Sorrento, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Sorrento is a northern coastal suburb of Perth
, the capital city of Western Australia
. Its Local Government Area
is the City of Joondalup
. At its northwestern corner is the Hillarys Boat Harbour
, built in the late 1980s.
A private subdivision of freehold land known as 'Sorrento' was surveyed here in 1929. It is assumed that the name was taken from the Italian seaside town of Sorrento
which is located south of Naples opposite the Isle of Capri
.
Prior to white settlement, the Whadjuk
Aboriginal people, who called the area Mooro, gathered abalone and other shellfish in large numbers off the nearby reefs.
The first European to settle in the area was Patrick Marmion, master whaler, who operated a whaling station in the area in 1849. There are still some remains of the old whaling station at the present-day Surf Lifesaving Club site, and a monument to Marmion can be found in Geneff Park in Padbury Circle.
The area was popular with fishermen in the 1930s, and numerous boatsheds and shacks were built there. Residential settlement commenced in the early 1950s and until 1981, it was part of the suburb of Marmion
.
In 1958, the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions bought land in Sorrento at what was then the end of the West Coast Highway
, and in 1967, the Sisters and boarding students moved from Highgate
to the new site, Sacred Heart College Sorrento. The college became coeducation
al in 1977, and in 1989, the Catholic Education Commission took over management of the school.
In preparation for Australia's defence of the 1987 America's Cup
at Fremantle
, the State Government commissioned the building of Hillarys Boat Harbour
, the first major marina in the north metropolitan area. The retail complex on the site, called Sorrento Quay, commenced trading in December 1987 and was officially opened in January 1988. Also, in May 1987, the Government declared Marmion Marine Park
over a region from Burns Beach
to Trigg
, to which the new marina complex provided a gateway.
to the east, Marine Terrace to the south and West Coast Drive and the Indian Ocean
to the west.
At the ABS
2001 census, Sorrento had a population of 7,321 people living in 2,796 dwellings. Sorrento's oceanside location and to Hillarys Boat Harbour has seen the suburb become affluent since the 1980s, and the ABS identified many managers and professionals living within the suburb. However, many tradespeople and service employees also live in the area.
The Sorrento Quay retail development within the Hillarys Boat Harbour sits on the northwestern boundary of the suburb. Off the coast is the Marmion Marine Park
, which provides a home for many species of marine animals.
's catchment area.
and Whitfords Train Station, operated by the Public Transport Authority.
" families. The beachside part of Sorrento, together with Hillarys to its north, is the strongest base in the northern suburban region for the Liberal Party
at both federal and state elections
.
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....
, the capital city of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. Its Local Government Area
Local Government Areas of Western Australia
The Australian state of Western Australia is divided into 141 local government areas...
is the City of Joondalup
City of Joondalup
The City of Joondalup is a council and Local Government Area with City status in Perth, Western Australia. It covers the metropolitan Perth city of Joondalup in its entirety, as well as the town centres of Hillarys and Warwick....
. At its northwestern corner is the Hillarys Boat Harbour
Hillarys Boat Harbour
Hillarys Boat Harbour is a marina and tourist precinct located in Hillarys, north of Perth, Western Australia and on the Indian Ocean.Hillarys Boat Harbour was the first such major marina in the north metropolitan region of Perth. Construction of the new Harbour commenced in September 1985...
, built in the late 1980s.
History
Sorrento, Italy
Sorrento is a small town in Campania, southern Italy, with some 16,500 inhabitants. It is a popular tourist destination which can be reached easily from Naples and Pompeii, as it lies at the south-eastern end of the Circumvesuviana rail line...
which is located south of Naples opposite the Isle of Capri
Capri
Capri is an Italian island in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the Sorrentine Peninsula, on the south side of the Gulf of Naples, in the Campania region of Southern Italy...
.
Prior to white settlement, the Whadjuk
Whadjuk
Whadjuk, also called Wadjuk, Whajook and Wadjug, is the name according to Norman Tindale for the Aboriginal group inhabiting the Western Australian region of the Perth bioregion of the Swan Coastal Plain, and extending below Walyunga into the surrounding Jarrah Forests...
Aboriginal people, who called the area Mooro, gathered abalone and other shellfish in large numbers off the nearby reefs.
The first European to settle in the area was Patrick Marmion, master whaler, who operated a whaling station in the area in 1849. There are still some remains of the old whaling station at the present-day Surf Lifesaving Club site, and a monument to Marmion can be found in Geneff Park in Padbury Circle.
