ONE woman’s desire to keep the history of Bunbury alive has sparked thousands of memories of the way things were.
Thirty-eight-year-old Megan Lawless always loved trawling through the old black-and-white photos from her family’s history in Bunbury.
Concerned that the pictures could become damaged or lost, she had started to preserve them by scanning the images onto her computer.
She decided to share the local photography with the community and set up a Facebook page called Memories of Bunbury on Sunday.
Miss Lawless was pleased to see about 100 people join the page over the weekend, but when she logged on Monday morning, she was shocked to discover more than 1500 people had jumped on board. There are now more than 2,800 members.
The page features images including the old railyards, grain silos, a 1949 Hayward Medal presentation, the Leschenault Lady steam train, Back Beach baths and Prince Charles’ visit to the city in 1979.
“It gives me goosebumps to look at these amazing photos, it’s a very emotional thing to relive some of the memories and remember the way things used to be,” Ms Lawless said.
Miss Lawless’ family, the Gibsons, came out to WA on the fourth convict ship to Fremantle and relocated to Bunbury. Family members are buried at the old Picton Church.
Miss Lawless grew up in Bunbury and has always had an interest in the history of the coastal city.
“I’m not a historian by any means, I just want to start a discussion and connect people to finding out more about where it all started.”
City of Bunbury heritage officer Leigh Barrett said it was important to know where you have come from and to realise how things have changed.
“People often take their surroundings for granted without really even noticing what’s around them,” Ms Barrett said.
She hoped the page would encourage people to value the city’s heritage places and want to hold onto and preserve them.
She said it also linked to the planned Bunbury Museum, which will exhibit objects and stories on the city’s history, from prehistoric to contemporary, at the Paisley Centre.
Do you have a memory of Bunbury you would like to share? Email shanelle.miller@fairfaxmedia.com.au
