioned for a road to be constructed to the area. The area was declared as a recreation area in 1907. In 1931, 40 silver guilder coins from the 17th century were found in the sandhills near the entrance to the Moore River – thus the name Guilderton. The coins were thought to be from the wreck of the Dutch ship, Vergulde Draeck (Gilt Dragon) that had foundered on a reef north of the river-mouth near Ledge Point in 1656. Soldiers used the area during World War II both for rest and recreation and as a base for horseback beach patrols. The township was gazetted and named Guilderton on 28 November 1951; the area was known locally as Moore River until this time. In 1983, the Federal Department of Transport established a lighthouse at Wreck Point, Guilderton near the river mouth at a cost of $240,000. This was the last brick tower style lighthouse built in Australia.