Butler, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Butler is an outer suburb of Perth
, Western Australia
, located 41 kilometres north of Perth's central business district. It is part of the City of Wanneroo local government area
. It forms the majority of the Brighton Estate, a large commercial and residential development by Satterley
.
and Quinns Rocks (Marmion Avenue), to the south by Merriwa
and Ridgewood
(Lukin Drive) and to the north by Alkimos
(Butler Boulevard). The Joondalup railway line reserve separates Butler from the rural locality of Nowergup
in the east.
2 kilometres west of Butler is the Indian Ocean
.
areas in 1834.
The marketing of the "Brighton Estate" in Butler by Satterley, with many amenities and establishments also adopting the "Brighton" nameplate (e.g. Brighton Village Newsagency), has led to Brighton becoming synonymous with Butler and causing confusion amongst residents and sight-seers alike. Residents submitted a petition to the City of Wanneroo in 2003 for the suburb's name to be permanently changed to Brighton. The request was rejected on account of duplication with many other places across Australia named Brighton, as well as the name having no historical or cultural significance within the area.
until the early 2000s, with no landmarks or conventional roads providing direct access to the area. The Butler-Ridgewood Agreed Local Structure Plan was approved by the City of Wanneroo in 2002, allowing early subdivision and development of the site to commence in 2003 by Satterley
, the principal investor in the suburb.
Satterley's Brighton Estate plan takes up all of Butler and also extends into the neighbouring suburbs of Ridgewood, Jindalee and Alkimos. Butler contains four sub-divisional estates within the Brighton area; "The Dunes", "The Green", "Seahaven" and "Junctions North". Over $120 million was spent on landscaping, civil construction and community infrastructure to create the Seahaven and The Green estates, the Brighton Village Shopping Centre on Marmion Avenue
and the Central Park Precinct.
, a figure in line with other nearby suburbs such as Quinns Rocks and Mindarie
.
The average age of Butler's residents is 28, a very young population compared to the Australian national average of 37. Income levels are also substantially above the national average, with a median household income of $1,205 per week, compared to $1,027 per week nationally. 49.8% declared a denomination of Christianity
as their religion, with Anglicanism
being the most popular at 24.3%. Butler contains one Pentecostal church, Westpoint Coastal Church. 26.6% of the population declared no religion.
Butler was established by the Department of Planning as a "district centre" in their Directions 2031 urban expansion plan, highlighting it as a centre for commercial activity and public services, secondary to the nearby town centres of Clarkson
and Alkimos.
Kingsbridge Boulevard, one of the core distributor roads through Butler, contains a strip of shops, banks and public services, as well as a large Coles supermarket, providing for the suburb's major shopping needs. Along this stretch is also a pub, The Cornerstone Tavern, opened in 2010, which provides nightlife and entertainment functions for the whole area from Butler to Jindalee. Most of Butler's amenities are located at the western edge of the area, adjacent to Marmion Avenue, while eastern Butler remains strictly residential in character.
Butler contains several parks in various places throughout the area, including a strip of parkland running all the way down Kingsbridge Boulevard. The Butler Community Centre is located in south Butler.
Butler students also have the option of Christian
education. Brighton Catholic Primary School serves students from K-7, while the large Irene McCormack Catholic College accommodates Years 8-12. Both schools are privately-funded.
Marmion Avenue
is the only arterial road connecting Butler to the rest of metropolitan Perth, as well as the far outer suburb of Yanchep in the north. Connolly Drive also terminates at Butler, and runs parallel to Marmion Avenue into Clarkson
, Kinross
and Currambine
. The
Mitchell Freeway
extension to Butler is in the planning stages.
Plans exist for the extension of the Joondalup railway line from its current terminus in Clarkson, with a new railway station in northern Butler. The railway line is to swing westwards, away from its current location in the Mitchell Freeway
reserve, where it will instead run through the median strip of the future Connolly Drive.
and the Federal Division of Pearce
. Residents of Butler first began voting at the Butler Primary School polling booth at the 2004 Federal Election.
Like many neighbouring "mortgage belt
" suburbs, there is a strong trend for residents to vote Australian Labor Party
at State level, while voting Liberal
at Federal level.
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....
, 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...
, located 41 kilometres north of Perth's central business district. It is part of the City of Wanneroo local government area
Local Government Areas of Western Australia
The Australian state of Western Australia is divided into 141 local government areas...
. It forms the majority of the Brighton Estate, a large commercial and residential development by Satterley
Satterley
Satterley Property Group is an Australian privately owned real estate land development company based in Perth. It develops residential estates in Western Australia and Victoria.-History:...
.
