The Old Pearler Restaurant- Denham

The Old Pearler is the only restaurant in the world to be built predominantly of sea shells. The shells are essentially of the small molus family being bonded together by pressure, anu calcium (as found in all shells). Shell stocks come from the Hamelin Pool area, and blocks were cut by saw from the ground. The restaurant was built by an Englishman, Tim Hargreaves, who in 1974 took some three to four years cutting and laying the shell blocks.
The railway sleepers used for the doors and window frames (lintels) were originally cut for the Kalgoorlie railway line but used instead on the Carnarvon Jetty. The tables and settles were of timber salvaged from the original Peron Station shearers quarters which were situated where the town garage now stands. The various artifacts adorning the walls are mainly of early Shark Bay days, eg the haymes used not on horses, interestingly, but on camels, various ships tackle from off the vessels "Will Succeed" and "Success". the naming of these vessels was synonymous with the aspirations of one of Shark Bays self styled "Kings" - one Henry John Spaven. The
"Will Succeed" was last seen as a burnt out hulk in Beadon Creek Onslow, and the "Success" went down in a cyclone off Willy Mia near Useless Loop.
The restaurant has exceptional acoustics within the Old Pearler. This is due to the myriad of air pockets in the shell blocks, the blocks being made up of coquina.
They also make for extra-ordinary coolness in the hot summers of the north west.
It is also the most westerly restaurant in Australia.Read more