Leschenault Waterways Eco Museum & Australind Jetty

Extending about one kilometre over the protected waters of Leschenault Estuary (Derbal Elaap), the Australind Jetty is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Australind.

It offers breathtaking views of the estuary, and you can also watch the windsurfers surfing further down the estuary. Be sure to spot people wading through shallow water scooping blue swimmer crabs, as well as fish and prawns.

On the foreshore is the Leschenault Waterways Eco Museum (also known as the Discovery Centre) where you can learn about the estuary environment and the local plants and animals.

Originally part of the Leschenault Inlet system, the Leschenault Estuary is approximately 13.5 km long and has a maximum width of approximately 2.5 km. Formed only 8,000 years ago, the estuarine lagoon is separated from the ocean by a thin peninsula of dunes called the Leschenault Peninsula and forms part of the ecologically valuable Swan Coastal Plain.

The Estuary is one of Western Australia’s most significant migratory bird wetlands, including many Black Swans (Cygnus atratus). It is also home to a resident pod of dolphins.

This area forms part of the Kalgulup Regional Park.

History

The Australind Jetty was formerly known as Laporte’s Boardwalk and was named after a former British company, La Porte Industries. It was established as part of a titanium extraction plant in Australind in the 1960s. Since the factory’s closure, the jetty has been a popular attraction for walking and fishing over the past 30 years.