A short drive from Onslow, you will find the remains of the original townsite, ‘Old Onslow’, at the mouth of the Ashburton River.

The original townsite of Onslow was gazetted in October 1885 and named after Sir Alexander Onslow, the Chief Justice of Western Australia at the time. The townsite supported the nearby stations that had been established along the Ashburton River.

Minderoo, established in 1882, stands as one of the earliest recorded pastoral stations. By 1890, the majority of land along the Ashburton River had been claimed by stations, primarily engaged in sheep farming, with a few also involved in running cattle. In the early settlement days, pearls were found in Exmouth Gulf and Onslow became the home port for a fleet of pearling luggers. These luggers stayed in local water up until World War II when most were commandeered by the armed forces or destroyed.

The town and port facilities suffered from many cyclones that hit the area and by 1923 the decision was made to relocate the town some 18 kilometres up the coast. On January 10, 1924 the town of Beadon was gazetted and shortly thereafter renamed to Onslow, which is the town we know today. In 1925 the old town, it’s buildings and all of the inhabitants were moved via camel and donkey drawn wagons to the location where it is today.

Visitors today travel to the old townsite to see the stone remains of the gaol, the courthouse, the police station and police quarters. Some of the old town’s buildings and artefacts can also be seen at the Onslow Visitor Centre and Goods Shed Museum.

To make the most out of your trip to Old Onslow, download the Visit Ashburton mobile app and immerse yourself in the town’s history, literally.

visitashburton.au/app