Forrestfield, Western Australia

Summary

Forrestfield is a suburb of the City of Kalamunda in Western Australia. It lies 15 kilometres to the south-east of Perth at the base of the Darling Scarp and the southern border of Perth Airport.

Forrestfield
PerthWestern Australia
Roundabout at entrance to Hartfield Park
Map
Coordinates31°58′48″S 115°59′37″E / 31.98°S 115.993611°E / -31.98; 115.993611
Population13,181 (SAL 2021)[1]
Postcode(s)6058
LGA(s)City of Kalamunda
State electorate(s)Forrestfield
Federal division(s)Hasluck
Suburbs around Forrestfield:
High Wycombe Maida Vale Kalamunda
Perth Airport Forrestfield Lesmurdie
Kewdale Wattle Grove Wattle Grove

The suburb is split by Roe Highway into a southern residential area and a northern industrial area. The suburb is adjacent to Wattle Grove, Cloverdale and Kalamunda.

Industrial area edit

Rail edit

The industrial area contains a major rail hub. The 241 hectare Forrestfield Marshalling Yard was built adjacent to the Kwinana railway line opening in stages between 1968 and 1973 in conjunction with the nearby Kewdale Freight Terminal as a replacement for the Perth marshalling yard and two other inner Perth yards. Within the confines of the yard, separate depots were built for locomotive, carriage and wagon maintenance.[2]

It was previously used by the Western Australian Government Railways, Westrail and Australian Railroad Group.[3][4] As at January 2018, Aurizon, SCT Logistics and Watco Australia use the yard.[5][6][7] Aurizon closed its terminal in late-2017 as part of the closure of its intermodal business.[8][9] Gemco Rail also has a facility.[10]

Bounded by Dundas Road to the east, the Tonkin Highway to the south and Perth Airport to the west, some of the land was no longer required for railway by in the late 1990s and rezoned for industrial use.[11][12] A combined 102 hectares was sold to the CBH Group, LandCorp and Specialised Container Transport.[13][14]

CBH Group's Metro Grains Centre was completed in 1998.[15][16] In mid-2005 BlueScope constructed a large warehouse on former Westrail land.[17] Kenworth DAF Trucks also relocated from Guildford to a new complex on Abernethy Road in 2005.[18]

Infrastructure edit

In November 2016, construction commenced on the Airport line that is scheduled to open in 2021.[19] Included will be High Wycombe station.[20]

The Western Australian Government has prompted the City of Kalamunda to investigate the possibility of business and infrastructure opportunities arising from the completion of the new link for Forrestfield and its surrounding areas.[21] The completion of the Airport Link is expected to facilitate the continuing growth of Perth Airport as a nationally integral part of employment, commerce and international trade.

Forrestfield's northern and eastern outskirts are home to the majority of the areas industrial enterprise. The area is host to a wide range of commercial business-to-business industries. Some of the most notable occupants include Grace Removals,[22] Improvid[23] and the Super Retail Group.[24]

History edit

Settlement of the area dates from the late 1800s. Population was minimal until the early 1900s, with growth during the interwar period. Significant development did not occur until the post-war years, with rapid growth from the 1950s into the 1970s. The population has been relatively stable since the early 1990s, a result of some new dwellings being added to the area, but a decline in the average number of persons living in each dwelling.

There is authority to suggest it is named after John Forrest, Western Australia's first Premier, or his brother Alexander. However, local folklore suggests that the name comes from Charles Hale, who settled in the area in 1902 and planted crops amongst the native forest bushland, hence Forrestfield. In 1921 a Forrestfield Progress Association was formed, and the name was shown on plans in 1944.[25]

Shopping edit

Located on the corner of Hale Road and Strelitzia Avenue, the Forrestfield Forum & Marketplace comprises 52 shops including Coles and Woolworths supermarkets. It is owned by the Hawaiian Group.[26][27]

Cumberland Road has a Foodworks supermarket, a newsagency, a hairdresser, some dining and fast-food venues.[28] There are a range of other retail establishments scattered throughout Forrestfield, including taverns, liqueur shops, a nursery, and various delis.