The area was popular with fishermen in the 1930s, and numerous boatsheds and shacks were built there. Residential settlement commenced in the early 1950s and until 1981, it was part of the suburb of Marmion
Marmion, Western Australia
Marmion is a northern coastal suburb of Perth, the capital city of Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Joondalup.-History:...
.
West Coast Highway
West Coast Highway is a major arterial coastal road located in the western and inner northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia, commencing slightly inland in Swanbourne and heading north via the SAS Campbell Barracks and rifle range to City Beach, Scarborough and Trigg, terminating at the...
, and in 1967, the Sisters and boarding students moved from Highgate
Highgate, Western Australia
Highgate is an inner suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Vincent and north of the CBD. Highgate was named for the village of Highgate in Kent, England...
to the new site, Sacred Heart College Sorrento. The college became coeducation
Coeducation
Mixed-sex education, also known as coeducation or co-education, is the integrated education of male and female persons in the same institution. It is the opposite of single-sex education...
al in 1977, and in 1989, the Catholic Education Commission took over management of the school.
In preparation for Australia's defence of the 1987 America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
at Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
, the State Government commissioned the building of Hillarys Boat Harbour
Hillarys Boat Harbour
Hillarys Boat Harbour is a marina and tourist precinct located in Hillarys, north of Perth, Western Australia and on the Indian Ocean.Hillarys Boat Harbour was the first such major marina in the north metropolitan region of Perth. Construction of the new Harbour commenced in September 1985...
, the first major marina in the north metropolitan area. The retail complex on the site, called Sorrento Quay, commenced trading in December 1987 and was officially opened in January 1988. Also, in May 1987, the Government declared Marmion Marine Park
Marmion Marine Park
The Marmion Marine Park is a protected area along and off the coast of northern Perth, Western Australia.In 1987, this park was declared the first marine park in Western Australia...
over a region from Burns Beach
Burns Beach, Western Australia
Burns Beach is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located north of Perth's central business district at the northern fringe of the City of Joondalup...
to Trigg
Trigg, Western Australia
Trigg is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Stirling. Trigg is also the name of a small island off the coast of the suburb of Trigg....
, to which the new marina complex provided a gateway.
Geography
Sorrento is bounded by Hepburn Avenue to the north, Marmion AvenueMarmion 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...
to the east, Marine Terrace to the south and West Coast Drive and the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
to the west.
At the ABS
Australian Bureau of Statistics
The Australian Bureau of Statistics is Australia's national statistical agency. It was created as the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics on 8 December 1905, when the Census and Statistics Act 1905 was given Royal assent. It had its beginnings in section 51 of the Constitution of Australia...
2001 census, Sorrento had a population of 7,321 people living in 2,796 dwellings. Sorrento's oceanside location and to Hillarys Boat Harbour has seen the suburb become affluent since the 1980s, and the ABS identified many managers and professionals living within the suburb. However, many tradespeople and service employees also live in the area.
Facilities
Sorrento is a residential suburb, relying on the Seacrest Village shopping centre for basic commercial services, and Whitford City and Centro Warwick for other services. Several parks of various sizes are situated in the suburb.The Sorrento Quay retail development within the Hillarys Boat Harbour sits on the northwestern boundary of the suburb. Off the coast is the Marmion Marine Park
Marmion Marine Park
The Marmion Marine Park is a protected area along and off the coast of northern Perth, Western Australia.In 1987, this park was declared the first marine park in Western Australia...
, which provides a home for many species of marine animals.
Education
Sorrento contains a Catholic private school, Sacred Heart College, and a state primary school, Sorrento Primary School (founded 1970). The suburb falls within Duncraig Senior High SchoolDuncraig Senior High School
Duncraig Senior High School is an independent public high school located 18 kilometres north of Perth, Western Australia in the suburb of Duncraig. The current principal is Graeme Smith.- History :...
's catchment area.
Transport
Sorrento is served by the 423 and 441 buses from Warwick railway stationWarwick railway station, Perth
Warwick railway station is a Transperth train and bus interchange located north-northwest of Perth railway station in Western Australia, on the Joondalup Line.-History:...
and Whitfords Train Station, operated by the Public Transport Authority.
Politics
Sorrento is a reasonably affluent suburb with many "mortgage beltMortgage belt
The Mortgage belt is a term used in Australian politics to signify residential suburbs which have a high concentration of families mortgaging their homes....
" families. The beachside part of Sorrento, together with Hillarys to its north, is the strongest base in the northern suburban region for the 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 both federal and state elections
Parliament of Western Australia
The Parliament of Western Australia consists of the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly . The Parliament sits at Parliament House in Harvest Terrace, Perth....
.