Our Story – Big Valley Campsite… Where did it all start?
To start every great story, there has to be a beginning…
For the Silverthorne family, life on the land where Big Valley now stands began in 1948 — but the story stretches even further back. The entire property was once dense bushland, much like the neighbouring block still visible to the east of our entrance road.
In 1928, during the Group Settlement era, the Jennings family began clearing this rugged land to make it productive. Just two years later, the Silverthornes made the move from Kojonup to a nearby block. Across the road, the Summers family settled in — and it was here that a young Lindsay Silverthorne met the neighbours’ daughter, Hazel Summers.
Together, Lindsay and Hazel carved out a life by clearing the land between their parents’ farms to create one of their own. After the Jennings family home burned down, Lindsay and Hazel salvaged and moved another group settlement house — cut in half and dragged four kilometres to their new home. That same house still stands today in the heart of Big Valley, and is lived in to this day.
The farm grew with time as Lindsay and Hazel bought adjoining bush blocks — under the tough condition that they had to clear and fence each within a year or risk forfeiting them back to the government. As they cleared the land and raised their four children, including their only son Kevin, the farm’s story kept growing too.
In 1972, Kevin met Shelley Worgan — a local farmer’s daughter — on the dance floor. Kevin’s hip-shaking moves must’ve done the trick, because by 1977 they had purchased the family farm, including Hazel’s family land on the other side of Rosa Brook Road. They ran 2,000 Corriedale sheep, harvested their own hay, and raised daughters Kylie and Megan.
In 1992, with the crash of the sheep and cattle markets, many neighbouring farmers turned to vineyards. But Kevin and Shelley took a different path. They sold off 30 acres of the farm and used a section of rougher land to create something new — a humble campsite. And so began…
The Beginning of Big Valley Campsite
What started with a single camp shed for school and club groups soon grew. By 1998, backpacker tour companies were stopping in for overnight visits, prompting the addition of a second shed — affectionately named after their loyal dog Muzza, who never missed a guest’s arrival.
Then came the events of September 11, 2001, which forced many tour operators to shut down. But Big Valley found new life with seasonal workers — backpackers needing three months of regional work for their second-year visa. This time, they stayed longer. And as word of mouth spread (helped along by a humble listing in Camps 3 Australia Wide), more travellers began to roll in.
In 2010, the campsite became an officially licensed caravan park. From that point on, thanks to Wikicamps, online reviews, and glowing recommendations from fellow nomads, Big Valley became a beloved stop in the Margaret River region.
We’ve always stayed true to our roots — a family-run, working sheep farm where guests can slow down, gather by the campfire, feed the animals, and feel part of something real.
A New Chapter Begins
Much has changed recently. Whether you’re returning for the tenth time or just discovering Big Valley, we’re proud to say we’ve now officially passed the baton (and the boots) to the next generation.
In December 2024, Megan and her husband Peter purchased the campsite from Kevin and Shelley — after spending 560 days travelling around Australia, scoping out parks and soaking in ideas. They returned home with fresh energy, new ideas, and their biggest little adventure yet — baby Harry, who now toddles around helping greet campers and keeping an eye on Granny’s guinea pigs.
Kevin and Shelley haven’t quite hung up their boots or dancing shoes yet. They’ve renovated the original 1948 cottage into a cosy, insulated home — still right in the heart of the park. You’ll still see Shelley checking on her beloved guinea pigs, and Kevin doing the rounds with the sheep, always up for a yarn or a chat with passing campers.
Four generations have now lived and worked this land, and Big Valley continues to grow — not just as a campsite, but as a place that feels like home.
We welcome you to be part of the story.
