Woodbridge at Mandoon is a two-storey riverside house in Woodbridge, near Guildford. It tells the Harper family's story alongside earlier Whadjuk Nyoongar connection to Mandoon and the later uses that almost cost the building its future.
| Visit detail | Checked information |
|---|---|
| Address | 8254 Ford Street, Woodbridge |
| House opening | Friday and Saturday, 11.30am to 3pm |
| Tickets | Book general admission with the National Trust |
| Weather | May close if a 38°C forecast is issued for Woodbridge |
More than a grand verandah
The National Trust says Charles Harper bought land by the Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River) in 1883 and built the house completed in 1885. His family's activities included orchards, agriculture, politics and publishing. A school began in the billiards room before what became Guildford Grammar School took a separate life. Later the house housed a school and then a wartime home; community pressure helped prevent demolition and led to conservation. These layers are part of the visit, not just the restored Victorian exterior.
Visiting the house
Volunteer-supported admission is normally on Friday and Saturday from 11.30am to 3pm, with online booking. Walk through the rooms at your own pace and ask volunteers about the displays. General admission is paid. The Trust says the site will close when the Bureau of Meteorology forecast for Woodbridge reaches 38°C or above, and on certain holidays; check the notice close to your chosen date.
The house is two storeys. If stairs are a barrier, contact the operator for the precise rooms and paths available to you instead of assuming that a ticket includes access to every floor. Grounds, a nearby café and riverside views can form part of a slower outing, but the café has its own trading arrangements. If you plan a picnic or walk near the river, check access and weather on the day.
For an earlier colonial homestead in Maylands, compare Peninsula Farm. Its house has different opening times and an explicit Saturday 26 September closure. The supplied Woodbridge photograph is dated and does not establish the present condition of every room.
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