Lathlain, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Lathlain is an inner south eastern suburb of Perth
, Western Australia
. Its Local Government Area
is the Town of Victoria Park.
blocks on sale for £25–30. A brochure advertising the state claimed the lots were "So near Perth, near the Station and so near the Trams" (although the tram service never quite eventuated). Peet and Co's advertising for the Victoria Park Station Estate was elaborate and multifaceted. Much of the promotion centred around the "Oldest Settler", a tree in the shape of a standing figure, located on one of the lots. Would-be purchasers were invited to "Look for the Oldest Settler from the train and at the pictures." They were also assured that the new section of the Victoria Park estate was the "finest subdivision" in Western Australia, destined to be "up-to-date in 40 years time", and distinguished by "Childrens Playgrounds for every group of homes". Residential development was slow, and Gallop
records in his historical notes that "bush land with some heavy timber and the occasional stray cow from Belmont
greeted the post-war generation who built the suburb.
Lathlain was a 'garden suburb' estate designed in 1920 by Carl Klem and brother-in-law and senior partner Percy Hope. There was much controversy surrounding the development which was initially planned to have 16 internal reserves that provided open space to all allotments. Maintenance of these public open spaces was seen as problematic by the City of Perth
(then the local government of the area) to which the plan was scaled back to only two such reserves (bordered by Roberts Road, Rutland Avenue, Bishopsgate Street and Goddard Street) one of which has been sold to adjoining residents (Roberts, Rutland, Bishopsgate, Forster).
The suburb's name honours Sir William Lathlain, the Lord Mayor of Perth from 1918 until 1923. The name was in general use since the 1950s, after a park of this name was built there, but was not gazetted until 1981.
In November 1953, it was proposed that the Perth Football Club
, an Australian rules football
team in the West Australian Football League
, be based at a new oval to be built on vacant land at Lathlain. The Perth City Council supported the scheme, and construction commenced. As residents started to move into the area, a primary school was constructed in 1956. On 11 July 1959, the club moved into the premises at the ground, known as Lathlain Park
, and went on to win premierships in 1966-1968 and 1976-1977. The ground was renamed to Eftel Oval in 2003.
Demographics changed and during the early 1990s Lathlain's only civil structure, its local primary school, was earmarked for closure by the education minister at the time Norman Moore, due to low student enrolments. Students, parents and locals fought hard to keep the school open and their cries were heard. The school now has a healthy enrolment aided by the onsite pre-primary and better facilities.
to the northwest, the Armadale railway to the southwest, Roberts Road to the southeast and Orrong Road and Graham Farmer Freeway
to the northeast. The suburb is almost entirely residential, although a number of parks can be found - most notably Lathlain Park which houses the home ground of the Phoenix Demons and J.A. Lee Reserve. Rayment Park is a small community park located centrally within the suburb, adjacent to Lathlain Primary School, local shops situated in Lathlain Place, Carlisle/Lathlain Playgroup, Carlisle/Victoria Park Toy Library and scout hall.
Lathlain is zoned predominately R20. City and hill views can be found in the western end of the suburb which is situated on a hill that extends as far north as Rivervale
and as far south as Kensington
.
s and Lathlain Primary School. Commercial and other services are provided by Victoria Park
and Belmont
.
on its southwestern edge, and by various bus services. All services are operated by Swan Transit
.
The Lathlain railway station, built in 1959 and once located at the beginning of Goddard Street, was closed on 3 February 2003. Almost no trace of it exists today, although when the Lathlain railway station was decommissioned the "Lathlain" lighted signs were donated to the Perth Football Club to display in their clubroom due to their historical links with the station.
at both federal and state elections
, although less strongly than booths to the south and east - in the 1996 election it voted for the Liberal Party
.
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...
. Its Local Government Area
Local Government Areas of Western Australia
The Australian state of Western Australia is divided into 141 local government areas...
is the Town of Victoria Park.
History
Lathlain's development commenced in the 1890s when Peet and Co (now Peet Limited) subdivided and sold lots in the "Victoria Park Station Estate" east of the railway station, with quarter-acreAcre
The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related...
blocks on sale for £25–30. A brochure advertising the state claimed the lots were "So near Perth, near the Station and so near the Trams" (although the tram service never quite eventuated). Peet and Co's advertising for the Victoria Park Station Estate was elaborate and multifaceted. Much of the promotion centred around the "Oldest Settler", a tree in the shape of a standing figure, located on one of the lots. Would-be purchasers were invited to "Look for the Oldest Settler from the train and at the pictures." They were also assured that the new section of the Victoria Park estate was the "finest subdivision" in Western Australia, destined to be "up-to-date in 40 years time", and distinguished by "Childrens Playgrounds for every group of homes". Residential development was slow, and Gallop
Geoff Gallop
Geoffrey Ian Gallop, AC is an Australian academic and former politician. He was the Premier of Western Australia from 2001 to 2006. He currently resides in Sydney.-Early life and education:...
records in his historical notes that "bush land with some heavy timber and the occasional stray cow from Belmont
Belmont, Western Australia
The City of Belmont is a Local Government Area in the inner eastern suburbs of the Western Australian capital city of Perth, located about east of Perth's central business district on the south bank of the Swan River...
greeted the post-war generation who built the suburb.
