Maylands, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Maylands is a suburb
located approximately 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) northeast of Perth
centred on the Midland railway line and located on the northern bank of the Swan River
.
The suburb was developed during the 1890s and is currently an administrative locality within the City of Bayswater (having been mostly located within the City of Stirling until 1998), bordered by the suburbs of Mount Lawley
, East Perth and Bayswater. Maylands railway station provides easy access to the City centre and beyond. The railway line was originally built in the 1880s, and the railway station was extensively refurbished in 2000. Recently a shared bicycle / pedestrian path was built to link Maylands with neighbouring suburbs via the shoreline of the Swan River
. There is also a small yacht club and a golf course.
Maylands was once a source of clay for brick and tile making, and the pits from these activities are now part of a golf course and residential area. It was home to Perth's main airport which serviced all kinds of aircraft and even flying boats until the early 1960s, when the airport moved to Perth Airport
. The facilities were then converted to a training area for the Western Australian Police Service.
On 8 August 1928, the "Southern Cross" took off from Point Cook
near Melbourne and set course for Perth, a distance of over 3200 kilometres (1,988.4 mi). The first part of the flight Kingsford-Smith described as rather dull, while the second part was made thoroughly unpleasant by a cloud cover their heavy machine couldn't rise out of. For hours they endured the bitter cold and when daylight finally came, they discovered that they had drifted off course to Bunbury, 180 kilometres (112 mi) to the south. After their arrival at Maylands airport they found that summer rains had turned the field more or less into a swamp.
During World War II
, Maylands Airfield was requisitioned by the Royal Australian Air Force
(RAAF). From February 1942, it was also used by the United States Army Air Forces
for refuelling and aircraft ferrying purposes. Between 6 April 1942 and 5 August 1943, No. 35 Squadron
, flying Avro Anson
s, was based at Maylands to transport supplies and passengers to Allied units throughout Western Australia, as well as supporting the Royal Australian Navy
and the Australian Army
.
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
located approximately 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) northeast of 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....
centred on the Midland railway line and located on the northern bank of 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....
.
The suburb was developed during the 1890s and is currently an administrative locality within the City of Bayswater (having been mostly located within the City of Stirling until 1998), bordered by the suburbs of Mount Lawley
Mount Lawley, Western Australia
Mount Lawley is an inner suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Most of the suburb lies within the Local Government Area of the City of Stirling and small portions are in the City of Vincent and City of Bayswater...
, East Perth and Bayswater. Maylands railway station provides easy access to the City centre and beyond. The railway line was originally built in the 1880s, and the railway station was extensively refurbished in 2000. Recently a shared bicycle / pedestrian path was built to link Maylands with neighbouring suburbs via the shoreline of 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....
. There is also a small yacht club and a golf course.
Maylands was once a source of clay for brick and tile making, and the pits from these activities are now part of a golf course and residential area. It was home to Perth's main airport which serviced all kinds of aircraft and even flying boats until the early 1960s, when the airport moved to Perth Airport
Perth Airport
Perth Airport is an Australian domestic and international airport serving Perth, the capital and largest city of Western Australia. The airport itself is located in the suburb of Perth Airport....
. The facilities were then converted to a training area for the Western Australian Police Service.
Airport
Maylands Airport was where Charles Kingsford-Smith made his landing to complete the first non-stop flight across Australia.On 8 August 1928, the "Southern Cross" took off from Point Cook
Point Cook, Victoria
Point Cook is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 25 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wyndham. At the 2006 Census, Point Cook had a population of 14,162, now it is estimated that the population of Point Cook is 32,167...
near Melbourne and set course for Perth, a distance of over 3200 kilometres (1,988.4 mi). The first part of the flight Kingsford-Smith described as rather dull, while the second part was made thoroughly unpleasant by a cloud cover their heavy machine couldn't rise out of. For hours they endured the bitter cold and when daylight finally came, they discovered that they had drifted off course to Bunbury, 180 kilometres (112 mi) to the south. After their arrival at Maylands airport they found that summer rains had turned the field more or less into a swamp.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Maylands Airfield was requisitioned by 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...
(RAAF). From February 1942, it was also used by the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
for refuelling and aircraft ferrying purposes. Between 6 April 1942 and 5 August 1943, No. 35 Squadron
No. 35 Squadron RAAF
No. 35 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force transport unit. First formed in 1942, No. 35 Squadron saw action in World War II and the Vietnam War.-History:...
, flying Avro Anson
Avro Anson
The Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was...
s, was based at Maylands to transport supplies and passengers to Allied units throughout Western Australia, as well as supporting the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
and the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
.