Car & Van Hire in Beverley

Beverley is a historical settlement in Western Australia that was founded in 1831 by Colonial Surgeon Charles Simmons. It is named after an English town, Beverley, in Yorkshire, an area the Western settlers of the surrounding Avon Valley were originally from. Much of this history remains visitable today, with highlights like the Town Heritage Walk being a great introduction to the area. This takes in old railway hotels, schools and masonic halls.

History starts at the Dead Finish Museum, the oldest surviving building in Beverley. First built as the "Wheatsheaf Inn" in 1872, it now houses a local museum detailing 19th-century life in Beverley. Browse artefacts of agricultural traditions or learn about Beverley's role in the Allied war efforts of both WWI and WWII. Other highlights include the Beverley Visitor Centre, which, aside from being a go-to information hub, regularly hosts cultural and historical exhibitions.

Beverley hosts many performances at venues like the Beverley Station Arts and Platform Theatre. This former-station venue works as an artist's residence, with live touring acts, exhibitions and competitions, including sets by the Perth Symphony Orchestra. You can explore more art at the East End Gallery right next door. This space hosts a wide range of crafts and clothing created by local Wheatbelt and Western Australian artists.

For shopping, Beverley is known for its local crafts, produce and rural wear. Beverley Farm Services and Avon Trading are invaluable local assets that visitors can explore. Your one-stop shop in town is Beverley Post News and Gifts, while U Beauty Country spa stocks locally-made health must-buys from Wild Fusion Skincare.

Foodies have much to relish in the Wheatbelt-sourced restaurants of Beverley. Highlights include the Hotel Beverley, a local institution since 1885. Enjoy locally-brewed beers in its Art Deco interiors designed by the architect of Raffles Hotel Applecross, William Bennett. The hotel hosts local events like car clubs alongside a tantalising, Asian-inspired menu sourced from the Avon Valley. The Freemasons Tavern is another must-visit dating from 1907 that serves bar and grill classics.

One of Beverley's greatest assets is its proximity to nature. With a lack of light pollution and clear night skies, this is a hub for deep sky-gazing. Head to Yenyening Lakes of Beverley Airfield for expansive night sky vistas. Daytime hikes along Avondale Bush Reserve and Brooking Street are particularly attractive during the flowering seasons, with deeper trails into County Peak accessible by car. The whole region is ripe for scenic car drives, with ample parking in Beverley for stopovers.

Driving in and around Beverley and its surrounding Shires is quick and easy from city hubs like Perth in Western Australia. Beverley sits on the well-connected Great Southern Highway that spans the Wheatbelt region from Perth to Cranbrook (State Route 120). Scenic country roads also connect Beverley with local reserves and farms, like Avondale Farm. You can connect easily with the important Brookton Highway (State Route 40) via Brookton or Westdale.

The Great Southern Highway (State Route 120) is the pre-eminent thoroughfare for the Wheatbelt region and a historic road connecting Perth's agricultural heartland. It connects to Perth through Toodyay Road (State Route 50), opening up travel across the southwest coast. The Great Eastern Highway (State Route 94) can be approached via Northam for eastern travel right through to Norseman. While the Great Eastern Highway also offers the quickest route into Perth, the Brookton Highway is recommended for scenic, forested drives.

For those interested in car or van rental in Beverley, it's important to note that vehicles drive on the left-hand side of the road in Australia. All speed limits are signposted in km/h in Australia, with regional limits of 40-60 km/h in towns and 80-110km/h along highways and country roads. The area around Beverley has some much lower designations, including areas around Avondale at 15km/h.

Always abide by signposted speeds and be aware that fixed and mobile cameras operate throughout the region. While Beverley's rush hour is quiet, traffic to Perth can get lightly congested from 08:00 to 09:00 and 15:00 to 16:00. The heaviest traffic is found on the Mitchell Freeway, far from Beverley.

Ample on-street parking is found throughout Beverley, with designated bays at shopping and cultural attractions. Overnight parking is provided for campervans and other vehicles near the Avon River with a maximum 48-hour stay. Street parking is spread across the town and is widely available on the main stretch of Vincent Street, close to many attractions.

As a general rule, school and hospital zones have a strict 25km/h speed limit, while other central roads stick to 40km/h unless signposted. All low-speed zones in Beverley are clearly marked. Pay attention to the plentiful Stop signs throughout town that must be adhered to with your car rental in Beverley.