Busselton Jetty Observatory North Window

A Window Beneath the Jetty

Built in 1887 and stretching 1.841 kilometres into the sea, Busselton Jetty is the longest timber-piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere. Near its far end, the Underwater Observatory descends eight metres below the surface, its round windows opening onto a living reef that has colonised the jetty's century-old piles.

Life on the Piles

Because the wooden and steel piles of Busselton Jetty have stood in the water for over a century, they now host more than 300 species of marine life — sponges, soft corals, and reef fish thrive in a habitat that would not otherwise exist on this stretch of coastline. The camera offers a rare, ever-shifting window onto this artificial reef.

A Non-Profit Conservation Icon

The jetty and its observatory are cared for by Busselton Jetty Incorporated, a community non-profit whose ticket sales fund the structure's ongoing restoration and marine conservation work. The underwater camera feed lets visitors from anywhere follow the health of this fragile reef in real time.

Visiting Busselton, Western Australia

The jetty sits in the coastal town of Busselton, gateway to the wine region of Margaret River in Western Australia. Alongside the observatory, visitors can walk or ride the heritage train the full length of the jetty out over the turquoise waters of Geographe Bay.