Beaufort Inlet, or Pallinup Estuary as it is popularly known, is an important estuary in the South Coast Region. Located 130 kilometres east of Albany, the Pallinup Estuary is on the Register of the National Estate database as it is found in one of the world's most outstanding botanical areas.

The estuary is important for both European and Aboriginal heritage, and still is a place where many people fish, camp and canoe. It has extensive areas of habitat for thousands of birds which visit the estuary each year and supports a productive commercial fishing operation.

The Pallinup River which drains into the Beaufort Inlet flows 250 kilometres before reaching its final destination. It is one of the largest rivers in the South Coast Region, with a catchment of almost 500 square kilometres. The catchment is predominantly cleared for agriculture.

The Inlet has important social, cultural and historical values that have not yet been documented. Communities are beginning to recognise the importance of these values and a successful application for Coastcare funding was submitted by the Wellstead Land Conservation District Committee and the Water and Rivers Commission with the aim of capturing some of the stories and impressions of the Beaufort Inlet through a series of oral interviews. The grant also funded monitoring of the water quality of the Beaufort Inlet to help assess its condition. This will develop a greater understanding of the issues facing the Beaufort Inlet.

This report presents the recollections of twelve people who have had a close relationship with the river and estuary. Aden Eades tells us that the Pallinup River system was very important to the Aboriginal people as it was the largest river in the region and provided food during different seasons. After European settlement, sheep and cattle grazing began, first with grazing leases and later farms were established. Peg Tyndale Powell, Betty Sewell and Brian Moir relate stories about growing up at Marra farm on the east side of the Pallinup River near the Marra Bridge. The Pallinup River and estuary soon became widely known for its excellent fishing and visitors came from around the south-west to try their luck. Gradually changes to the river environment were noticed, and more recently efforts are being made to address the issues.