West Leederville, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
West Leederville is a suburb 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) northwest of the central business district
of Perth
, the capital of Western Australia
, and is located within the Town of Cambridge Local Government Areas of Western Australia
. It used to be integrated with Leederville
(now within the Town of Vincent) prior to the construction of Mitchell Freeway
through the suburb in 1972.
The tiny section east of Southport Street is a commercial area with several warehouses, taking advantage of its location at the end of the Graham Farmer Freeway
. The rest of the suburb is medium-density residential. The suburb backs onto Subiaco Oval
, the home of football
in Western Australia, and St John of God Hospital
Subiaco. Many of the original residences still stand with most being renovated next to newer double storey dwellings, leafy streets with some properties gaining views of the city. Prestigious "Hill of Tara" subdivision is a newer subdvision with larger homes on bigger blocks with many affording view of Lake Monger
.
It is served by bus services along Cambridge Street and the Leederville train station (Joondalup/Clarkson line) and West Leederville train station (Fremantle line).
West Leederville is the earliest area of residential subdivision in the Town of Cambridge. It was originally formed from the sale and subdivision of the estate of William Leeder that occurred from 1891 onwards. West Leederville Primary School was founded in 1898. Most of West Leederville's residential land was subdivided prior to 1903.
The Home of the Good Shepherd Convent (now the Catholic Education Centre) was established in 1903 by the Good Shepherd Sisters
.
Most of West Leederville was well developed with houses before 1925.
Until the 1950s, a tram
ran down Woolwich Street. With a one in fourteen gradient, Woolwich Street was one of the steepest tram lines in the city.
Subdivision of the Hill of Tara occurred in the 1990s when land was released around the Catholic Education Centre in Ruislip Street.
and built in 1916 by local builder, W. H. Roberts.
The Leederville Bowling Club was established to the rear of the Leederville Town Hall in 1906, and continues to operate both as a bowling club and a social venue. The bowling club was the first sporting facility established on the site and was developed in association with the Excelsior Masonic Lodge.
The Fallen Soldier’s Memorial was designed and executed in 1924 by Pietro Porcelli
.
The Leederville Croquet Club operated on the site from 1908 until 2006.
In 2007 the West Leederville Residents Association began a community garden on an unused area of council land next to the bowling club.
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of 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....
, the capital 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...
, and is located within the Town of Cambridge Local Government Areas of Western Australia
Local Government Areas of Western Australia
The Australian state of Western Australia is divided into 141 local government areas...
. It used to be integrated with Leederville
Leederville, Western Australia
Leederville is a locality within the City of Vincent within the Perth metropolitan region of Western Australia.It is home to Aranmore Catholic College, The Schools of Isolated and Distance Education, Central Institute of Technology Leederville Campus and St Mary's Church.-External...
(now within the Town of Vincent) prior to the construction of Mitchell Freeway
Mitchell 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....
through the suburb in 1972.
The tiny section east of Southport Street is a commercial area with several warehouses, taking advantage of its location at the end of the Graham Farmer Freeway
Graham Farmer Freeway
The Graham Farmer Freeway is a major part of the metropolitan road infrastructure in Perth, Western Australia. It is long and links Rivervale and East Perth with West Perth, bypassing Perth's central business district...
. The rest of the suburb is medium-density residential. The suburb backs onto Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval , known colloquially as Subi, is the highest capacity sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia...
, the home of football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
in Western Australia, and St John of God Hospital
St John of God Health Care
St John of God Health Care is Australia's third largest private hospital operator, with 13 hospitals and facilities in the states of Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria, as well as in New Zealand....
Subiaco. Many of the original residences still stand with most being renovated next to newer double storey dwellings, leafy streets with some properties gaining views of the city. Prestigious "Hill of Tara" subdivision is a newer subdvision with larger homes on bigger blocks with many affording view of Lake Monger
Lake Monger
Lake Monger is a large urban wetland on the Swan Coastal Plain in suburban Perth, Western Australia nestled between the suburbs of Leederville, Wembley and Glendalough...
.
It is served by bus services along Cambridge Street and the Leederville train station (Joondalup/Clarkson line) and West Leederville train station (Fremantle line).
History
West Leederville, though informally known by that name for many years, was officially gazetted as a suburb in 1998.West Leederville is the earliest area of residential subdivision in the Town of Cambridge. It was originally formed from the sale and subdivision of the estate of William Leeder that occurred from 1891 onwards. West Leederville Primary School was founded in 1898. Most of West Leederville's residential land was subdivided prior to 1903.
The Home of the Good Shepherd Convent (now the Catholic Education Centre) was established in 1903 by the Good Shepherd Sisters
Good Shepherd Sisters
The Good Shepherd Sisters is a Roman Catholic order of women religious. In addition to the standard vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, the Good Shepherd Sisters take the following fourth vow of zeal for souls [to save souls], particularly of women and girls."I bind myself to the labor for...
.
Most of West Leederville was well developed with houses before 1925.
Until the 1950s, a tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
ran down Woolwich Street. With a one in fourteen gradient, Woolwich Street was one of the steepest tram lines in the city.
Subdivision of the Hill of Tara occurred in the 1990s when land was released around the Catholic Education Centre in Ruislip Street.
Leederville Town Hall and Recreation Complex
The Leederville Town Hall & Recreation Complex is bounded by Holyrood Street, Tower Street and Cambridge Street. It forms a central focus of West Leederville. It is historically significant in the development of Leederville and the surrounding district, and was developed in response to the rapid expansion of the suburb prior to the First World War. It was designed by A. E. ClarkeA. E. Clarke
A. E. Clarke was a Victorian architect who emigrated to Western Australia in the late 1890s, and practiced in Kalgoorlie.His works included the School of Mines in Western Australia, and the Leederville Town Hall.- References:...
and built in 1916 by local builder, W. H. Roberts.
The Leederville Bowling Club was established to the rear of the Leederville Town Hall in 1906, and continues to operate both as a bowling club and a social venue. The bowling club was the first sporting facility established on the site and was developed in association with the Excelsior Masonic Lodge.
The Fallen Soldier’s Memorial was designed and executed in 1924 by Pietro Porcelli
Pietro Porcelli
Pietro Giacomo Porcelli was an Italian-born sculptor responsible for many statues in Western Australia, including the Explorers' Monument, and those of C. Y. O'Connor and Alexander Forrest....
.
The Leederville Croquet Club operated on the site from 1908 until 2006.
In 2007 the West Leederville Residents Association began a community garden on an unused area of council land next to the bowling club.