Marmion, Western Australia

Marmion was named after Patrick Marmion, master whaler, who operated a whaling station in the area in 1849. There are still some remains of the old whaling station in the adjacent suburb, Sorrento.^[3] A monument to Marmion can be found in Geneff Park in Padbury Circle, Sorrento.

Prior to white settlement, the Whadjuk Aboriginal people, who called the area Mooro, gathered abalone and other shellfish in large numbers off the nearby reefs.

The area was popular with fishermen in the 1930s, and numerous boatsheds and shacks were built there. It remained largely undeveloped until the late 1950s, when the Postal District of Marmion was approved. At first, the only development in the area was the primary school, opened in 1956 as a two-teacher school and nicknamed "The Little School in the Bush", accessible only by a track until the mid-1970s. By 1961, the area west of Cliff Street was largely developed, and the Marmion Angling and Aquatic Club had been established. The rest of the suburb was developed between 1973 and 1976.

[edit] Geography

Marmion is bounded by Marine Terrace to the north, Marmion Avenue to the east, the Beach Road coastal segment to the south and West Coast Drive and the ocean to the west.^[4]

At the ABS 2001 census, Marmion had a population of 2,117 people living in 819 dwellings.^[1]

Marmion Village shopping centre.

[edit] Facilities

Marmion is a residential suburb, relying on the Marmion Village shopping centre in Sheppard Way for basic commercial services, and Karrinyup Shopping Centre and Centro Warwick for other services. The suburb is served by the Marmion Primary School and falls within Carine Senior High School's catchment area. Braden Park, a small park with play equipment and lighting, is situated near the shopping centre.^[4]

The Marmion Angling and Aquatic Club is a boating and fishing club located above Marmion Beach, which has a function room overlooking the Indian Ocean. Off the coast is the Marmion Marine Park,^[5] which provides a home for many species of marine animals.

[edit] Transport

Marmion is served by the 423 bus between Warwick and Stirling,^[6] operated by the Public Transport Authority. The 441 bus along Marmion Avenue^[7] serves the eastern parts of the suburb.

[edit] Politics

Marmion is a reasonably affluent suburb with a large elderly population. It consistently supports the Liberal Party at both federal and state elections.

2004 Federal Election
	Liberal	59%
	Labor	28%
	Greens	9.2%
	CDP	1.6%
	One Nation	1.3%

2001 Federal Election
	Liberal	55%
	Labor	30%
	Greens	6.3%
	Democrats	4.5%
	One Nation	2.3%

2005 State Election
	Liberal	46%
	Labor	35%
	Greens	10.0%
	CDP	3.4%
	Family First	2.8%

2001 State Election
	Liberal	43%
	Labor	25%
	Independent	13.0%
	Greens	6.2%
	One Nation	5.7%

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b 2001 Census Data by Location Name (State Suburbs), Australian Bureau of Statistics, released 19 November 2002. Accessed 2006-11-18
^ REIWA Suburb Profile
^ Department of Land Information. History of suburb names - M. Retrieved on January 17, 2007. Incorrectly references Peter Marmion.
^ ^a ^b Map 280, 2007 StreetSmart directory, Department of Land Information, Perth.
^ Conservation & Land Management (WA) (20 September 2005). Marmion Marine Park. Retrieved on January 17, 2007.
^ Northern 62 timetable, Transperth, effective 8 August 2005. Accessed 2007-01-17
^ Northern 63 timetable, Transperth, effective 1 October 2006. Accessed 2007-01-17