When Will Burrell and Celia Shelmerdine saw the property in 1991, trees had fallen over the roads, and rocks protruded through the wheel ruts. The original homestead uninhabited for three years, was derelict.
The Homestead with its spectacular location on the Chamberlain River required 20,000 cubic metres of sand to level the land, and 12 tonnes of grass seeded soil was sown at a cost of around $70,000. The Homestead, furnished with antiques from Indonesia and Australia, was opened in October 1992.
In 1995, El Questro took out the coveted Sir David Brand award for the premier tourist attraction in Western Australia and received further recognition for its contribution to tourism in 1997 when it again won Western Australia’s top tourism award. In 1998, Western Australia tourism awards went to the Homestead in the luxury category.
Will and Celia Burrell reluctantly sold El Questro to General Property Trust in 2005. General Property Trust onsold the Wilderness Park to Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts in March 2010.