Willetton, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Willetton is a large southern suburb of Perth
, Western Australia
. Its Local Government Area
is the City of Canning.
and Parkwood
) and settled in the area in June 1832. In November 1964, the Shire of Canning proposed the names "Burtsdale" and "Willetton" for Willetton and Lynwood/Parkwood respectively, the name Burtsdale honouring Septimus Burt, who purchased the land in 1882. In August 1965, developers at Lynwood requested the name "Clovercrest Estate", but finally agreed to "Lynwood". The name Willetton was shifted westwards and gazetted in December 1965 within its present boundaries.
The original subdivision was opened in the early 1970s under the developer's name "Burrendah Heights". (The name survives as Burrendah Boulevard and Burrendah Primary School). The section to the east of Vahland Avenue was developed in the 1980s under the unofficial name "Rostrata". Most housing and infrastructure was completed in the 1990s.
Willetton is bounded by Karel Avenue to the west, Leach Highway
and High Road to the north, Willeri Drive to the east and South Street and Roe Highway
to the south. Vahland Avenue runs north-south through the suburb.
At the ABS
2001 census, Willetton had a mostly average-income population of 17,571 people living in 6,300 dwellings, nearly all of which are detached houses on single lots. The ABS reported that almost 20% of the suburb's population were of East, Southeast or South Asian origin. Retail trade (1,515), property and business services (1,118), manufacturing (944), education (911), and health and community services (904) were the key occupations of Willetton's residents.
shopping centre, with two levels and businesses including two supermarket
s, Hoyts
cinemas
and a food court
. A light industrial area exists in the north of the suburb near Leach Highway and High Road, containing a Bunnings, pool shops and various trades. Three small neighbourhood shopping centres offer local services in the corners of the suburb.
Adjacent to Willetton on High Road, the Riverton Leisureplex, a large facility with sporting, fitness and recreation facilities first opened on 9 November 2001, is operated by the City of Canning and includes the council's largest library. The Willetton Library is located near Southlands Boulevarde.
Willetton contains the Castlereagh, Burrendah, Willetton, Rostrata primary schools and Orana Catholic Primary School, as well as Willetton Senior High School
, the largest public high school
in Western Australia with nearly 1,850 students.
(west to the Bull Creek railway station, Kwinana Freeway
to Perth's CBD and Fremantle
; east to Cannington
and Perth Airport
) and South Street (west to Murdoch railway station, Murdoch University
and Fremantle
; east to Canning Vale
and Armadale
). Roe Highway
is on the southeastern fringe of the suburb, while Karel Avenue (to Jandakot Airport
), Vahland Avenue and Willeri Drive are major north-south routes.
Willetton contains the Southlands bus station, where the CircleRoute
takes passengers to Murdoch Train Station, Murdoch University
and Curtin University of Technology
, while other bus routes go to Cannington
.All services are operated by the Public Transport Authority.
at both Federal and state elections
, although three of the suburb's four booths delivered majorities to the Australian Labor Party
at state level in 2001 and 2005. In 2008 it returned a Liberal member of parliament by a very slim majority.
The suburb is located within the Federal Division of Tangney
, the State seat of Riverton
and the Beeliar ward of the City of Canning.
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 City of Canning.
History
Willetton's name derives from Henry Willett of Willett & Co, who was granted Canning Location 21 (roughly the location of modern LynwoodLynwood, Western Australia
Lynwood is a southeastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Canning.-History:Lynwood was first settled by Henry Willett of Willett & Co, who was granted Canning Location 21 on the Canning River and settled in the area in June 1832...
and Parkwood
Parkwood, Western Australia
Parkwood is a southeastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Canning.-History:Parkwood was first settled by Henry Willett of Willett & Co, who was granted Canning Location 21 on the Canning River and settled in the area in June 1832...
) and settled in the area in June 1832. In November 1964, the Shire of Canning proposed the names "Burtsdale" and "Willetton" for Willetton and Lynwood/Parkwood respectively, the name Burtsdale honouring Septimus Burt, who purchased the land in 1882. In August 1965, developers at Lynwood requested the name "Clovercrest Estate", but finally agreed to "Lynwood". The name Willetton was shifted westwards and gazetted in December 1965 within its present boundaries.
