Ridgewood, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Ridgewood is an outer suburb of Perth, Western Australia
, located 37 kilometres north of Perth's central business district. Is is part of the City of Wanneroo local government area.
(Lukin Drive), to the south by Clarkson
(Hester Avenue) and to the west by Merriwa
(Connolly Drive). The Joondalup railway line reserve separates Ridgewood from the rural locality of Nowergup
in the east.
. The suburb was formerly a part of Merriwa
until 1998, when Merriwa was split in two along Connolly Drive. The eastern half of Merriwa was gazzetted as Ridgewood. At the time, only south Ridgewood was populated, containing the "Carnegie Private Estate" that was built in the mid-1990s. The estate had a small population of 968..
There were campaigns for Ridgewood's separation from Merriwa as far back as 1994, not long after the Carnegie Estate had been built by developers Town and Country Holdings. The developers lodged a request with the City of Wanneroo to bifurcate the area from Merriwa and rename the new locality "Carnegie", after the estate, which in turn was named in honour of David Carnegie, one of the earliest explorers of Western Australia. Although the request was rejected, the City supported the excision of the estate from Merriwa, leading to the creation of Ridgewood four years later.
The northern half of Ridgewood, "The Vistas", is a new development by Satterley
, marketed as a part of the "Brighton Estate" that covers the adjoining suburbs of Butler and Jindalee.
Like all surrounding suburbs, Christianity
is the predominant religious affiliation of Ridgewood's residents, accounting for 48.5% of the population across various Christian denominations. However, the suburb contains no churches or places of worship. 27.4% declared no religion.
in its south-west and almost no other facilities or retail establishments. However, it is positioned directly in between the suburbs of Butler, Merriwa and Clarkson, which all contain a sizeable number of shops and services that Ridgewood residents rely on, including the large Ocean Keys Shopping Centre
in Clarkson.
Like other neighbouring suburbs, Ridgewood contains several parks. Ridgewood Park in the south-west is the largest by area, and contains a sports pitch and a large pond.
Telephone services are provided by the Quinns Rocks telephone exchange.
The nearest K-7 primary school to Ridgewood is Merriwa Primary School. Senior Ridgewood students fall into the Clarkson Community High School catchment area.
. Hester Avenue, in the south of Ridgewood, links to two major north-south arterial roads, Marmion Avenue
and Wanneroo Road
.
The area is served by the 484 bus route to Clarkson railway station
, the nearest major transport hub, providing rail and bus links to Joondalup
and Perth.
at State level, while voting Liberal Party
at Federal level.
Like Merriwa, the suburb is part of the Electoral district of Mindarie
at state level, and the Division of Pearce
at federal level.
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 37 kilometres north of Perth's central business district. Is is part of the City of Wanneroo local government area.
Geography
Ridgewood is bordered to the north by ButlerButler, Western Australia
Butler is an outer suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located 41 kilometres north of Perth's central business district. It is part of the City of Wanneroo local government area...
(Lukin Drive), to the south by Clarkson
Clarkson, Western Australia
Clarkson is an outer northern suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located 34 kilometres north of Perth's central business district. It is part of the City of Wanneroo local government area. While mostly a residential area, it also functions as a town centre, serving many surrounding areas with a...
(Hester Avenue) and to the west by Merriwa
Merriwa, Western Australia
Merriwa is an outer suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located 36 kilometres north of Perth's central business district. It is part of the City of Wanneroo local authority...
(Connolly Drive). The Joondalup railway line reserve separates Ridgewood from the rural locality of Nowergup
Nowergup, Western Australia
Nowergup is a rural locality about north of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wanneroo.-History:The suburb of Nowergup takes its name from Lake Nowergup...
in the east.
History
Ridgewood's name refers to the wooded terrain on the Swan Coastal PlainSwan Coastal Plain
The Swan Coastal Plain in Western Australia is the geographic feature which contains the Swan River as it travels west to the Indian Ocean. The coastal plain continues well beyond the boundaries of the Swan River and its tributaries, as a geological and biological zone, one of Western Australia's...
. The suburb was formerly a part of Merriwa
Merriwa, Western Australia
Merriwa is an outer suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located 36 kilometres north of Perth's central business district. It is part of the City of Wanneroo local authority...
until 1998, when Merriwa was split in two along Connolly Drive. The eastern half of Merriwa was gazzetted as Ridgewood. At the time, only south Ridgewood was populated, containing the "Carnegie Private Estate" that was built in the mid-1990s. The estate had a small population of 968..
There were campaigns for Ridgewood's separation from Merriwa as far back as 1994, not long after the Carnegie Estate had been built by developers Town and Country Holdings. The developers lodged a request with the City of Wanneroo to bifurcate the area from Merriwa and rename the new locality "Carnegie", after the estate, which in turn was named in honour of David Carnegie, one of the earliest explorers of Western Australia. Although the request was rejected, the City supported the excision of the estate from Merriwa, leading to the creation of Ridgewood four years later.
