Hillarys, Western Australia

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Hillarys
PerthWestern Australia

Population: 9,324 (2001 census)[1]
Established: 1970s
Postcode: 6025
Area: 6.3 km² (2.4 sq mi)
Property Value: AUD $665,000 (Q3 2006)[2]
Location: 21 km (13 mi) from Perth
LGA: City of Joondalup
State District: Hillarys
Federal Division: Moore
Suburbs around Hillarys:
Kallaroo Craigie
Hillarys Padbury
Sorrento Duncraig

Hillarys is a northern coastal suburb of Perth, the capital city of Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Joondalup. It is part of the Whitfords precinct, and is located 21 km north-northwest of Perth's central business district via Mitchell Freeway and Hepburn Avenue.

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[edit] History

Hillarys was named after an early settler, Bertram John Hillary (1895-1957), who had become blind in his right eye while fighting in Gallipoli during the World War I. He came to the area during the Great Depression while fishing for a living with his brother Harry, and built a boatshed on the beach in 1930. Subsequently, he expanded it to accommodate himself, his wife and four children. For many years, they were the only residents of what is now Hillarys, and the nearest store, at North Beach to the south, was a 5 km walk away. During the Second World War, the Australian Army used the area, and named it "Hillary's Beach" on their maps. Bert Hillarys died in 1957 and the shack and 14 others nearby were destroyed in a fierce storm in 1964.[3][4]

The Metropolitan Region Scheme, designed in 1955, had proposed that Whitford Beach, just beyond modern Hillarys's north, would be the limit of coastal settlement, and in 1962, a highway from Fremantle to Sorrento was suggested by the Government.[5] In 1967, a road to Whitford Beach was built after a major Catholic school, Sacred Heart College, relocated from inner-suburban Highgate into the region.

Wanneroo Shire Council and the R&I Bank began developing the Whitford precinct and planned a town centre, which ultimately became Westfield Whitford City, in the suburb's northeast, and Marmion Avenue was built. They asked for the Government to gazette a suburb here and this was done in 1971. Many streets in the new development (including the facing portion of what was to become Padbury were named for early explorers and pioneers of Australia. On 21 November 1978, Whitford City Shopping Centre was officially opened.[6]

Restaurants and promenade at Hillarys.
Restaurants and promenade at Hillarys.

In preparation for Australia's defence of the 1987 America's Cup at Fremantle, the State Government commissioned the building of Hillarys Boat Harbour, the first major marina in the north metropolitan area. The retail complex on the site, called Sorrento Quay, commenced trading in December 1987 and was officially opened in January 1988. Also, in May 1987, the Government declared Marmion Marine Park over a region from Burns Beach to Trigg, to which the new marina complex provided a gateway.[4][7]

The shopping centre and marina development fuelled growth in the suburb and by the mid-1990s, both the northwest and southwest of the suburb had been fully developed.

[edit] Geography

Hillarys is bounded by Hepburn Avenue to the south, Marmion Avenue to the east, Whitfords Avenue to the north and the coastal road portion of Whitfords Avenue (formerly part of West Coast Highway) to the west.[8]

At the ABS 2001 census, Hillarys had a mostly above-average-income population of 9,238 people living in 3,421 dwellings. Hillarys's oceanside location, proximity to three private schools and to Hillarys Boat Harbour has seen the suburb become affluent since the 1980s, and the ABS identified many managers and professionals living within the suburb. However, many tradespeople and service employees also live in the area.[1]

[edit] Facilities

Hillarys is mostly a residential suburb, and relies on Westfield Whitford City, a large shopping centre in its northeast, and the smaller Whitfords Shopping Centre (2003) in Flinders Avenue for commercial services. Several parks and walkways of various sizes are situated in the suburb, and there are picnic facilities in a coastal park just north of Hillarys Boat Harbour. Unlike beaches further to the south, though, the beach at Hillarys is relatively difficult to access due to large sand dunes and remnant vegetation, and Whitford Beach to the north and Sorrento Beach to the south provide access.[8] Off the coast is the Marmion Marine Park,[7] which provides a home for many species of marine animals.

[edit] Tourism

Main article: Hillarys Boat Harbour

Hillarys Boat Harbour, a large marina development which contains the Sorrento Quay retail development [1], was built in 1987 and includes AQWA (formerly Underwater World) and numerous shops and eating spots, as well as a ferry terminal offering whalewatching cruises during key breeding months and ferry services to Rottnest Island operated by Hillarys Fast Ferries (MV SeaFlyte).

[edit] Education

Hillarys is served by the Hillarys Primary School, founded in 1973 and formerly known as Lymburner, and an Anglican college, St Mark's Anglican Community School, a coeducational day school built in 1986 on an 11 ha site. The suburb falls within Padbury Senior High School's catchment area.

[edit] Photos

[edit] Transport

Hillarys is served by the 441, 442 and 452 Transperth buses[9] travelling between Whitfords and Warwick railway stations on the Joondalup line. The 423 route from Warwick,[10] the 456 from Greenwood and the 458 from Whitfords go to Sorrento Quay.

[edit] Politics

Hillarys is a reasonably affluent suburb with many "mortgage belt" families, and is one of the strongest bases in the northern suburban region for the Liberal Party at both federal and state elections.

2004 Federal Election
  Liberal 64%
  Labor 26%
  Greens 5.8%
  Democrats 1.6%
  CDP 1.3%
2001 Federal Election
  Liberal 57%
  Labor 30%
  Democrats 4.0%
  Greens 3.8%
  One Nation 3.5%
2005 State Election
  Liberal 47%
  Labor 36%
  Greens 7.1%
  CDP 3.3%
  Family First 3.3%
2001 State Election
  Liberal 46%
  Labor 32%
  Greens 8.6%
  One Nation 6.0%
  Democrats 3.5%

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (19 November 2002). Community Profile Series : Hillarys (State Suburb). 2001 Census of Population and Housing. Retrieved on 2007-04-25.
  2. ^ REIWA Suburb Profile
  3. ^ Western Australian Land Information Authority. History of metropolitan suburb names - H. Retrieved on 2007-05-15.
  4. ^ a b Department for Planning and Infrastructure (WA). Hillarys Boat Harbour - Introduction and History. Retrieved on 2007-01-17.
  5. ^ The West Australian "Beach Route for Highway Suggested", 7 February 1962, p.2 "Northern Suburbs Supplement". Accessed at Battye Library, Perth.
  6. ^ Westfield Group. Whitford City. Retrieved on 2006-11-16.
  7. ^ a b Conservation & Land Management (WA) (20 September 2005). Marmion Marine Park. Retrieved on 2007-01-17.
  8. ^ a b Department of Land Information. StreetSmart® Perth Street Directory, 49 (2008), West Australian Newspapers Ltd, Map 250/280. ISBN 978-1-921048-19-7. 
  9. ^ Northern 63 timetable, Transperth, effective 1 October 2006. Accessed 2007-01-17
  10. ^ Northern 62 timetable, Transperth, effective 8 August 2005. Accessed 2007-01-17

[edit] External links