Preston Beach, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Preston Beach is a small town located in the Peel region of Western Australia
just off the Old Coast Road
, between Mandurah
and Bunbury
in the Yalgorup National Park.
and Lieutenant William Preston RN first came across what are now Lakes Preston and Clifton while exploring the coastline between Mandurah and Bunbury in 1829. After the introduction of convicts to the Swan River Colony
in the 1850s, the "Old Coast Road" south of Mandurah was rebuilt. For most of its length, the road went through well-timbered, sandy limestone country of little value to agriculture.
The "Preston Beach Estate" was privately developed in 1959, and together with the "Lakeside Estate", was incorporated as the locality Yalgorup by the request of the local government - the name meaning "place of waters or lakes" in the Noongar
Aboriginal
language. The townsite was gazetted in 1975. However in 1989, the name was changed to Preston Beach on request from the Shire of Waroona, as this was the local name for the town.
Further to the State Government's announcement that the recently opened Forrest Highway will terminate in the area, Waroona Shire Council is presently (2006) developing a strategy for development of areas to the north and south of the present townsite, which have been identified for urban expansion since the 1990s and secured by land developers. The strategy is expected to be completed in late 2007.
The Yalgorup National Park was established in the 1970s to protect the coastal lakes, swamps and tuart
woodland in the area. The area is also central to waterbird migration patterns. At the edge of Lake Clifton, rock-like structures called thrombolite
s can be seen, built by tiny microorganism
s believed to resemble the earliest forms of life on Earth. Scientists have suggested their presence here may be due to upwellings of fresh groundwater high in calcium carbonate. An observation walkway has been constructed to allow visitors to view these fragile structures.
(Highway 1; Mandurah to Bunbury), 4 km away, where Perth-Bunbury buses are operated by Transwa
under the Public Transport Authority.
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...
just off the Old Coast Road
Old Coast Road
Old Coast Road is a Western Australian highway linking Mandurah, WA's second-largest city located 75 km south of Perth, with Bunbury, WA's third-largest city. It is signed as Route 1 for most of its length and is long.-Overview:...
, between Mandurah
Mandurah, Western Australia
Mandurah is the second-largest city in Western Australia and is located approximately south of the state capital, Perth.The city attracts a large number of tourists, including many international visitors...
and Bunbury
Bunbury, Western Australia
The port city of Bunbury is the third largest city in Western Australia after the State Capital Perth and Mandurah. It is situated south of Perth's central business district...
in the Yalgorup National Park.
History
Explorers Dr Alexander CollieAlexander Collie
Dr Alexander Collie was a Scottish surgeon and botanist who journeyed to Western Australia in 1829, where he was an explorer and Colonial Surgeon.-Early life:...
and Lieutenant William Preston RN first came across what are now Lakes Preston and Clifton while exploring the coastline between Mandurah and Bunbury in 1829. After the introduction of convicts to the Swan River Colony
Swan River Colony
The Swan River Colony was a British settlement established in 1829 on the Swan River, in Western Australia. The name was a pars pro toto for Western Australia. In 1832, the colony was officially renamed Western Australia, when the colony's founding Lieutenant-Governor, Captain James Stirling,...
in the 1850s, the "Old Coast Road" south of Mandurah was rebuilt. For most of its length, the road went through well-timbered, sandy limestone country of little value to agriculture.
The "Preston Beach Estate" was privately developed in 1959, and together with the "Lakeside Estate", was incorporated as the locality Yalgorup by the request of the local government - the name meaning "place of waters or lakes" in the Noongar
Noongar
The Noongar are an indigenous Australian people who live in the south-west corner of Western Australia from Geraldton on the west coast to Esperance on the south coast...
Aboriginal
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
language. The townsite was gazetted in 1975. However in 1989, the name was changed to Preston Beach on request from the Shire of Waroona, as this was the local name for the town.
Present day
Preston Beach contains basic accommodation and facilities. A couple of roadhouses for passing trucks and motorists are located on Old Coast Road 4 km from the town.Further to the State Government's announcement that the recently opened Forrest Highway will terminate in the area, Waroona Shire Council is presently (2006) developing a strategy for development of areas to the north and south of the present townsite, which have been identified for urban expansion since the 1990s and secured by land developers. The strategy is expected to be completed in late 2007.
The Yalgorup National Park was established in the 1970s to protect the coastal lakes, swamps and tuart
Eucalyptus gomphocephala
Eucalyptus gomphocephala is a species of tree, also known as Tuart, in the genus Eucalyptus. Native to the southwest of Western Australia the tree grows to over 35m tall. As a durable hardwood the timber is sought after for scantlings, structural timber, the construction of railway carriages, and...
woodland in the area. The area is also central to waterbird migration patterns. At the edge of Lake Clifton, rock-like structures called thrombolite
Thrombolite
Thrombolites are clotted accretionary structures formed in shallow water by the trapping, binding, and cementation of sedimentary grains by biofilms of microorganisms, especially cyanobacteria . Stromatolites are similar but consist of layered accretions.-External links:*...
s can be seen, built by tiny microorganism
Microorganism
A microorganism or microbe is a microscopic organism that comprises either a single cell , cell clusters, or no cell at all...
s believed to resemble the earliest forms of life on Earth. Scientists have suggested their presence here may be due to upwellings of fresh groundwater high in calcium carbonate. An observation walkway has been constructed to allow visitors to view these fragile structures.
Transport
The main road route through the area is the Old Coast RoadOld Coast Road
Old Coast Road is a Western Australian highway linking Mandurah, WA's second-largest city located 75 km south of Perth, with Bunbury, WA's third-largest city. It is signed as Route 1 for most of its length and is long.-Overview:...
(Highway 1; Mandurah to Bunbury), 4 km away, where Perth-Bunbury buses are operated by Transwa
Transwa
Transwa is Western Australia's regional public transport provider, linking 275 destinations within Western Australia, from Kalbarri in the north to Augusta in the south to Esperance in the east along with the regional centres of Bunbury, Kalgoorlie, Northam, Geraldton and Albany.Transwa is...
under the Public Transport Authority.