Bentley, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Bentley is a southern suburb of Perth
, the capital city of Western Australia
, and is located 8 km southeast of Perth's central business district
. Its Local Government Area
s are the City of Canning and the Town of Victoria Park. Bentley is home to the main campus of Curtin University of Technology
and Technology Park
.
people, whose territory extended from the Canning River
to the Darling Scarp
. The Beeloo hunted and fished in land close to the river, which was then forested with jarrah and marri
trees, as much of the metropolitan area was at the time. In 2001, the ABS reported that about 3% of Bentley's population were Aboriginal.
In 1830, the land was granted to James McDermott, and changed hands several times before being subdivided in 1885. The suburb was known as "Bentley Hill" from the 1860s onwards, honouring John Bentley (1822-1871), a prison warder and Crimean War
veteran who arrived in the Swan River Colony
as a pensioner guard, and supervised convicts building the then-Albany Road
in 1862-1864. A large camp for the road workers was established in what is now St James
.
In the 1880s, a dairy was established at "Canningford House" near the present-day intersection of Albany Highway
and Leach Highway
by Fred and Harry Liddelow, and in 1905 a piggery was established opposite.
In the 1940s, the State Housing Commission commenced urban residential development in the area. Housing was also provided by the government to reward former military servicemen for their efforts during the Second World War. Some of these modest war service homes remain today, a few are still occupied by ageing veterans. In 1960-1961, two large retirement housing complexes, Bentley Park (formerly Swan Cottage Homes) and Rowethorpe Homes, were built in the suburb's west and West Australian Institute of Technology (WAIT, later Curtin University
was opened in 1967.
In 1969-1970, the Brownlie Towers precinct was created - the main feature of which was the twin 10-storey Brownlie Towers. Also included in the precinct were a smaller two-storey apartment complex, 104 two-storey townhouses and 20 single detached houses. Complete with a school, community centre, shopping area, swimming pool and sports facilities and linked to public transport
, it was initially championed as a triumph of community building and innovative design by the State Housing Commission. However, social problems developed on and around the site, in part due to high vacancy rates and the public accessibility of the main towers. In 2002, the Government added the precinct to its "New Living" refurbishment program, which was commenced at Brownlie Towers in 2004.
The Western Australian Technology Park was established opposite the university in 1985, and expanded in the 1990s. Over 90 companies, government departments and research groups with over 2,500 employees across a range of technological and scientific fields opened offices and research facilities at the park. It claims to contribute over $2 billion per annum to the Western Australian economy.
to the west, Manning Road and Burton/Mills Streets to the south, Jarrah Road, Holder, Coolgardie and Tate Streets to the north and the Armadale railway line to the northeast. The section east of Albany Highway is largely commercial and industrial, while the area to the west bounded by Jarrah Road, Marquis Street, Cunning Road and Kent Street is dominated by environmental and cow grazing facilities. The rest is almost entirely residential.
The presence of Curtin University, Canning College (originally Bentley High School, built 1960 and reopened 1982 as a college supporting adults returning to education, one of only four in the State) and the Bentley campus of Swan TAFE has attracted large numbers of fee-paying international students to the area, many of whom live in the suburb or in nearby parts of East Victoria Park
, Karawara
and Waterford
. In 2001 the ABS reported that 25% of Bentley's population are from East or South-East Asia.
.
from Oats Street railway station and the Transperth
34 and 72 bus routes between Perth City
and Cannington interchange. These services are operated by the Public Transport Authority.
at both federal and state elections
. The strongest results for Labor are recorded at the Bentley Community Centre booth adjacent to Brownlie Towers.
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, the capital city of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, and is located 8 km southeast of Perth's central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
. Its Local Government Area
Local Government Areas of Western Australia
The Australian state of Western Australia is divided into 141 local government areas...
s are the City of Canning and the Town of Victoria Park. Bentley is home to the main campus of Curtin University of Technology
Curtin University of Technology
Curtin University is an Australian university based in Perth, Western Australia, with additional campuses in regional Western Australia and at Miri , Sydney and Singapore...
and Technology Park
Technology Park (Bentley)
Officially opened in 1985, Technology Park Bentley is Australia’s second oldest Technology Park.In 1987 the Western Precinct was opened, housing the prestigious Australian Resources Research Centre .- About the Park :...
