South Perth, Western Australia

South Perth is a residential

After the permanent settlement of the British and the establishment of the Swan River Colony, most development tended to take place north rather than south of the Swan River in the town of Perth and also in

There was some conflict between the European settlers and Aboriginal Australians, in which one of the leaders was a chief known as Yagan. After his death, local leadership went to a chief variously known as Galute or Kalyute. He led further resistance, but this was countered by a punitive expedition, which resulted in the deaths of fifteen Aboriginal people and the end of organised resistance.

By the 1850s, there was some further development of the area, with more ferry connections and the construction of the Causeway and the Canning Bridge. The area was further surveyed and lots allocated to pensioners. By 1858, the area was officially marked on maps as "South Perth" and some roads had been constructed.

The 1860s saw the realisation that large-scale farming in the district had no future, although dairying, timber cutting and vegetable growing continued. By the 1880s, a number of Chinese gardeners had arrived and they set up

With the help of convict labour, the district received more settlement and better roads. Nevertheless, the South Perth area still had a small population.

The 1880s South Perth land boom

The real estate boom of the 1880s, which coincided with the discovery of gold in the Kimberley saw a slow but appreciable growth in the number of residents. Several of Perth's more substantial citizens saw South Perth as a peaceful and tranquil suburb, and by the end of the 1890s, the population was about 400, with many elegant homes. The Zoological Gardens and the Royal Perth Golf Club were opened in 1898, and the area became popular with tourists from the town of Perth across the river.

Attractions

Perth Zoo

The Perth Zoo is located in the suburb of South Perth. It is open every day of the year and its exhibits include Australian wildlife, as well as exotic and rare animal species. It opens from 9 am to 5 pm daily with additional hours during summer and special events.

Other attractions

The Old Mill is visible to people driving south over the Narrows Bridge.

The Old Mill Theatre is a local amateur theatre company based on Mends Street.

The Sir James Mitchell Park is a stretch of park lands along the foreshore. It is dotted with gazebos, family picnic areas and barbecue facilities. It is adjacent to the Swan River, stretching between the Narrows Bridge and the Causeway. It has dedicated and separate paths for bicycling and walking.

The Mends Street Jetty connects South Perth to the central business district by a regular ferry service operated by Transperth.

Heritage listings

• 833 Mill Point Road: Old Mill^[2]
• 103 Mill Point Road: South Perth Post Office^[3]
• 20 Coode Street:
  Wesley College Chapel & Memorial Rose Garden^[4]
• 112 Mill Point Road: Windsor Hotel^[5]
• Lot 429 Mends St, now Old Mill Theatre; originally Mechanics' Institute (1899), also known as Mends St Mall, Miss Burnet's School, and Neeamara^[6][7]

Residential pattern

South Perth is an expensive area for land due to its location near the river and central business district. Consequently, there are a comparatively high number of high-rise apartment towers in the suburb, generally near the foreshore. There are also a number of large mansions. Significant numbers of townhouses and some older houses fill in the suburb.

Educational facilities

• Wesley College
• South Perth Primary School
• St Columba's Primary School

Notes

References

• The History of South Perth, by F K Crowley. Rigby Limited 1962
• Peninsula City, by Cecil Florey. City of South Perth 1995

External links

• http://www.stmarysperth.com – History of St Mary's Church, South Perth.