This is a collection of Busselton Nightlife stories from the 1950s to 80s told by colourful South West residents.
Busso Nightlife by Bill Gibson
Scarborough surfer Bill Gibson moved down south in 1974. He worked in Capel & Busselton and lived in a small cottage at Wyadup Valley Yallingup. In September 1975, he married his high school girlfriend Kaye at a church in Busselton followed by a reception at Caves House Yallingup.
Bill Gibson. “Travelling down south as a teenager was always an adventure in the early 70s. Before I had a licence, it was a mission thumbing a lift, but always fun. Once on the road it was great. The adventure began! The road was narrow and when you got south of Bunbury it seemed like a tunnel. Peppy trees hanging overhead, and giant Tuart trees that looked like monsters in the dark. There were no service stations open after Halfway House so you always called in for a feed and to top up. Occasionally if you had set off early enough Busselton had a garage open, but this had its draw backs. You had entered a strange world. Surfers were some sort of weird hippies from another planet! The local lads took great pleasure in taking the piss out of a surfer and they were usually in greater numbers than you, so you had to cop it sweet or suffer the consciences. I remember being followed out of the garage and down the road one night. How someone didn’t wind up in the ditch was a miracle”.
Bill is retired and lives in Cowaramup with his wife Kaye, who is an artist.
1975 Bill & Kaye’s wedding reception at Caves House Hotel Yallingup. Bill with male wedding guests including the late Steve Fordham and Barry Young. Gibson family pic.
In June 2017, Surfing Down South shared stories about Busso Nightlife 1950s to 80s by South West residents such as Kevin Merifield, Ian Wiese, George Simpson, Sally Gunter, Steve ‘Horny’ Campbell, Bruce King, Loz Smith, and Jo Felton.
This is a collection of Busselton Nightlife stories from the 1950s to 80s told by colourful South West residents.
Busso Nightlife by Bill Gibson
Scarborough surfer Bill Gibson moved down south in 1974. He worked in Capel & Busselton and lived in a small cottage at Wyadup Valley Yallingup. In September 1975, he married his high school girlfriend Kaye at a church in Busselton followed by a reception at Caves House Yallingup.
Bill Gibson. “Travelling down south as a teenager was always an adventure in the early 70s. Before I had a licence, it was a mission thumbing a lift, but always fun. Once on the road it was great. The adventure began! The road was narrow and when you got south of Bunbury it seemed like a tunnel. Peppy trees hanging overhead, and giant Tuart trees that looked like monsters in the dark. There were no service stations open after Halfway House so you always called in for a feed and to top up. Occasionally if you had set off early enough Busselton had a garage open, but this had its draw backs. You had entered a strange world. Surfers were some sort of weird hippies from another planet! The local lads took great pleasure in taking the piss out of a surfer and they were usually in greater numbers than you, so you had to cop it sweet or suffer the consciences. I remember being followed out of the garage and down the road one night. How someone didn’t wind up in the ditch was a miracle”.
Bill is retired and lives in Cowaramup with his wife Kaye, who is an artist.
1975 Bill & Kaye’s wedding reception at Caves House Hotel Yallingup. Bill with male wedding guests including the late Steve Fordham and Barry Young. Gibson family pic.
In June 2017, Surfing Down South shared stories about Busso Nightlife 1950s to 80s by South West residents such as Kevin Merifield, Ian Wiese, George Simpson, Sally Gunter, Steve ‘Horny’ Campbell, Bruce King, Loz Smith, and Jo Felton.
Click on link to access original stories.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 🎅
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