Framed Photograph of George Frederick Guerrier

George Frederick Guerrier was born in Stepney, London, England on 25 March 1821

On the 4 June 1846, whilst a Sergeant in the 21st Regiment, Guerrier married Mary Ann Herring, who was the daughter of John Herring, the first postman in Busselton, in Stepney, England. On 20 July 1846, the couple boarded the barque, "Unicorn", for the Swan River Colony, arriving on the 4 January 1847. Soon after their arrival, the family moved to the Vasse where George was in charge of the Soldier's Barracks at Wonnerup. Upon his discharge he obtained a publican's license and vacillated between being a publican and farming.

In 1847 he built the Wayside Inn which became the Ship Tavern, now known as the Ship hotel and was the publican of said establishment for many years. The site for the Wayside Tavern was selected due to it being on the main thoroughfare from the beach to Cattle Chosen, Fairlawn and Castle Bay.

In 1864 he took up the land on which Abbey farm is located where he built a Jarrah plank and shingled roof farmhouse.

George and Mary Ann had four daughters Zelia, Flora (married Arthur Rosselloty), Adela (married Nathaniel Abbey and they lived at Abbey Farm) and Eloise (married Henry John Yelverton) who were all born in "The Vasse".

When he finally sold his hotel he lived a retired life in Busselton until his death, aged 85, on 3 January 1907. He is buried in Busselton Pioneer Cemetery.

On Wed 9 Jan 1907 the Bunbury Herald reported in his page 2 obituary on his time in The Vasse;

“Shortly after his arrival, he went to reside with the late Mr. E. Dawson at Westbrook, afterwards he tried farming at the Lennox river. His house was built close to where Mr. T. B. Rose at present resides, and his stock not doing well there he gave up farming and purchased some town lots and built the old Ship Tavern, now known as the Ship hotel, and obtained a publican's license. He was for a while district constable, and was present at the capture of the prisoners Gorddelphin, Turner, and two others, at Augusta. These had made their escape from Fremantle, and committed a number of depredations on the road down. After resigning as constable, he kept the hotel and remained there for a number of years. He tried farming again in 1863, and returned to the hotel business. He also started a farm beyond Quindalup, now the property of his son-in-law, Mr. N. Abbey. He finally sold his hotel, and of late years he lived a retired life. He was a member of the roads board for a number of years, and always took an active part in everything appertaining to the welfare of the district.”