Discover Chapman Hill: history, wine and gardens

Chapman Hill combines historical connections with offerings centred on wine, food and gardens. Its highlights cater to different interests: the Augusta-Busselton Heritage Trail and the Chapman Hill Communication Station represent its history, Whicher Ridge Wines offers wine experiences, and Hippo Lakes offers a café, farm shop, events and gardens. This lets you understand the town through specific themes, rather than assuming a single activity defines it.

The Augusta-Busselton Heritage Trail

The Augusta-Busselton Heritage Trail follows the original route between the settlements of Augusta and Vasse from the 1830s. It is a self-guided tour that can be completed on foot and/or by vehicle; Chapman Hill has its own section. This gives the town a clear connection to this historic link. It was also once used by trail travellers: Chapman Hill was a favoured final campsite before they continued the next morning to various settlements in the surrounding area. This camping use adds a specific former leg of the journey to the route’s history.

The Chapman Hill Communication Station

The Chapman Hill Communication Station is a historic site of cultural heritage significance. During the Second World War, it was an early signal station in the defence system. Its historical focus differs from that of the trail: the route refers to the original link between the settlements in the 1830s, while the station relates to a wartime signalling role. These two themes represent different periods and functions. If you are interested in history, you can therefore explore Chapman Hill from two clearly distinct perspectives.

Wine, food and gardens

Whicher Ridge Wines centres its tailored wine experiences on the Wine Sensory Garden. The garden is therefore the named focus of the wine experience. Hippo Lakes is a family-run café, farm shop and event venue overlooking gardens. Its offerings include breakfast, morning tea, lunch, high tea or picnics. You can also enjoy a leisurely walk through the gardens. The gardens have a dual role: they shape the view from the venue and can be explored on a walk. The food offerings and the opportunity to walk appeal to different visitor interests.

The gardens at Whicher Ridge Wines and Hippo Lakes play different roles: at Whicher Ridge Wines, the Wine Sensory Garden is the focus of tailored wine experiences. At Hippo Lakes, gardens shape the view from the venue and are also the destination of a leisurely walk. This lets you decide whether you would prefer to experience a garden primarily in connection with wine or alongside garden views, a walk and the food options mentioned.

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