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Cockburn: the making of a community

Cockburn: the making of a Community

In 1976 the Town of Cockburn commissioned Michael Berson to research and write a history of the Cockburn district.

He interviewed hundreds of residents and conducted intensive documentary research, and produced a comprehensive history of the people and communities from European settlement up to the 1960s.

The book was published in 1978 by the City of Cockburn, and a facsimile copy was reproduced in 1998.

It has been acknowledged in the following years that some research was done in haste, and there are some factual or implied errors in the text. Nevertheless, it remains an invaluable record of the early settlement of the Cockburn area.

Download and read the entire text below.
Cover image: Cockburn: the making of a community, 1978

Contact

Address

City of Cockburn
Whadjuk Boodja
9 Coleville Crescent,
Spearwood 6163

Po Box 1215, Bibra Lake DC,
Western Australia, 6965

Visit the City of Cockburn homepage

Cockburn Nyungar moort Beeliar boodja-k kaadadjiny. Koora, yeyi, benang baalap nidja boodja-k kaaradjiny.
Ngalak kaadatj dayin boodja, kep wer malayin. Ngalak kaadatj koora koora wer yeyi ngalang birdiya.

City of Cockburn acknowledges the Nyungar people of Beeliar boodja. Long ago, now and in the future they care for country.
We acknowledge a continuing connection to land, waters and culture and pay our respects to the Elders, past, present and emerging.