Forrestfield, Western Australia

Forrestfield Perth, Western Australia
Roundabout at entrance to Hartfield Park
Forrestfield
Coordinates	31°58′48″S 115°59′37″E / 31.98°S 115.993611°E / -31.98; 115.993611Coordinates: 31°58′48″S 115°59′37″E / 31.98°S 115.993611°E / -31.98; 115.993611
Population	11,811 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s)	6058
LGA(s)	Shire of Kalamunda
State electorate(s)	Forrestfield
Federal Division(s)	Hasluck
Suburbs around Forrestfield: High Wycombe Maida Vale Kalamunda Perth Airport Forrestfield Lesmurdie Kewdale Wattle Grove Wattle Grove

Forrestfield is a suburb of the Shire of Kalamunda in Western Australia. It lies 15 km to the southeast of Perth at the base of the Darling Scarp and the southern border of the Perth International Airport.

The suburb is split by Roe Highway into a southern residential area and a northern industrial area. The suburb is adjacent to Wattle Grove, Cloverdale and Kalamunda.

Industrial area

Rail

The industrial area contains a major rail hub. It was originally Forrestfield marshalling yard^[2] operated by WAGR and then Westrail.

It is currently the Aurizon depot for Perth.^[3]

Specialised Container Transport (SCT) have a large intermodal warehouse with connection to the railway line.

The $120 million Co-operative Bulk Handling Metro Grains Centre was built in 1998. In mid-2005 BlueScope Steel constructed a large warehouse on former Westrail land.

Kenworth DAF also relocated from Guildford to a new $10 million complex on Abernethy Road in 2005.

Infrastructure

In June 2014, the Forrestfield Airport Link was announced by the State Government. The Airport Link is a $2 billion train line connecting with the Midland railway line near Bayswater Station, servicing the airport and finishing in the Forrestfield/High Wycombe area.^[4] Completion of the new train lines is scheduled for 2020.^[5]

The Western Australian State Government has prompted the Shire of Kalamunda to investigate the possibility of business and infrastructure opportunities arising from the completion of the new link for Forrestfield and it's surrounding areas.^[6] The final completion of the Airport Link is expected to facilitate the continuing growth of Perth Airport as a nationally integral part of employment, commerce and international trade.

Forrestfield's northern and eastern outskirts are home to the majority of the areas industrial enterprise. The area is host to a wide range of commercial business to business industries. Some of the most notable occupants include Grace Bros. Australia Improvid^[7] and the Super Retail Group.^[8]

History

Settlement of the area dates from the late 1800s. Population was minimal until the early 1900s, with growth during the interwar period. Significant development did not occur until the post-war years, with rapid growth from the 1950s into the 1970s. The population has been relatively stable since the early 1990s, a result of some new dwellings being added to the area, but a decline in the average number of persons living in each dwelling.

There is authority to suggest it is named after Western Australia's first premier, John Forrest. However, local folklore suggests that the name comes from Charles Hale, who settled in the area in 1902 and planted crops amongst the native forest bushland, hence Forrestfield.

Shopping

Forrestfield Forum and Forrestfield Marketplace

On Hale Road and Strelitzia Avenue are Forrestfield's largest aggregation of retail businesses. They border each other and join by their carparks. They contain one Woolworths and one Coles Supermarkets amongst a collection of lower-order retailers and services. Parking is ample.

Edinburgh Road Shopping Centre

On Cumberland Road, it contains a Foodworks Supermarket, a newsagency, a hairdresser, some dining and fast-food venues.

Other Retail Establishments

There are a range of other retail establishments scattered throughout Forrestfield, including:

• Taverns,
• Liquour shops,
• A nursery, and
• Various delis.

Education

Forrestfield contains the following educational institutions:

• Darling Range Sports College
• Forrestfield Primary
• Hillside Christian School
• Woodlupine Primary
• Dawson Park Primary

Demographics

In the 2011 census, Forrestfield recorded a population of 11,811 people: 49.4% male and 50.6% female. The median/average age of the Forrestfield population is 37 years. The country of birth of people living in Forrestfield is 1.1% Scotland, 8.4% England, 1.1% Philippines, 1.1% India, 4.6% New Zealand. 86.7% of people spoke only English at home; the next most common languages were 0.4% Dari, 0.4% Tagalog, 0.4% Dutch, 0.5% German, 0.6% Italian. The religious make up of Forrestfield is 20% Anglican, 3.7% Christian, nfd, 3.3% Uniting Church, 29.1% No Religion, 20% Catholic. 46.9% of people are married, 34.7% have never married and 9.6% are separated or divorced. There are 518 widowed people living in Forrestfield. The median individual income is $646.00 per week and the median household income is $1302.00 per week. The median rent in Forrestfield is $320 per week and the median mortgage repayment is $1842 per month.

Politics

Amenities

Hartfield Park Recreation Centre: This complex includes an indoor stadium as well as playing fields for cricket, rugby, Australian rules football, hockey, soccer(football), an 18-hole golf course, an equestrian centre plus support facilities for each. There is also a nature conservation park and a lake.

Public transport

Bus routes are

•      288 an Off Peak Service to and from the city
•      286 a Peak Hour Service to and from the city
•      287 a Peak Hour Service to and from the city
•      294 to Midland Train Station or to Cannington Train Station

Forrestfield is scheduled to gain a railway station in 2020, when Forrestfield station opens as part of the Forrestfield-Airport Link.^[9]

References