// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the Locke Estate say to the key? You're locked in.
| Locke Estate | |
|---|---|
| The Holy Mile | |
  Locke Estate Location within Western Australia | |
| Location | Siesta Park, Western Australia |
| Nearest city | Busselton |
| Coordinates | 33°40′S 115°14′E / 33.66°S 115.24°E |
| Area | 37.5 ha (93 acres)[1][2] |
| Established | 29 August 1947 |
| Governing body | City of Busselton |
The Locke Estate is an area of Crown land located on the coast of Geographe Bay near Caves Road approximately 10 kilometres (6 mi) west of the town of Busselton. The estate comprises 16 private campsites, all currently leased to not-for-profit organizations. These include religious groups, youth associations like the Scouts, educational institutions, and community service providers. Historically, the presence of church groups amongst the leasees has led to the area being known locally as the "Holy Mile".[3][4][5]
Estate management
[edit]Designated as an A-class Reserve No. 22674 in August 1947, the estate is afforded the highest level of protection available to Crown land[6]. The land is vested in the City of Busselton for management purposes. The City is empowered to lease land for a maximum period of 21 years, subject to Ministerial approval. The use of land is restricted to "Recreational campsites and group holiday accommodation".
The estate is broken into 16 discrete land parcels around 2 hectares in area.[7] Leases balance private camping with coastal management and the protection of the natural habitat of the Western Ringtail Possum. All campsites are currently subject to uniform 21-years leases, expiring in 2032.
History
[edit]The Locke Estate originally formed part of a larger landholding in the Sussex Land District, granted to the pioneer Locke Family, after whom the current estate has been named. First acquired by the Western Australian government in 1920, the estate was designated an A-Class Reserve in August 1947 for the purposes of "Camping and Recreation".[8] The estate was originally under management of the State Gardens Board before vesting in the Busselton Roads Board on 2 April 1954.[9]
- 1953 - Application by South West Girl Guides Association to lease 7 acres of the reserve.
- 1954-1978 - Leases to approximately 17 non-profit organisations were issued by the Shire of Busselton and approved by the Minister for Lands.
- 10 October 1986 - Department of Lands amends the purpose of the reserve to "Recreational Camp Sites and Group Holiday Accommodation".
- 1 December 1990 - Commencement of new, uniform 21-year leases.
- 25 July 2002 - The Minister for Lands reduces the area of the Class A Reserve 22674 dedicated for "Recreational Camp Sites and Group Holiday Accommodation" from 53.2 to 37.7 hectares.
- 2008 to 2010 - The City of Busselton commences a Community and Stakeholder Consultation process regarding the future of the Locke Estate.
- 1 December 2011 - Commencement of 16 uniform leases maintaining the status quo over the area.
Locke Nature Reserve
[edit]On 11 February 1992, a 222 hectare portion of the original Locke family landholding located south of Caves Road was gazetted as the Locke Nature Reserve[1] for the purpose of wildlife and bird conservation. In 2018, a bridge was built from the reserve across the Buayanyup River to link two previously isolated populations of western ringtail possums.[10][11][12]
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Terrestrial CAPAD 2022 WA summary". www.dcceew.gov.au/. Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
- ↑ "Australian Protected Areas Dashboard". www.dcceew.gov.au/. Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
- ↑ "Interest in Busselton's 'Holy Mile' sites". Busselton Mail. 12 March 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ↑ "Battle on the Holy Mile", Australasian Business Intelligence, COMTEX News Network, Inc: 1008049i6424, 18 February 2002, ISSN 1320-6680
- ↑ "Developers eye SW's Holy Mile coastal strip", Australasian Business Intelligence, COMTEX News Network, Inc, 15 February 2007, ISSN 1320-6680
- ↑ Western Australia. Department for Planning and Infrastructure; Western Australia. Dept. for Planning and Infrastructure. New Coastal Assets Branch (2004), Locke Estate Busselton (Class 'A' Reserve no. 22674) : investigation of beach stabilisation, Dept. for Planning and Infrastructure, retrieved 10 August 2019
- ↑ "Locke Estate". City of Busselton. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ↑ "Community and Stakeholder Consultation into the Future Use of the Locke Estate". (2008). Report prepared by Connell Wagner for the Shire of Busselton
- ↑ Government of Western Australia - Landgate. (2026) Reserve Details Report for Reserve 22674. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
- ↑ Ison, Sarah (23 July 2019). "Hopes new bridge will link possums". Busselton Dunsborough Times. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ↑ BA Jones; RA How; DJ Kitchener (1 March 1994), "A field study of Pseudocheirus occidentalis (Marsupialia : Petauridae) II. Population studies", Wildlife Research, 21 (2), CSIRO PUBLISHING: 189–201, ISSN 1448-5494
- ↑ Jones, B.A; Meathrel, C.E; Calver, M.C (2004), Hypotheses arising from a population recovery of the Western Ringtail Possum Pseudocheirus occidentalis in fire regrowth patches in a stand of Agonis flexuosa trees in south-western Australia, Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, retrieved 10 August 2019