Lathlain was a 'garden suburb' estate designed in 1920 by Carl Klem and brother-in-law and senior partner Percy Hope. There was much controversy surrounding the development which was initially planned to have 16 internal reserves that provided open space to all allotments. Maintenance of these public open spaces was seen as problematic by the City of Perth
City of Perth
The City of Perth is a local government area and body, within the Perth Metropolitan Area, which is the capital of Western Australia. The local government body is commonly known as Perth City Council. The city covers the Perth central business district and surrounding suburbs...
(then the local government of the area) to which the plan was scaled back to only two such reserves (bordered by Roberts Road, Rutland Avenue, Bishopsgate Street and Goddard Street) one of which has been sold to adjoining residents (Roberts, Rutland, Bishopsgate, Forster).
The suburb's name honours Sir William Lathlain, the Lord Mayor of Perth from 1918 until 1923. The name was in general use since the 1950s, after a park of this name was built there, but was not gazetted until 1981.
In November 1953, it was proposed that the Perth Football Club
Perth Football Club
The Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The club plays its matches at Lathlain Park.-History:...
, an Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
team in the West Australian Football League
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
, be based at a new oval to be built on vacant land at Lathlain. The Perth City Council supported the scheme, and construction commenced. As residents started to move into the area, a primary school was constructed in 1956. On 11 July 1959, the club moved into the premises at the ground, known as Lathlain Park
Eftel Oval
Lathlain Park is an Australian rules football ground, located in Lathlain, an inner-eastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia...
, and went on to win premierships in 1966-1968 and 1976-1977. The ground was renamed to Eftel Oval in 2003.
Demographics changed and during the early 1990s Lathlain's only civil structure, its local primary school, was earmarked for closure by the education minister at the time Norman Moore, due to low student enrolments. Students, parents and locals fought hard to keep the school open and their cries were heard. The school now has a healthy enrolment aided by the onsite pre-primary and better facilities.
Geography
Lathlain is bounded by Great Eastern HighwayGreat Eastern Highway
The Great Eastern Highway is a major road between the Western Australian cities of Perth and Kalgoorlie. It is a key route for vehicles accessing the eastern wheatbelt and the eastern goldfields...
to the northwest, the Armadale railway to the southwest, Roberts Road to the southeast and Orrong Road and Graham Farmer Freeway
Graham Farmer Freeway
The Graham Farmer Freeway is a major part of the metropolitan road infrastructure in Perth, Western Australia. It is long and links Rivervale and East Perth with West Perth, bypassing Perth's central business district...
to the northeast. The suburb is almost entirely residential, although a number of parks can be found - most notably Lathlain Park which houses the home ground of the Phoenix Demons and J.A. Lee Reserve. Rayment Park is a small community park located centrally within the suburb, adjacent to Lathlain Primary School, local shops situated in Lathlain Place, Carlisle/Lathlain Playgroup, Carlisle/Victoria Park Toy Library and scout hall.
Lathlain is zoned predominately R20. City and hill views can be found in the western end of the suburb which is situated on a hill that extends as far north as Rivervale
Rivervale, Western Australia
Rivervale, near the Swan River in Australia, is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia and 5 km from Perth's central business district.Rivervale was known as Barndon Hill until 1884....
and as far south as Kensington
Kensington, Western Australia
Kensington is an inner southern suburb of Perth. While mostly within the City of South Perth local government area, a small section is within the Town of Victoria Park....
.
Facilities
Lathlain is a residential suburb containing two reserves, two hotelTavern
A tavern is a place of business where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages and be served food, and in some cases, where travelers receive lodging....
s and Lathlain Primary School. Commercial and other services are provided by Victoria Park
Victoria Park, Western Australia
The Town of Victoria Park is a Local Government Area of Western Australia. It covers an area of 17.62 km² in metropolitan Perth, the capital of Western Australia. The Town of Victoria Park maintains 154.55 km of roads, a little over 1 km² of parks and gardens and has a...
and Belmont
Belmont, Western Australia
The City of Belmont is a Local Government Area in the inner eastern suburbs of the Western Australian capital city of Perth, located about east of Perth's central business district on the south bank of the Swan River...
.
Transport
Lathlain is served by the Victoria Park train stationVictoria Park railway station, Perth
Victoria Park Station is a Transperth train station 6.2 km southeast of Perth Train Station on the Armadale / Thornlie Line, located between the suburbs of Lathlain and Victoria Park in inner suburban Perth, Western Australia. The new Victoria Park station located 230 metres south of the...
on its southwestern edge, and by various bus services. All services are operated by Swan Transit
SWAn transit
Swan Transit is a private bus operator whose primary purpose is to provide commuter bus services in and near the city of Perth, Western Australia. It is part of Transit Systems Australia.-History:...
.
The Lathlain railway station, built in 1959 and once located at the beginning of Goddard Street, was closed on 3 February 2003. Almost no trace of it exists today, although when the Lathlain railway station was decommissioned the "Lathlain" lighted signs were donated to the Perth Football Club to display in their clubroom due to their historical links with the station.
Politics
Lathlain's booth supports 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....
, although less strongly than booths to the south and east - in the 1996 election it voted for the Liberal Party
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...
.
See also
- Town of Victoria Park
- Perth Football ClubPerth Football ClubThe Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The club plays its matches at Lathlain Park.-History:...
- Eftel OvalEftel OvalLathlain Park is an Australian rules football ground, located in Lathlain, an inner-eastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia...
- Perth Royals Football Club