Helena Valley, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Helena Valley is the name of a river valley and a locality in the foothills of the Darling Scarp
in Perth, Western Australia
. It is located approximately 10 minutes from Midland
.
and extends from the edge of the Darling Scarp where Boya
, Gooseberry Hill
and Helena Valley define the 'mouth' of the valley that opens to the Swan Coastal Plain
, east and south east past Mundaring Weir
and Lake C.Y. O'Connor to its origins in the region of Mount Dale.
The soils of Helena Valley are characteristic of the eastern Swan Coastal Plain
, ranging from sand to loam
and clay
, with a neutral pH
tending towards moderately acid .
, situated just south west of Boya
and Greenmount Hill
, 5 kilometres from Midland
. It consists of many rural houses, but also contains four estates, and a shopping centre located in one of the estates. is located at the base of Greenmount Hill.
- where public perceptions of the local government and state planning review processes eventually giving away to the developers wishes
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...
in Perth, Western Australia
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....
. It is located approximately 10 minutes from Midland
Midland, Western Australia
Midland is a suburb in the Perth, Western Australia metropolitan area, as well as the regional centre for the City of Swan local government area that covers the Swan Valley and parts of the Darling Scarp to the east. It is situated at the intersection of Great Eastern Highway and Great Northern...
.
Geology
The river valley is the centre of the catchment of the Helena RiverHelena River
The Helena River is a tributary of the Swan River in Western Australia. The river rises in country east of Mount Dale and moves to the north west to Mundaring Weir, where it is dammed...
and extends from the edge of the Darling Scarp where Boya
Boya, Western Australia
Boya is a locality on the Darling Scarp, in the Shire of Mundaring, Western Australia. On the south side of Greenmount Hill, and just west of Darlington....
, Gooseberry Hill
Gooseberry Hill, Western Australia
Gooseberry Hill is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the Shire of Kalamunda. It is the site of Gooseberry Hill National Park....
and Helena Valley define the 'mouth' of the valley that opens to the Swan Coastal Plain
Swan Coastal Plain
The Swan Coastal Plain in Western Australia is the geographic feature which contains the Swan River as it travels west to the Indian Ocean. The coastal plain continues well beyond the boundaries of the Swan River and its tributaries, as a geological and biological zone, one of Western Australia's...
, east and south east past Mundaring Weir
Mundaring Weir
Mundaring Weir is the name of a dam which are located from Perth, Western Australia in the Darling Scarp. It is situated in the Mundaring locality...
and Lake C.Y. O'Connor to its origins in the region of Mount Dale.
The soils of Helena Valley are characteristic of the eastern Swan Coastal Plain
Swan Coastal Plain
The Swan Coastal Plain in Western Australia is the geographic feature which contains the Swan River as it travels west to the Indian Ocean. The coastal plain continues well beyond the boundaries of the Swan River and its tributaries, as a geological and biological zone, one of Western Australia's...
, ranging from sand to loam
Loam
Loam is soil composed of sand, silt, and clay in relatively even concentration . Loam soils generally contain more nutrients and humus than sandy soils, have better infiltration and drainage than silty soils, and are easier to till than clay soils...
and clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
, with a neutral pH
Soil pH
The soil pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity in soils. pH is defined as the negative logarithm of the activity of hydrogen ions in solution. It ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. A pH below 7 is acidic and above 7 is basic. Soil pH is considered a master variable in soils as it...
tending towards moderately acid .
Locality
The locality is within the Shire of MundaringShire of Mundaring
The Shire of Mundaring is a Local Government Area on the eastern fringe of metropolitan Perth, the capital of Western Australia. The Shire covers an area of and has a population of 35,097 .-History:...
, situated just south west of Boya
Boya
Boya may refer to:*Boya, Western Australia, locality on the Darling Scarp, in the Shire of Mundaring, Western Australia*Boya, Nepal*Boya people, an ethnic group in Sudan*Boyar caste, Boyar caste of India*Casati Boya, paint manufacturer in Turkey...
and Greenmount Hill
Greenmount, Western Australia
Greenmount is a locality and a geographical feature in the Shire of Mundaring, Western Australia, on the edge of the Darling Scarp. It is a vital point in the transport routes from the Swan Coastal Plain into the hinterland of Western Australia....
, 5 kilometres from Midland
Midland, Western Australia
Midland is a suburb in the Perth, Western Australia metropolitan area, as well as the regional centre for the City of Swan local government area that covers the Swan Valley and parts of the Darling Scarp to the east. It is situated at the intersection of Great Eastern Highway and Great Northern...
. It consists of many rural houses, but also contains four estates, and a shopping centre located in one of the estates. is located at the base of Greenmount Hill.
Developments
The locality has been subject to a number of developments that were divisive in their planning and implementation - somewhat similar to Smith's beachYallingup, Western Australia
Yallingup is a town in the South West region of Western Australia, south of Perth. Yallingup is a popular tourist destination because of its beaches and limestone caves, and proximity to Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park.-History and industry:...
- where public perceptions of the local government and state planning review processes eventually giving away to the developers wishes
Early Settlers
- James DrummondJames Drummond (botanist)James Drummond was a botanist and naturalist who was an early settler in Western Australia.-Early life:...
, noted botanist after which the street Drummond Gardens is named.
External links
- Helena Valley on Geoscience AustraliaGeoscience AustraliaGeoscience Australia is an agency of the Australian federal government. It carries out geoscientific research.On a user pays basis it produces geospatial products such as topographic maps and satellite imagery.-History:...
- REIWA suburb profile for Helena Valley