The original subdivision was opened in the early 1970s under the developer's name "Burrendah Heights". (The name survives as Burrendah Boulevard and Burrendah Primary School). The section to the east of Vahland Avenue was developed in the 1980s under the unofficial name "Rostrata". Most housing and infrastructure was completed in the 1990s.
Geography
Willetton is located about 15 kilometres south of the Perth CBD. It is built on a section of flat sandy coastal plain which was originally covered with open Banksia woodland and stands of Paperbark trees marking the edges of shallow seasonal swamps.Willetton is bounded by Karel Avenue to the west, Leach Highway
Leach Highway
Leach Highway is a major dual carriageway arterial road in Perth, Western Australia, which varies between 4 and 6 lanes wide. The speed limit is either 70 or 80 km/h. It is located south of the Swan River and links Fremantle with Kewdale, a distance of ....
and High Road to the north, Willeri Drive to the east and South Street and Roe Highway
Roe Highway
Roe Highway is a limited access dual carriageway in Western Australia. It links Great Northern Highway and Middle Swan Road with Kwinana Freeway. It is one of the key heavy vehicle routes in the Perth metropolitan area. Aside from intersections, the speed limit is 100 km/h for most of its length...
to the south. Vahland Avenue runs north-south through the suburb.
At the ABS
Australian Bureau of Statistics
The Australian Bureau of Statistics is Australia's national statistical agency. It was created as the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics on 8 December 1905, when the Census and Statistics Act 1905 was given Royal assent. It had its beginnings in section 51 of the Constitution of Australia...
2001 census, Willetton had a mostly average-income population of 17,571 people living in 6,300 dwellings, nearly all of which are detached houses on single lots. The ABS reported that almost 20% of the suburb's population were of East, Southeast or South Asian origin. Retail trade (1,515), property and business services (1,118), manufacturing (944), education (911), and health and community services (904) were the key occupations of Willetton's residents.
Facilities
Willetton contains the Southlands BoulevardeSouthlands Boulevarde
Southlands Boulevarde is a shopping centre located in Willetton, Western Australia, along Pinetree Gully Road and facing Willetton Senior High School. Its shops include Woolworths, Coles...
shopping centre, with two levels and businesses including two supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
s, Hoyts
Hoyts
The Hoyts Group is an Australian company consisting of Hoyts Exhibition, Hoyts Distribution and Val Morgan.Hoyts Exhibition manages 450 screens across 40 Australian and 10 New Zealand cinema complexes; making it Australia's second largest cinema chain. Val Morgan, the cinema advertising arm of the...
cinemas
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
and a food court
Food court
A food court is generally an indoor plaza or common area within a facility that is contiguous with the counters of multiple food vendors and provides a common area for self-serve dining. Food courts may be found in shopping malls and airports, and in various regions may be a standalone development...
. A light industrial area exists in the north of the suburb near Leach Highway and High Road, containing a Bunnings, pool shops and various trades. Three small neighbourhood shopping centres offer local services in the corners of the suburb.
Adjacent to Willetton on High Road, the Riverton Leisureplex, a large facility with sporting, fitness and recreation facilities first opened on 9 November 2001, is operated by the City of Canning and includes the council's largest library. The Willetton Library is located near Southlands Boulevarde.
Willetton contains the Castlereagh, Burrendah, Willetton, Rostrata primary schools and Orana Catholic Primary School, as well as Willetton Senior High School
Willetton Senior High School
Willetton Senior High School is the largest government high school in Western Australia and one of the top schools in the state. The school first opened in February 1977 with a student population of 77. Today WSHS enrolls approximately 1800 students each year and employs 200 staff...
, the largest public high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Western Australia with nearly 1,850 students.
Transport
Willetton is situated between two major east-west routes - Leach HighwayLeach Highway
Leach Highway is a major dual carriageway arterial road in Perth, Western Australia, which varies between 4 and 6 lanes wide. The speed limit is either 70 or 80 km/h. It is located south of the Swan River and links Fremantle with Kewdale, a distance of ....
