Matilda Bay
Encyclopedia
Matilda Bay is a natural bay
in the Swan River
in Western Australia
, adjacent to the Perth
suburb of Crawley
. It extends from Pelican Point
to Mounts Bay Road below Kings Park
.
The University of Western Australia
is immediately opposite. Other landmarks on Matilda Bay include Pelican Point Sea Scouts, Royal Perth Yacht Club
and Mounts Bay Yacht Club. A well-known bronze sculpture Eliza
is displayed just offshore from Mounts Bay Road and depicts a woman preparing to dive.
Matilda Bay Reserve is a recreational parkland between Hackett Drive and the river. It includes Pelican Point which is an important breeding sanctuary for migratory birds.
Matilda Bay is believed to have been named after the wife of John Septimus Roe
, Matilda (née Bennett).
Captain Currie
was the first colonial owner of the 32 acres (129,499.5 m²) estate surrounding the bay, and during this time it was known as Eliza Bay. Pelican Point was then known as Point Currie. The estate was sold in 1832 to the Assistant Surveyor and Colonial Treasurer, Henry Sutherland for ₤100. Sutherland changed the property name to Crawley Park in memory of his mother's maiden name and the bay hence became Crawley Bay. The estate was acquired by the Government in 1910 and vested in the University of Western Australia in 1922.
In 1943, the Royal Australian Air Force
operated Catalina flying boats between Ceylon (now Sri Lanka
) and Matilda Bay in what was known as the Double Sunrise service.
Bay
A bay is an area of water mostly surrounded by land. Bays generally have calmer waters than the surrounding sea, due to the surrounding land blocking some waves and often reducing winds. Bays also exist as an inlet in a lake or pond. A large bay may be called a gulf, a sea, a sound, or a bight...
in the Swan River
Swan River (Western Australia)
The Swan River estuary flows through the city of Perth, in the south west of Western Australia. Its lower reaches are relatively wide and deep, with few constrictions, while the upper reaches are usually quite narrow and shallow....
in 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...
, adjacent to the Perth
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....
suburb of Crawley
Crawley, Western Australia
Crawley is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Subiaco.The earlier name of the locality was Crawley Park.It is home to the University of Western Australia, the state's oldest and most prestigious university...
. It extends from Pelican Point
Pelican Point (Swan River)
Pelican Point is a point and nature reserve on the Swan River in Perth, located at Matilda Bay near UWA.Pelican Point was formerly named Point Currie after Captain Currie who in 1829 received an allotment of land which became known as Crawley....
to Mounts Bay Road below Kings Park
Kings Park, Western Australia
Kings Park is a park located on the western edge of Perth, Western Australia central business district. The park is a mixture of grassed parkland, botanical gardens and natural bushland on Mount Eliza with two thirds of the grounds conserved as native bushland. With panoramic views of the Swan...
.
The University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
is immediately opposite. Other landmarks on Matilda Bay include Pelican Point Sea Scouts, Royal Perth Yacht Club
Royal Perth Yacht Club
The Royal Perth Yacht Club is a yacht club in Perth, Western Australia. -Early history:The "Perth Yacht and Boat Club" in 1880 was able to build a jetty at the foot of William Street in Perth Water. Perth Yacht Club received the Royal Charter in 1890. The club shifted to Crawley in 1953 when the...
and Mounts Bay Yacht Club. A well-known bronze sculpture Eliza
Eliza (sculpture)
Eliza is a bronze sculpture located in Matilda Bay on the Swan River in Western Australia. The sculpture and plinth are mounted on a steel pylon 15 metres off the shoreline and depicts a woman about to dive off a wooden platform. It commemorates the old Crawley Baths which were a prominent Perth...
is displayed just offshore from Mounts Bay Road and depicts a woman preparing to dive.
Matilda Bay Reserve is a recreational parkland between Hackett Drive and the river. It includes Pelican Point which is an important breeding sanctuary for migratory birds.
Matilda Bay is believed to have been named after the wife of John Septimus Roe
John Septimus Roe
John Septimus Roe was the first Surveyor-General of Western Australia. He was a renowned explorer, and a Member of Western Australia's Legislative and Executive Councils for nearly 40 years.-Early life:...
, Matilda (née Bennett).
History
Mark John Currie
Captain Mark John Currie RN played a significant role in the exploration of Australia and the foundation of the Swan River Colony, later named 'Western Australia'....
was the first colonial owner of the 32 acres (129,499.5 m²) estate surrounding the bay, and during this time it was known as Eliza Bay. Pelican Point was then known as Point Currie. The estate was sold in 1832 to the Assistant Surveyor and Colonial Treasurer, Henry Sutherland for ₤100. Sutherland changed the property name to Crawley Park in memory of his mother's maiden name and the bay hence became Crawley Bay. The estate was acquired by the Government in 1910 and vested in the University of Western Australia in 1922.
In 1943, the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
operated Catalina flying boats between Ceylon (now Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
) and Matilda Bay in what was known as the Double Sunrise service.
External links
- Recent aerial photos by Richard WoldendorpRichard WoldendorpRichard Leo Woldendorp is an Australian photographer.Born in Utrecht, Netherlands, he migrated to Australia in 1950. He began photographing in 1956, initially on various projects in Indonesia. He became a professional photographer in 1961 after winning two prizes in the Craven-A national...
http://henrietta.liswa.wa.gov.au/record=b2440436~S2 - Earlier photographs of the Supermarina Southampton II flying boats by Reg Lamberthttp://henrietta.liswa.wa.gov.au/record=b1976765~S2 and Izzy Orloff of the same planes in 1928http://henrietta.liswa.wa.gov.au/record=b2215657~S2