Bassendean, Western Australia
| Bassendean Perth, Western Australia | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  Bassendean | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 31°54′18″S 115°56′56″E / 31.905°S 115.949°ECoordinates: 31°54′18″S 115°56′56″E / 31.905°S 115.949°E | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 9,640 (2011 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 1,321/km2 (3,420/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 6054 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 7.3 km2 (2.8 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | 12 km (7 mi) from Perth | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Town of Bassendean | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Bassendean | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Perth | ||||||||||||||
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Bassendean, originally named West Guildford, is a northeastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its local government area is the Town of Bassendean.[2]
History
The land along the Swan River was quickly divided as settlers arrived in the Swan River Colony. Guildford was established in 1829 and within three years all of its town lots had been sold. A government reserve to the west, across the river, was deemed suitable for a town site, and the town of West Guildford was established. After he purchased a nearby farm from the Stokes family, Colonial Secretary Peter Broun named the homestead Bassendean.
In 1922, West Guildford was renamed Bassendean.[3]
Flooding in 1929 caused severe damage, especially to the primary school oval.[4]
In December 1934, Bassendean Road Board held a referendum, seeking approval to borrow funds for the improvement of an area, known as Hays Swamp, on the edge of the townsite. The development would include a bowling green with floodlights, a croquet lawn, Bassendean Oval, tennis courts and provisions for other sports.[5]
Rail heritage
Bassendean is home to the Western Australian Rail Transport Museum which opened in 1974.[6] The display has a collection of steam and diesel locomotives, most of which have been restored to operating conditions. Also as part of the collection are a number of carriages and other equipment associated including the Zanthus station and a signal box from the Perth city station. The West Australian Model Railway Club [7] is also housed within the complex. The display's centrepiece is a working scale model featuring engine characters from the children's series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.
Facilities
Lou's Hair Design on Old Perth Road in Bassendean is one of the longest established businesses/Hairsalons in the area, opened in 1982 by Lucio Pasquale and now run by his son David Pasquale. Cyril Jackson Senior High School was built in 1962, and was converted into Cyril Jackson Senior Campus in 1990 to provide specialised study for post high school students gaining entrance into university study.
Notable people
- Peter Broun (1797–1846), first Colonial Secretary of Western Australia
- Margaret Forrest (1844–1929), wife of Premier Sir John Forrest
- Pat Giles (1928–2017), ALP Senator during the Hawke and Keating governments
- Deborah Vernon Hackett (1887–1965), mining company director and philanthropist[8]
- Rolf Harris, a disgraced former entertainer, grew up in Bassendean and was known as "The Boy from Bassendean"[9]
- May Holman (1893–1939), politician, the first woman Australian Labor Party parliamentarian
- Adem K, musician of the band Turnstyle has lived in Bassendean since 2001
See also
References
- ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Bassendean (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
- ↑ "Town of Guildford" (pdf). State Records Office of Western Australia. Perth, WA: Government of Western Australia, Department for Culture and the Arts. 10 August 1902. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
- ↑ "History". Town of Bassendean – Home by the Swan. Town of Bassendean. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
- ↑ "FLOODED SCHOOLGROUND.". The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 – 1950). Perth, WA: National Library of Australia. 16 May 1929. p. 6 Edition: HOME (FINAL) EDITION. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- ↑ "IMPROVEMENT SCHEME FOR BASSENDEAN.". The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 – 1950). Perth, WA: National Library of Australia. 15 December 1934. p. 9 Edition: LATE CITY. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
- ↑ http://www.railheritagewa.org.au/museum/pages/bassendean/
- ↑ http://www.wamrc.org.au/
- ↑ Hasluck, Alexandra (1983). "Hackett, Deborah Vernon (1887–1965)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. ANU. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- ↑ George Negus Tonight – People, Episode 26 "Rolf Harris", Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 23 March 2004, retrieved 9 June 2012
Further reading
- Carter, Jennie.Bassendean : a social history 1829–1979 Perth, W.A : Town of Bassendean, 1986. ISBN 1-86252-478-5