Bassendean, Western Australia

Bassendean, originally named West Guildford, is a north-eastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its local government area is the Town of Bassendean.[2]

This article is about a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. For the local government area, see Town of Bassendean.

Bassendean
Perth, Western Australia
The heritage listed Bassendean Masonic Lodge
Bassendean
Coordinates31.905°S 115.949°E / -31.905; 115.949
Population10,313 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density1,413/km2 (3,659/sq mi)
Postcode(s)6054
Area7.3 km2 (2.8 sq mi)
Location12 km (7 mi) from Perth
LGA(s)Town of Bassendean
State electorate(s)Bassendean
Federal Division(s)Perth
Suburbs around Bassendean:
Morley Eden Hill Caversham
Bayswater Bassendean Guildford
Ashfield Ascot South Guildford

It is also the name of the sand dune system on the Swan Coastal Plain known as the Bassendean Dune System.[3][4]

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.[5] Flooding in 1929 caused severe damage, especially to the primary school oval.[6]

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.[7]

Rail heritage

Bassendean is home to the Western Australian Rail Transport Museum which opened in 1974.[8] The display has a collection of steam and diesel locomotives, some 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 Perth station.[9] The West Australian Model Railway Club is also housed within the complex.[10] The display's centrepiece is a working scale model featuring engine characters from the children's series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.

Facilities

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. Bassendean railway station is served by Transperth Midland line services.[11]

Industry

Bassendean has had an involvement in railway rolling stock construction and maintenance since Commonwealth Engineering opened a plant in 1951.[12] It closed in the 1980s, with Goninan later taking it over.[13][14]

Notable people

See also

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Bassendean (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  2. "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.
  3. Broun, Llewellyn (1 January 2004), Banksia Woodland Resilience To Groundwater Drawdown On The Gnangara Mound, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, retrieved 20 August 2018
  4. Pesjak, Lea; Murdoch University. Faculty of Science and Engineering (2011), Low sulfur, potentially-acidic soils and sediments of the Bassendean Dune System, Perth, Western Australia, retrieved 20 August 2018
  5. "History". Town of Bassendean – Home by the Swan. Town of Bassendean. Archived from the original on 28 February 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  6. "FLOODED SCHOOLGROUND". The Daily News. Perth, WA: National Library of Australia. 16 May 1929. p. 6 Edition: HOME (FINAL) EDITION. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  7. "IMPROVEMENT SCHEME FOR BASSENDEAN". The Daily News. Perth, WA: National Library of Australia. 15 December 1934. p. 9 Edition: LATE CITY. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  8. Bassendean Railway Museum Rail Heritage WA
  9. Here & There Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 701 March 1996 page 95
  10. Home West Australian Model Railway Club
  11. Bassendean Station Transperth
  12. Four Firms Combine to Build Freight Cars in WA Railway Transportation October 1951 page 44
  13. Here & There Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 609 July 1988 page 57
  14. UGL 500 Not Out Motive Power issue 86 March 2013 page 59
  15. Hasluck, Alexandra (1983). "Hackett, Deborah Vernon (1887–1965)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. ANU. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  16. George Negus Tonight – People, Episode 26 "Rolf Harris", Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 23 March 2004, archived from the original on 22 June 2012, 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

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