.
History
Prior to European settlement, the area was originally home to the Beeloo NyungarNoongar
The Noongar are an indigenous Australian people who live in the south-west corner of Western Australia from Geraldton on the west coast to Esperance on the south coast...
people, whose territory extended from the Canning River
Canning River (Western Australia)
The Canning River is a major tributary of the Swan River in south western Western Australia.-Source and route:With headwaters on the Darling Scarp, the Canning meanders through suburbs of Perth on the Swan Coastal Plain, including Cannington, Thornlie, Riverton, Shelley, Rossmoyne and Mount...
to the Darling Scarp
Darling Scarp
The Darling Scarp, also referred to as the Darling Range or Darling Ranges, is a low escarpment running north-south to the east of the Swan Coastal Plain and Perth, Western Australia...
. The Beeloo hunted and fished in land close to the river, which was then forested with jarrah and marri
Corymbia calophylla
Corymbia calophylla is a bloodwood native to Western Australia. Common names include Marri and Port Gregory Gum, and a long standing usage has been Red Gum due to the red gum effusions often found on trunks.It is distinctive among bloodwoods for its very large buds and fruit Corymbia calophylla...
trees, as much of the metropolitan area was at the time. In 2001, the ABS reported that about 3% of Bentley's population were Aboriginal.
In 1830, the land was granted to James McDermott, and changed hands several times before being subdivided in 1885. The suburb was known as "Bentley Hill" from the 1860s onwards, honouring John Bentley (1822-1871), a prison warder and Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
veteran who arrived in the Swan River Colony
Swan River Colony
The Swan River Colony was a British settlement established in 1829 on the Swan River, in Western Australia. The name was a pars pro toto for Western Australia. In 1832, the colony was officially renamed Western Australia, when the colony's founding Lieutenant-Governor, Captain James Stirling,...
as a pensioner guard, and supervised convicts building the then-Albany Road
Albany Highway
Albany Highway is a generally northwest-southeast highway in the south of Western Australia which links the state's capital Perth with its oldest settlement, Albany. The highway is approximately in length, is designated State Route 30 and separates Western Australia's Great Southern region from...
in 1862-1864. A large camp for the road workers was established in what is now St James
St James, Western Australia
St James is a suburb of the City of Canning, partially contained within the Town of Victoria Park.-References:...
.
In the 1880s, a dairy was established at "Canningford House" near the present-day intersection of Albany Highway
Albany Highway
Albany Highway is a generally northwest-southeast highway in the south of Western Australia which links the state's capital Perth with its oldest settlement, Albany. The highway is approximately in length, is designated State Route 30 and separates Western Australia's Great Southern region from...
and Leach Highway
Leach Highway
Leach Highway is a major dual carriageway arterial road in Perth, Western Australia, which varies between 4 and 6 lanes wide. The speed limit is either 70 or 80 km/h. It is located south of the Swan River and links Fremantle with Kewdale, a distance of ....
by Fred and Harry Liddelow, and in 1905 a piggery was established opposite.
In the 1940s, the State Housing Commission commenced urban residential development in the area. Housing was also provided by the government to reward former military servicemen for their efforts during the Second World War. Some of these modest war service homes remain today, a few are still occupied by ageing veterans. In 1960-1961, two large retirement housing complexes, Bentley Park (formerly Swan Cottage Homes) and Rowethorpe Homes, were built in the suburb's west and West Australian Institute of Technology (WAIT, later Curtin University
Curtin University of Technology
Curtin University is an Australian university based in Perth, Western Australia, with additional campuses in regional Western Australia and at Miri , Sydney and Singapore...
was opened in 1967.
In 1969-1970, the Brownlie Towers precinct was created - the main feature of which was the twin 10-storey Brownlie Towers. Also included in the precinct were a smaller two-storey apartment complex, 104 two-storey townhouses and 20 single detached houses. Complete with a school, community centre, shopping area, swimming pool and sports facilities and linked to public transport
Transperth
Transperth is the brand name of the public transport system in Perth, Western Australia. It is operated by the Public Transport Authority.-History:...