The northern half of Ridgewood, "The Vistas", is a new development by Satterley
Satterley
Satterley Property Group is an Australian privately owned real estate land development company based in Perth. It develops residential estates in Western Australia and Victoria.-History:...
, marketed as a part of the "Brighton Estate" that covers the adjoining suburbs of Butler and Jindalee.
Demographics
Ridgewood had a population of 1,292 at the ABS 2006 census, an increase of 324 persons since the 2001 census. The population is predicted to grow exponentially, peaking at 5,903 in 2016. The demographics of Ridgewood's residents are similar to Merriwa, with the same average age of 33 (compared to 37 nationally) and income levels slightly below the national average.Like all surrounding suburbs, Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
is the predominant religious affiliation of Ridgewood's residents, accounting for 48.5% of the population across various Christian denominations. However, the suburb contains no churches or places of worship. 27.4% declared no religion.
Amenities and facilities
Ridgewood is primarily a residential suburb, with a BP service stationService station
Service station may refer to:* Filling station, a gasoline or petrol station* Automobile repair shop, a place where automobiles are repaired* Rest area, a public facility on motorways or controlled-access highways for resting or refuelling...
in its south-west and almost no other facilities or retail establishments. However, it is positioned directly in between the suburbs of Butler, Merriwa and Clarkson, which all contain a sizeable number of shops and services that Ridgewood residents rely on, including the large Ocean Keys Shopping Centre
Ocean Keys
Ocean Keys Shopping Centre is a major shopping centre, located in Clarkson, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia.-Major retailers:*Coles*Woolworths*Kmart* Kmart Tyre & Auto* The Good Guys* Cotton On* EB Games* Red Dot Stores* Specsavers...
in Clarkson.
Like other neighbouring suburbs, Ridgewood contains several parks. Ridgewood Park in the south-west is the largest by area, and contains a sports pitch and a large pond.
Telephone services are provided by the Quinns Rocks telephone exchange.
Education
The West Coast Language Development Centre is the only education establishment in Ridgewood, one of five schools in Western Australia that serve language-disabled children.The nearest K-7 primary school to Ridgewood is Merriwa Primary School. Senior Ridgewood students fall into the Clarkson Community High School catchment area.
Transport
Ridgewood is not directly linked to any major arterial roads in Perth. Connolly Drive runs along Ridgewood's western boundary and provides a road link into Joondalup and the Mitchell FreewayMitchell Freeway
Mitchell Freeway is a long freeway in Perth, Western Australia, linking Perth's central business district with its outer northern suburbs. It is allocated Route 2 for its entire length and is named after former state Premier and Governor Sir James Mitchell....
. Hester Avenue, in the south of Ridgewood, links to two major north-south arterial roads, Marmion Avenue
Marmion Avenue
Marmion Avenue is a major arterial road in Perth, Western Australia, designated State Route 71.It runs through the northern coastal suburbs of Perth from the end of West Coast Highway in Trigg and Karrinyup, to the outer northern suburb of Yanchep...
and Wanneroo Road
Wanneroo Road
Wanneroo Road is an important arterial road in Perth, Australia. It is about 75 kilometres long. It links Perth with the City of Wanneroo, and the Towns of Yanchep and Lancelin...
.
The area is served by the 484 bus route to Clarkson railway station
Clarkson railway station, Perth
Clarkson is a Transperth bus and train station located north of Perth, Western Australia, in the suburb of Clarkson. It presently serves as the terminus for the Joondalup Line. It is located east of Ocean Keys Shopping Centre....
, the nearest major transport hub, providing rail and bus links to Joondalup
Joondalup (suburb)
Joondalup is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, which includes the central business district of the regional city of Joondalup, as well as the council chambers for the City of Joondalup local authority.-History:...
and Perth.
- 484 - Clarkson to Butler (east) via Ridgewood
Politics
Ridgewood's political leanings are unclear due to its diminutive population and lack of specified polling booth. The nearest booth in Merriwa tends to favour the Australian Labor PartyAustralian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
at State level, while voting Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
at Federal level.
Like Merriwa, the suburb is part of the Electoral district of Mindarie
Electoral district of Mindarie
The Electoral district of Mindarie is a Legislative Assembly electorate in the state of Western Australia. The district is named for the outer northern Perth suburb of Mindarie which falls within its borders.-History:...
at state level, and the Division of Pearce
Division of Pearce
The Division of Pearce is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Western Australia. It is located to the east and north of Perth, taking in the rural areas adjoining the Perth metropolitan area to the south-east, east and north-east, then sweeping around to the Indian Ocean where it...
at federal level.