Geography
Butler is bordered to the west by JindaleeJindalee, Western Australia
Jindalee is an outer coastal suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located approximately north of Perth's central business district. Its local government area is the City of Wanneroo.-Geography:...
and Quinns Rocks (Marmion Avenue), to the south by Merriwa
Merriwa, Western Australia
Merriwa is an outer suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located 36 kilometres north of Perth's central business district. It is part of the City of Wanneroo local authority...
and Ridgewood
Ridgewood, Western Australia
Ridgewood is an outer suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located 37 kilometres north of Perth's central business district. Is is part of the City of Wanneroo local government area.-Geography:...
(Lukin Drive) and to the north by Alkimos
Alkimos, Western Australia
Alkimos is an unpopulated coastal suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located north-northwest of Perth's central business district. It is part of the City of Wanneroo local government area....
(Butler Boulevard). The Joondalup railway line reserve separates Butler from the rural locality of Nowergup
Nowergup, Western Australia
Nowergup is a rural locality about north of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wanneroo.-History:The suburb of Nowergup takes its name from Lake Nowergup...
in the east.
2 kilometres west of Butler is the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
.
Name
"Butler" was approved by the Shire of Wanneroo for the area in 1979 in honour of John Butler, the first recorded explorer of the Wanneroo and Lake JoondalupLake Joondalup
Lake Joondalup is a medium sized lake in Perth, Western Australia. It is located in the Perth northern suburbs of Joondalup, Wanneroo, and Edgewater. It is a nature reserve and part of the Yellagonga Regional Park.-Features:...
areas in 1834.
The marketing of the "Brighton Estate" in Butler by Satterley, with many amenities and establishments also adopting the "Brighton" nameplate (e.g. Brighton Village Newsagency), has led to Brighton becoming synonymous with Butler and causing confusion amongst residents and sight-seers alike. Residents submitted a petition to the City of Wanneroo in 2003 for the suburb's name to be permanently changed to Brighton. The request was rejected on account of duplication with many other places across Australia named Brighton, as well as the name having no historical or cultural significance within the area.
Suburban development
Although Butler was gazetted in 1979, it remained unpopulated bushlandBushland
Bushland is any area in Australia that is predominantly indigenous flora and fauna.Bushland is the term commonly used by conservation protection groups and other environmental groups as a blanket term for natural vegetation, which may cover any kind of habitat from open shrubby country with few...
until the early 2000s, with no landmarks or conventional roads providing direct access to the area. The Butler-Ridgewood Agreed Local Structure Plan was approved by the City of Wanneroo in 2002, allowing early subdivision and development of the site to commence in 2003 by Satterley
Satterley
Satterley Property Group is an Australian privately owned real estate land development company based in Perth. It develops residential estates in Western Australia and Victoria.-History:...
, the principal investor in the suburb.
Satterley's Brighton Estate plan takes up all of Butler and also extends into the neighbouring suburbs of Ridgewood, Jindalee and Alkimos. Butler contains four sub-divisional estates within the Brighton area; "The Dunes", "The Green", "Seahaven" and "Junctions North". Over $120 million was spent on landscaping, civil construction and community infrastructure to create the Seahaven and The Green estates, the Brighton Village Shopping Centre on Marmion Avenue
Marmion Avenue
Marmion Avenue is a major arterial road in Perth, Western Australia, designated State Route 71.It runs through the northern coastal suburbs of Perth from the end of West Coast Highway in Trigg and Karrinyup, to the outer northern suburb of Yanchep...
and the Central Park Precinct.
Demographics
At the ABS 2006 census, Butler had a population of 5,056. This represents a huge increase, as Butler's population was negligible during the 2001 census just five years earlier. The population is predicted to continue growing at a remarkable rate, peaking at 12,903 in 2016. Only 53.4% of Butler's population were born in Australia, with 25.4% born in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, a figure in line with other nearby suburbs such as Quinns Rocks and Mindarie
Mindarie, Western Australia
Mindarie is an outer coastal suburb of Perth, Western Australia, considered to be northernmost of Perth's affluent beachside suburbs. It is located 36 kilometres north of Perth's central business district via Marmion Avenue and is part of the City of Wanneroo local government area.After being...
.
The average age of Butler's residents is 28, a very young population compared to the Australian national average of 37. Income levels are also substantially above the national average, with a median household income of $1,205 per week, compared to $1,027 per week nationally. 49.8% declared a denomination of Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
as their religion, with Anglicanism
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
being the most popular at 24.3%. Butler contains one Pentecostal church, Westpoint Coastal Church. 26.6% of the population declared no religion.
