Avondale Farm Manager Peter Jenkin is convinced anywhere in the Avon Valley is a great place to be and for the past 40 years his life on the land has kept him connected to a Western Australian research icon.

Peter’s insights into the seasons, planting, experiments and living in the original Avondale homestead as a young farm hand are part of a new web based National Trust series of Avondale snap shots.

The stories were recorded on-site at Avondale in May this year by a National Trust camera crew to create greater understanding of the Avondale story in Western Australia.

Each audio visual story is approximately one minute long and provides a colourful and unusual glimpse into the lives of farmers, research veterinarians and Avondale events which made a mark on the community and those who worked at Avondale.

A royal visit to Avondale by Prince Charles in 1979 and a specially prepared agricultural machinery display marked the 150th anniversary of the state and feature in one of the snap shot recollections.

Formerly used as an Agriculture Department Research Station (1919-2009), Avondale was one of the earliest pastoral properties in the Beverley district dating back to the 1830s.

The National Trust took over management of Avondale in 2009. As part of its commitment to the heritage values of the place, the Trust has delivered a master plan for the property and a pilot Oral History Program in which volunteer community members have been trained in oral history skills.