Bassendean Historical Society

28/10/2026

One of our visitors to the Bassendean Historical Society Meeting tonight showed us some original West Guildford postage stamps.

27/10/2026

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Today’s Tuesday Treasure is a view of the B.I.C. Reserve looking north-west, 1936.
This image shows the corner of Wilson Street and Perth Road, Bassendean, the original location of the West Guildford War Memorial. In the background, you can see the houses on Railway Parade and the newly constructed pedestrian subway.

The war memorial was unveiled on 20 December 1920 and today the site is occupied by the Bassendean Memorial Library, so named to acknowledge the original purpose of the location. In between the war memorial site and the background, are the tennis courts on the right of Wilson Street. This image is prior to the extension of Guildford Road which occurred in the mid 1970’s and changed the B.I.C. Reserve dimensions. Prior to the B.IC. Reserve the site was known as Hay’s Swamp and the swamp land was reclaimed after Mr Hay’s death.

Find this picture and more online in the Bassendean Memorial Library Catalogue!

Photo number P729 . Photograph taken in 1936

Watch this space for more to come in the coming weeks.

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22/10/2026

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History Hub: Richard Purser & Co 🚜

In 1912, Richard Purser established an agricultural implement factory in Bassendean. The factory was famous for the manufacturing of the Purser T-Bar Roller.

Described in the Sunday Times, 13 October 1912 as ‘invaluable to farmers…leaving the ground in the best possible condition for the binder and other harvesting machinery’.

Richard Purser and Co were also the sole distributing agents for the International Harvester Company.

A display of Richard Pursar and Co locally produced farm equipment was a feature of the Perth Royal Show every year.

In 1930, Richard Purser retired and the land was leased by the International Harvester company. Richard Purser died in 1942.

Like these snippets of the Town's history? Head to our Local Studies area in the Library or subscribe to Around the Town, our monthly e-news for more fun facts. Subscribe here: www.tinyurl.com/subscribeATT

📸 Promotional flyer for Richard Purser and Co.

20/10/2026

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Today's Tuesday Treasure from the vault is of Horse and Dray at Cuming Smith's Superphosphate Works, 12th January 1928. North wall of number three shed and steel girders for the number four shed to be built the following year. Stages in the fertiliser recovery process- superphosphate recovery by hand, shovel, horse and dray. Donated by CSBP. Used in Bassendean : A Social History / Jennie Carter, p.143

Find this picture and more online in the Bassendean Memorial Library Catalogue!

Photo number P161 . Horse And Dray At Cuming Smith's Superphosphate WorksPhotograph taken in 1928

Watch this space for more to come in the coming weeks.

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08/10/2026

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Explore truth-telling, collaboration and community-led research at this unmissable event.

03/10/2026

Thankyou again to the member for Hasluck Tania Lawrence for taking her time to visit 1 Surrey Street and also Mayor Hamilton and Councillor Carter.

26/09/2026

A letter to an ex student from the West Guildford State School during the 1st world war.

26/09/2026

Recognition from History West

25/09/2026

With the Mayor of the TOB Kathryn Hamilton and local federal MLA for the seat of Hasluck Tania Lawrence, inspecting the Pensioner Guard Cottage and adjoining Residence at 1 Surrey Street, Bassendean this afternoon.