Alfred Bussell

Who was Alfred Bussell?

Alfred Pickmore Bussell was an early settler in Western Australia.

Alfred Pickmore Bussell was born at Portsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire in England on 21 June 1816. He was educated at Winchester College in England, but after the death of his father the family decided to emigrate to Western Australia. Alfred Bussell and three of his brothers sailed for Western Australia on board the Warrior in March 1830, with the rest of the Bussell family to follow once the brothers were established. He was just thirteen years old at the time.

On arriving at the Swan River Colony, the Bussells were advised to start a new sub-colony at Augusta. For four years the brothers tried unsuccessfully to establish a farm, initially at Augusta and then further up the Blackwood River. The brothers had immense difficulty clearing the land, and found the soil not particularly good for farming. Alfred's brother John conducted a number of exploring expeditions to the Vasse in search of better land, with Alfred accompanying him on at least two expeditions. The explorers found excellent farmland at the Vasse, so after the Bussell's home was destroyed by fire in 1834, the family re-established themselves at the Vasse, where they became successful and prosperous farmers.