Educational facilities edit

Forrestfield contains the following educational institutions:

Demographics edit

In the 2021 census, Forrestfield recorded a population of 13,181 people: 50.0% male and 50.0% female. The median/average age of the Forrestfield population is 38 years.[35]

Politics edit

Amenities edit

Hartfield Park Recreation Centre: This complex includes an indoor stadium as well as playing fields for cricket, rugby, Australian rules football, hockey, soccer (football), an 18-hole golf course, an equestrian centre plus support facilities for each. There is also a nature conservation park and a lake.

Public transport edit

Transperth bus routes are:

References edit

  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Forrestfield (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  2. ^ Nomination of Western Australia Standard Gauge Railway for an Engineering Heritage Australia Heritage Recognition Award Engineers Australia Western Australian Division September 2011 page 25
  3. ^ Western Australian Government Railways Commission (1976), Forrestfield Marshalling Yard operating manual, WAGR, retrieved 5 March 2017
  4. ^ Western Australia Australian Railroad Group
  5. ^ Western Australian Operations Aurizon
  6. ^ Forrestfield Rail Freight SCT Logistics
  7. ^ Minutes Western Australia Port Operations Task Force March 2017
  8. ^ Aurizon to close Forrestfield terminal Business News 14 August 2017
  9. ^ Linfox and Pacific National snap up Aurizon intermodal arm Fully Loaded 14 August 2017
  10. ^ Engenco wins $5 million WA train maintenance contracts Engenco 30 March 2014
  11. ^ Proposed amendment to the Metropolitan Region Scheme now available for comment Archived 20 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine Planning Minister 29 May 1998
  12. ^ Forrestfield Marshalling Yards Shire of Kalamunda Town planning Scheme 2 Amendment 177 Environmental Protection Authority January 1999
  13. ^ Government boosts industrial land at Forrestfield Archived 20 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine Lands Minister 12 April 2000
  14. ^ Annual report for year ended 30 June 2000 Western Australian Government Railways Commission pages 7, 18
  15. ^ Opening of $100M CBH Metro Grain Centre at Forrestfield Archived 20 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine Minister for Transport 6 Match 1998
  16. ^ Metro Grain Centre CBH Group
  17. ^ Expanded WA Capacity Steel in Touch (BlueScope) Spring 2005
  18. ^ CJD Trucks Kenworth DAF Perth Truckworld
  19. ^ Construction starts on Forrestfield-Airport link Government of Western Australia 18 November 2016
  20. ^ Forrestfield Station Forrestfield-Airport Link
  21. ^ "Structural and Local Development Plans: Local Development Plans". Shire of Kalamunda. Western Australian Land Information Authority. 27 November 2016.
  22. ^ Perth Grace Removals
  23. ^ "Perth Construction and Fencing". Perth Construction News. 27 June 2017. Archived from the original on 27 June 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  24. ^ "Super Retail Group". Super Retail Group. 27 June 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  25. ^ "History of metropolitan suburb names – F". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  26. ^ "Hawaiian buys Forestfield shops in $40m deal". Business News. 25 February 2015.
  27. ^ Home Hawaiian Forrestfield
  28. ^ Forrestfield Foodworks
  29. ^ Home Darling Range Sports College
  30. ^ Home Dawson Park Primary School
  31. ^ Home Forrestfield Primary School
  32. ^ Home Hillside Christian School
  33. ^ Home Woodlupine Primary School
  34. ^ [1] Tabor College
  35. ^ [2] Australian Bureau of Statistics
  36. ^ Bus Route 270 Timetable Transperth
  37. ^ Bus Route 271 Timetable Transperth
  38. ^ Bus Route 280 Timetable Transperth
  39. ^ Bus Route 281 Timetable Transperth

External links edit

  Media related to Forrestfield, Western Australia at Wikimedia Commons