Amenities and facilities
Clarkson, Western Australia
Clarkson is an outer northern suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located 34 kilometres north of Perth's central business district. It is part of the City of Wanneroo local government area. While mostly a residential area, it also functions as a town centre, serving many surrounding areas with a...
and Alkimos.
Kingsbridge Boulevard, one of the core distributor roads through Butler, contains a strip of shops, banks and public services, as well as a large Coles supermarket, providing for the suburb's major shopping needs. Along this stretch is also a pub, The Cornerstone Tavern, opened in 2010, which provides nightlife and entertainment functions for the whole area from Butler to Jindalee. Most of Butler's amenities are located at the western edge of the area, adjacent to Marmion Avenue, while eastern Butler remains strictly residential in character.
Butler contains several parks in various places throughout the area, including a strip of parkland running all the way down Kingsbridge Boulevard. The Butler Community Centre is located in south Butler.
Education
Butler contains two state K-7 primary schools, Butler Primary School and East Butler Primary School. Senior Butler students from Year 8 onwards fall into the catchment area for Clarkson Community High School, 4 kilometres away. Plans exist to build a new state high school in Butler to better serve students in the Brighton estates.Butler students also have the option of Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
education. Brighton Catholic Primary School serves students from K-7, while the large Irene McCormack Catholic College accommodates Years 8-12. Both schools are privately-funded.
Transport
Marmion AvenueMarmion Avenue
Marmion Avenue is a major arterial road in Perth, Western Australia, designated State Route 71.It runs through the northern coastal suburbs of Perth from the end of West Coast Highway in Trigg and Karrinyup, to the outer northern suburb of Yanchep...
is the only arterial road connecting Butler to the rest of metropolitan Perth, as well as the far outer suburb of Yanchep in the north. Connolly Drive also terminates at Butler, and runs parallel to Marmion Avenue into Clarkson
Clarkson, Western Australia
Clarkson is an outer northern suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located 34 kilometres north of Perth's central business district. It is part of the City of Wanneroo local government area. While mostly a residential area, it also functions as a town centre, serving many surrounding areas with a...
, Kinross
Kinross, Western Australia
Kinross is a small suburb in the City of Joondalup located in the northern suburbs of Perth, Australia. Kinross was constructed around 1992-3 in various stages. It is bordered by Neerabup National Park, and is the City of Joondalup's most northerly suburb....
and Currambine
Currambine, Western Australia
Currambine is a northern suburb of Perth, the capital city of Western Australia, and is located 30 km north of Perth's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Joondalup. It contains the Currambine Market Place shopping centre and cinema complex.-History:Currambine...
. The
Mitchell FreewayMitchell Freeway
Mitchell Freeway is a long freeway in Perth, Western Australia, linking Perth's central business district with its outer northern suburbs. It is allocated Route 2 for its entire length and is named after former state Premier and Governor Sir James Mitchell....
extension to Butler is in the planning stages.
Public transport
At present, Butler is served by two bus routes, serving eastern and western Butler. Both routes run to Clarkson railway station, 4 kilometres south of Butler. Clarkson station is the nearest public transport hub to Butler, providing further bus and rail links to Joondalup and the Perth CBD.- 483 - Clarkson to Butler (west) via Merriwa
- 484 - Clarkson to Butler (east) via Ridgewood
Plans exist for the extension of the Joondalup railway line from its current terminus in Clarkson, with a new railway station in northern Butler. The railway line is to swing westwards, away from its current location in the Mitchell Freeway
Mitchell Freeway
Mitchell Freeway is a long freeway in Perth, Western Australia, linking Perth's central business district with its outer northern suburbs. It is allocated Route 2 for its entire length and is named after former state Premier and Governor Sir James Mitchell....
reserve, where it will instead run through the median strip of the future Connolly Drive.
Politics
Butler is part of the Electoral District of MindarieElectoral district of Mindarie
The Electoral district of Mindarie is a Legislative Assembly electorate in the state of Western Australia. The district is named for the outer northern Perth suburb of Mindarie which falls within its borders.-History:...
and the Federal Division of Pearce
Division of Pearce
The Division of Pearce is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Western Australia. It is located to the east and north of Perth, taking in the rural areas adjoining the Perth metropolitan area to the south-east, east and north-east, then sweeping around to the Indian Ocean where it...
. Residents of Butler first began voting at the Butler Primary School polling booth at the 2004 Federal Election.
Like many neighbouring "mortgage belt
Mortgage belt
The Mortgage belt is a term used in Australian politics to signify residential suburbs which have a high concentration of families mortgaging their homes....
" suburbs, there is a strong trend for residents to vote Australian Labor Party
Australian 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 State level, while voting Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
at Federal level.