, it was initially championed as a triumph of community building and innovative design by the State Housing Commission. However, social problems developed on and around the site, in part due to high vacancy rates and the public accessibility of the main towers. In 2002, the Government added the precinct to its "New Living" refurbishment program, which was commenced at Brownlie Towers in 2004.
The Western Australian Technology Park was established opposite the university in 1985, and expanded in the 1990s. Over 90 companies, government departments and research groups with over 2,500 employees across a range of technological and scientific fields opened offices and research facilities at the park. It claims to contribute over $2 billion per annum to the Western Australian economy.
Geography
Bentley is bounded by Kent StreetKent Street, Perth
Kent Street in Perth, Australia is a major access road to many facilities and places like Curtin University and the Perth Hockey Stadium.Kent Street is approximately 7.5 kilometres in length, running south-west from Albany Highway through to Manning Road...
to the west, Manning Road and Burton/Mills Streets to the south, Jarrah Road, Holder, Coolgardie and Tate Streets to the north and the Armadale railway line to the northeast. The section east of Albany Highway is largely commercial and industrial, while the area to the west bounded by Jarrah Road, Marquis Street, Cunning Road and Kent Street is dominated by environmental and cow grazing facilities. The rest is almost entirely residential.
Senior and tertiary education
Bentley contains a university, further education colleges and a senior high school.- Curtin University of Technology
- Baptist Theological College
- Bentley - Swan TAFE campus
- Canning College
The presence of Curtin University, Canning College (originally Bentley High School, built 1960 and reopened 1982 as a college supporting adults returning to education, one of only four in the State) and the Bentley campus of Swan TAFE has attracted large numbers of fee-paying international students to the area, many of whom live in the suburb or in nearby parts of East Victoria Park
East Victoria Park, Western Australia
East Victoria Park is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the Town of Victoria Park....
, Karawara
Karawara, Western Australia
Karawara is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia.-History:Formerly the southern portion of the Collier Pine Plantation, Karawara is an Aboriginal word meaning green. The suburb name was approved in 1973.-Geography:...
and Waterford
Waterford, Western Australia
Waterford is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of South Perth.Waterford is situated on the Canning River.-History:...
. In 2001 the ABS reported that 25% of Bentley's population are from East or South-East Asia.
Facilities
Bentley is an established suburb with schools, restaurants, a shopping centre (The Bentley Centre, formerly La Plaza Bentley), the Bentley Hospital, and a large retirement housing complex (Rowethorpe and SwanCare Group). Although it is predominantly a residential suburb, Bentley has a retail and light-industrial component in the areas adjacent to Albany HighwayAlbany Highway
Albany Highway is a generally northwest-southeast highway in the south of Western Australia which links the state's capital Perth with its oldest settlement, Albany. The highway is approximately in length, is designated State Route 30 and separates Western Australia's Great Southern region from...
.
Transport
The suburb is served by a range of bus services, including the CircleRouteCircleRoute
The CircleRoute is a pair of suburban bus routes in Perth, Western Australia. Like all Perth bus routes, the buses are branded Transperth and operated by companies contracted by the Public Transport Authority. The routes are identical except for direction: 98 is clockwise, and 99 is anticlockwise...
from Oats Street railway station and the Transperth
Transperth
Transperth is the brand name of the public transport system in Perth, Western Australia. It is operated by the Public Transport Authority.-History:...
34 and 72 bus routes between Perth City
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
and Cannington interchange. These services are operated by the Public Transport Authority.
Politics
Bentley is a mixed-class suburb which consistently favours the Australian Labor PartyAustralian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
at both federal and state elections
Parliament of Western Australia
The Parliament of Western Australia consists of the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly . The Parliament sits at Parliament House in Harvest Terrace, Perth....
. The strongest results for Labor are recorded at the Bentley Community Centre booth adjacent to Brownlie Towers.
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||