Dingup House Bed and Breakfast

Manjimup, Western Australia

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John Giblett arrived in Western Australia on 20th August 1847 with his wife Ann, who was pregnant with their first child, Thomas. John and Ann initially settled on Burswood Island, with the owner Henry Camfield, where they lived for several years.

From Burswoood Island they moved to Serpentine, where John grew wheat and sugar cane, as well as raising cattle and mining gold and copper. From there the family moved to Harvey, but poison plants caused many stock losses, causing John to move further south. Whilst still at Harvey, he acquired 44,000 acres of SOL (special occupancy lease) land near what is now called Manjimup.

John and Ann Giblett and their eight children then moved to Balbarrup (near Dingup) and, through much hard work, cleared land for wheat. Cultivation was done by hand digging and fertilising was accomplished by gathering and spreading animal manures. Crops were hand sown and raked in. It is on record that a twelve acre crop of wheat yielded fifty bushels to the acre. Potatoes were also grown and transported to Albany, where they were sold for nine pounds per ton.

Land was bought and named Dingup, for John and Ann's eldest son Thomas, 5 kilometres south of Balbarrup. Thomas married Maria Moulton on 28th September 1868. Thomas completed the first stage (3 rooms) of Dingup House, in 1870. He and Maria went on to have a family of nine children, and another three stages of Dingup House were completed by 1880.

Dingup House eventually consisted of 17 rooms, giving 400 sq metres of enclosed area. Outbuildings included a butcher and blacksmith's shop built from pit sawn timber, and a large barn and shearing shed built from split timber slabs, all with shingle roofs. The main house is constructed of fired mudbricks made on the property. Some rooms were wallpapered and the original wallpaper, dating back to before 1900, can still be seen in the lounge room.

Thomas also built Dingup Church, which can be seen just a few minutes away on Balbarrup Road. Unfortunately Thomas was killed by a falling tree, at the age of 55 while clearing his land. Thomas and other members of the pioneering Giblett family are buried at the historic cemetery on Perup Road at Balbarrup.

During Thomas Giblett’s lifetime, Dingup House became a social centre and there was always room and a hearty welcome for weary travellers … and still the tradition continues.

Contact Details

Kathy and David Savage
RMB 114 Dingup Road, Manjimup, Western Australia  6258
Phone/fax 61 08 9772 4206
Email dingup@westnet.com.au