Coolbellup, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Coolbellup is a suburb in Perth, Western Australia
, located within the local government area
of the City of Cockburn.
Coolbellup takes its name from the Aboriginal
name for the nearby North Lake; confusingly, there is also an adjoining suburb with the name of North Lake
.
tribe from the Swan River
who made their campsites along Perth
's central lakes to avoid the salty lakes closer to the coast. 16 aboriginal campsites have been found in the City of Cockburn.
Coolbellup was originally the eastern portion of George Robb's Cockburn Sound Location 10 and Coolbellup was recorded as the aboriginal name of a lake near the eastern boundary of the grant in 1842 by A.C Gregory
. Surveys by RM. King in 1877 showed the local name to be North Lake and both names were shown on plans. The lake is in fact the northernmost of the chain of lakes lying between Mandurah and the Swan River. Early landholders in the area were G. Jarvis, Joseph Meller and the Dixon family.
In the 1920s most of the area was taken up with dairy farms however, a cattle borne disease destroyed the dairy
industry in the area. An abattoir operated in the area up until the 1950s. A vineyard also operated in the area and remained in production until it was cleared for housing in the late 1970s for what is now known as the suburb of North Lake. Large portions of native bushland remained and native wildlife flourished in the area with a large population of kangaroos
. In 1954 most of the land was resumed by the State Housing Commission and an intensive post-war housing scheme developed for the area. In 1957 it was decided that the suburb should be called Coolbellup in preference to North Lake.
During the 1960s the area's population grew quickly with families moving into modern brick houses on large blocks provided at low cost loans by the state government. A number of flats were also constructed in the area. A shopping area was constructed in the middle of the suburb. A hotel/motel was also built nearby, The Coolbellup Motor Hotel.
By the late 1980s Coolbellup's post war population boom was over and gradually the demographics changed from young families with children to older residents. The suburbs appearance was also in need or revitalisation.
During the late 1990s a suburb revitalisation project began. This included demolition of flats and replacement with higher quality dwellings. Some flats have also been converted to high quality apartments. Roads, Parks and Sporting grounds have also been improved.
The changes together with the suburbs location and Perth real estate trends have resulted in a significant increase in property values in the area. Most public housing has now been sold off to private owners. The houses in the area are typified as 1960s 3 bedroom 1 bathroom brick and tile cottages with solid timber floors on 700 sqm. blocks. These houses are once again proving popular with younger couples and families seeking character homes within 15 km of the CBD.
The natural features of the area include gentle undulating land with the highest points in the Coolbellup Avenue Waverley Road area.
The only water features are lakes located at North and Bibra Lake, although these are no longer in the Coolbellup locality.
soccer training and the park also has basketball
courts and a skatepark
. Also adjacent to the shops, on Cordelia Avenue is the Coolbellup library. The other main park is Tempest Reserve on Coolbellup Avenue, home of the Coolbellup Australian Football Club.
both on Waverley Road and a Catholic Church (St Theresa's) on Friar John Way. Due to new Catholic churches being built at nearby Hilton and Yangebup, it was decided that a Catholic church in Coolbellup was no longer needed, Saint Teresa's ceased services in 1999, however the building remains church property and is used as a community hall.
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, located within the local government area
Local Government Areas of Western Australia
The Australian state of Western Australia is divided into 141 local government areas...
of the City of Cockburn.
Coolbellup takes its name from the Aboriginal
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
name for the nearby North Lake; confusingly, there is also an adjoining suburb with the name of North Lake
North Lake, Western Australia
North Lake is a suburb south of the central business district of Perth, the capital of Western Australia, and from the Indian Ocean. The suburb is located within the City of Cockburn local government area.-History:...
.
History
The original inhabitants were an aboriginalIndigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
tribe from the Swan River
Swan River (Western Australia)
The Swan River estuary flows through the city of Perth, in the south west of Western Australia. Its lower reaches are relatively wide and deep, with few constrictions, while the upper reaches are usually quite narrow and shallow....
who made their campsites along Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
's central lakes to avoid the salty lakes closer to the coast. 16 aboriginal campsites have been found in the City of Cockburn.
Coolbellup was originally the eastern portion of George Robb's Cockburn Sound Location 10 and Coolbellup was recorded as the aboriginal name of a lake near the eastern boundary of the grant in 1842 by A.C Gregory
Augustus Gregory
Sir Augustus Charles Gregory KCMG. was an English-born Australian explorer. Between 1846 and 1858 he undertook four major expeditions.-Early years:...
. Surveys by RM. King in 1877 showed the local name to be North Lake and both names were shown on plans. The lake is in fact the northernmost of the chain of lakes lying between Mandurah and the Swan River. Early landholders in the area were G. Jarvis, Joseph Meller and the Dixon family.
