In the era of the Batavia shipwreck and Mutiny in 1629, the Dutch Fleet Commander Pelsart actually landed at Port Gregory noting the safe harbour as did explorer Vlaming from the ship Geelvink. In the 1840's this area was explored by Grey and Gregory who encouraged settlement of the area after finding fresh water and lead. Consequently historic Lynton Station, Sandford House and Convict Hiring Stations were set up. Many ships were wrecked bringing supplies to the settlement and taking away lead, stone, timber, wool, whale blubber and salt. Famous old shipwrecks seen on the reef coming into Port Gregory by boat are; Mary Queen of Scots, SS Xantho, Favourite, Sara and Pilot all wrecked between 1855 - 1872.

Residents of this area witnessed a huge gun battle at sea between HMAS Sydney and the raider Kormoron in November 1941. These wrecks have yet to be found. Another little known fact is that the Port Gregory fish cannery was shelled by a Japanese submarine from sea in 1943 as they thought it was an ammunition factory. The craters are still visible.

The natural reef surrounding the Port Gregory bay, led to the use of the area as a port for lead from Geraldine mine, whaling, salt and wool. Two fish canning factories also operated from this area some 50 years ago. A huge Garnet mine also operates from Port Gregory, hence the pink tinge to the sand hills on the point. A large crayfishing fleet now orates from Port Gregory's safe harbour for the Australian and largely overseas export market. Wet Line boats also fish outside the harbour unloading at the protected jetty. Beta Carotene grown in the salt of the Pink Lake known as Hutt Lagoon is farmed as a Vitamin B supplement used in medicines, foods and pet foods. Wheat, lupins, canola, lamb and wool are all farmed in this area. The Wildflower growing industry is also very strong in this area.

Things to see:

• Sandford¹s House
  Sanford¹s House (it can be seen across Hutt Lagoon and can be inspected by taking the signposted road to the east of the lagoon) was built by the convicts in 1853 out of limestone. A verandah was subsequently added with masts salvaged from the wreck of the Mary Queen of Scots which ran aground at Archdeacon Ledge in March 1855.
  Sanford, the grandson of the Duke of Bedford, was appointed Superintendant of Convicts in late 1852 but resigned in 1854 (the house and outbuildings including a stone mill and large stone barn were all conveniently built during his period as Superintendant) to concentrate on whaling and agriculture.

• Other Historic Buildings
  But the convicts were not in the area to build a magnificent two storey villa for the Superintendant. On the main Port Gregory road can be seen the ruins of the Lynton Hiring Depot where the convicts were held until local businessmen came to hire them for labouring tasks on the nearby farms. There are stories that the local farmers treated the convicts like slaves frequently flogging them for the slightest misdemeanours and summarily executing them for minor offences. It is hard to substantiate these claims and they may well be little more than local folklore.
  By 1856 a store, bakery, depot, lockup, hospital, lime kiln and administration block had all been built but a lack of fresh vegetables had seen the convict population ravaged by scurvy. It was decided to close the settlement and by January 1857 (less than 4 years after they had arrived) the convicts were either being shipped back to Fremantle or settled in nearby Greenough. A map identifying the various ruins at the Lynton Hiring Depot (and including the rest of the historic sites) is available at the farm house below Sanford¹s House.