(west to the Bull Creek railway station, Kwinana Freeway
Kwinana Freeway
The Kwinana Freeway is a major arterial road in Perth, Western Australia, linking Perth with the southern suburbs and then further on towards Mandurah, a distance of . It has a speed limit of , except in central Perth and south of Lakes Road . Like all Western Australian freeways, the minimum...
to Perth's CBD and Fremantle
Fremantle
Freemantle is a suburb of Southampton in England.Fremantle or Freemantle may also refer to:- Places :* Fremantle, the port city to the capital Perth, Western Australia...
; east to Cannington
Cannington, Western Australia
Cannington is a southern suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Canning.-History:Cannington's name derives from the Canning River, which forms part of the southwestern boundary of the suburb...
and 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....
) and South Street (west to Murdoch railway station, Murdoch University
Murdoch University
Murdoch University is a public university based in Perth, Australia. It began operations as the state's second university in 1973, and accepted its first students in 1975...
and Fremantle
Fremantle
Freemantle is a suburb of Southampton in England.Fremantle or Freemantle may also refer to:- Places :* Fremantle, the port city to the capital Perth, Western Australia...
; east to Canning Vale
Canning Vale, Western Australia
Canning Vale is a large southern suburb of Perth, and is located 20 km from the Perth CBD. Its Local Government Areas are the City of Canning and the City of Gosnells .-History:...
and Armadale
Armadale, Western Australia
Armadale is a suburb within the City of Armadale, located on the south-eastern edge of Perth's metropolitan area. The major junction of the South Western and Albany Highways, which connect Perth with the South West and Great Southern regions of Western Australia respectively, is located within the...
). Roe Highway
Roe Highway
Roe Highway is a limited access dual carriageway in Western Australia. It links Great Northern Highway and Middle Swan Road with Kwinana Freeway. It is one of the key heavy vehicle routes in the Perth metropolitan area. Aside from intersections, the speed limit is 100 km/h for most of its length...
is on the southeastern fringe of the suburb, while Karel Avenue (to Jandakot Airport
Jandakot Airport
Jandakot Airport is an Australian general aviation airport located in Jandakot, Western Australia. Jandakot airport opened in 1963. From 1 July 1998, Jandakot Airport Holdings purchased a 50-year lease with a 49-year option to operate and maintain the airport including its conservation...
), Vahland Avenue and Willeri Drive are major north-south routes.
Willetton contains the Southlands bus station, where the CircleRoute
CircleRoute
The CircleRoute is a pair of suburban bus routes in Perth, Western Australia. Like all Perth bus routes, the buses are branded Transperth and operated by companies contracted by the Public Transport Authority. The routes are identical except for direction: 98 is clockwise, and 99 is anticlockwise...
takes passengers to Murdoch Train Station, Murdoch University
Murdoch University
Murdoch University is a public university based in Perth, Australia. It began operations as the state's second university in 1973, and accepted its first students in 1975...
and Curtin University of Technology
Curtin University of Technology
Curtin University is an Australian university based in Perth, Western Australia, with additional campuses in regional Western Australia and at Miri , Sydney and Singapore...
, while other bus routes go to Cannington
Cannington, Western Australia
Cannington is a southern suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Canning.-History:Cannington's name derives from the Canning River, which forms part of the southwestern boundary of the suburb...
.All services are operated by the Public Transport Authority.
Politics
Willetton has a broadly upper-middle-class, mixed-ethnic population. Historically it has been fairly safe for the Liberal PartyLiberal 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...
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 three of the suburb's four booths delivered majorities to the Australian Labor Party
Australian 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 state level in 2001 and 2005. In 2008 it returned a Liberal member of parliament by a very slim majority.
The suburb is located within the Federal Division of Tangney
Division of Tangney
The Division of Tangney is an Australian electoral division in the state of Western Australia. Eligible voters within the Division elect a single representative, known as the member for Tangney, to the Australian House of Representatives...
, the State seat of Riverton
Electoral district of Riverton
The Electoral district of Riverton is a Legislative Assembly electorate in the state of Western Australia. Riverton is named for the southern Perth suburb of Riverton which falls within its borders.-History:...
and the Beeliar ward of the City of Canning.