In the 1920s most of the area was taken up with dairy farms however, a cattle borne disease destroyed the dairy
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
industry in the area. An abattoir operated in the area up until the 1950s. A vineyard also operated in the area and remained in production until it was cleared for housing in the late 1970s for what is now known as the suburb of North Lake. Large portions of native bushland remained and native wildlife flourished in the area with a large population of kangaroos
KangaROOS
KangaROOS are an American brand of sneaker originally produced from 1979 through the 1980s, with a later revival that continues in present. They were notable for having a small zippered pocket on the side of the shoe, large enough for a small amount of loose change, keys, or more recently,...
. In 1954 most of the land was resumed by the State Housing Commission and an intensive post-war housing scheme developed for the area. In 1957 it was decided that the suburb should be called Coolbellup in preference to North Lake.
During the 1960s the area's population grew quickly with families moving into modern brick houses on large blocks provided at low cost loans by the state government. A number of flats were also constructed in the area. A shopping area was constructed in the middle of the suburb. A hotel/motel was also built nearby, The Coolbellup Motor Hotel.
By the late 1980s Coolbellup's post war population boom was over and gradually the demographics changed from young families with children to older residents. The suburbs appearance was also in need or revitalisation.
During the late 1990s a suburb revitalisation project began. This included demolition of flats and replacement with higher quality dwellings. Some flats have also been converted to high quality apartments. Roads, Parks and Sporting grounds have also been improved.
The changes together with the suburbs location and Perth real estate trends have resulted in a significant increase in property values in the area. Most public housing has now been sold off to private owners. The houses in the area are typified as 1960s 3 bedroom 1 bathroom brick and tile cottages with solid timber floors on 700 sqm. blocks. These houses are once again proving popular with younger couples and families seeking character homes within 15 km of the CBD.
Geography
It is bounded by Winterfold Road (named after The Winterfold Estate, which was the home of the Healy family) to the north, Stock Road (originally part of a stock route from Robb Jetty to Midland Junction) to the west, North Lake Road to the east, and Forrest Road (named after Sir John Forrest, the then Surveyor General of Western Australia) and the Roe Highway reservation to the south. The main streets within Coolbellup are Coolbellup Avenue, Counsel Road, Cordelia Avenue, Hargreaves Road, Antigonus Street and Waverley Road.The natural features of the area include gentle undulating land with the highest points in the Coolbellup Avenue Waverley Road area.
The only water features are lakes located at North and Bibra Lake, although these are no longer in the Coolbellup locality.
Commercial
Coolbellup Shopping Centre is located on Coolbellup Avenue and Cordelia Avenue, and contains the Coolbellup Hotel.Recreation/Community
There are a number of parks with Coolbellup. The main park, Len Packham Reserve, located on Waverley Road to the rear of the Coolbellup Shopping Centre is used for little leagueLittle League
Little League Baseball and Softball is a non-profit organization in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States which organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the U.S...
soccer training and the park also has basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
courts and a skatepark
Skatepark
A skatepark is a purpose-built recreational environment made for skateboarding, BMX, aggressive inline skating and scooters. A skatepark may contain half-pipes, quarter pipes, spine transfers, handrails, funboxes, vert ramps, pyramids, banked ramps, full pipes, pools, bowls, snake runs stairsets,...
. Also adjacent to the shops, on Cordelia Avenue is the Coolbellup library. The other main park is Tempest Reserve on Coolbellup Avenue, home of the Coolbellup Australian Football Club.
Education
Formerly there were three state government primary schools in the area Coolbellup Primary, North Lake Primary and old Koorilla Primary(original school on Cordelia Ave) however these have been closed due to declining numbers of young families and children in the suburb and replaced with a single school, Coolbellup Community School (which adjoins Len Packham Reserve). The former school sites are all proposed to be redeveloped for housing. A High School known as North Lake Senior High School was constructed on Winterfold Road in the early 1970s in what was then a Pine Plantation. The area it was located in was later re zoned out of Coolbellup as Sommerville and later Kardinya. The school closed as a high school in the early 1990s and is now an adult education campus.Religious
There are three churches in Coolbellup, a Baptist Church, and a Uniting ChurchUniting Church in Australia
The Uniting Church in Australia was formed on 22 June 1977 when many congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia, the Presbyterian Church of Australia and the Congregational Union of Australia came together under the Basis of Union....
both on Waverley Road and a Catholic Church (St Theresa's) on Friar John Way. Due to new Catholic churches being built at nearby Hilton and Yangebup, it was decided that a Catholic church in Coolbellup was no longer needed, Saint Teresa's ceased services in 1999, however the building remains church property and is used as a community hall.