Guildford, Western Australia

Guildford
Perth, Western Australia
James Street
Guildford
Coordinates 31°54′00″S 115°58′23″E / 31.9°S 115.973°E / -31.9; 115.973Coordinates: 31°54′00″S 115°58′23″E / 31.9°S 115.973°E / -31.9; 115.973
Population 1,882 (2011 census)[1]
Established 1829
Postcode(s) 6055
Location 13 km (8 mi) NE of Perth
LGA(s) City of Swan
State electorate(s) Midland
Federal Division(s) Division of Hasluck
Suburbs around Guildford:
Eden Hill Caversham Woodbridge
Bassendean Guildford Hazelmere
Bassendean South Guildford Hazelmere

Guildford is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, 12 km northeast of the city centre. Its local government area is the City of Swan.

History

Guildford was established in 1829 at the confluence of the Helena River and Swan River, being sited near a permanent fresh water supply.

During Captain Stirling's exploration for a suitable site to establish a colony on the western side of the Australian continent in the late 1820s, the exploration party of boats found a fresh water stream across the river from the site of Guildford which they called Success Hill.

Guildford was primarily the centre of the Swan River Colony before Perth succeeded in being the dominant location on the Swan Coastal Plain.

Guildford was the home of Lew Whiteman and his family. The Whiteman family were responsible for the establishment of various industries. The Whiteman family established Mussel Pool as a picnic area for their employees. This land and the purchase of surrounding land by the State Government in 1978 was used to create Whiteman Park. The original home of the Whiteman family are now Tea rooms; the house is one of the oldest standing homes in Western Australia.

Guildford was originally the political centre of what is now called the City of Swan. The original council chambers have been converted to a library. Alongside the library stands the Town Hall; behind this is the stables built for the councillors while attending meetings and as a depot for council equipment. These stables have been converted and are now the home of The Garrick Theatre which is the oldest operating theatre group in Western Australia. The original structure is still visible. Inside the roof has its original shingles still in place, though from the outside they have been covered by corrugated iron.

Notable residents

George Cyril Abdullah (1919-1984) was a prominent aboriginal community leader who was born in Guildford to a Bengali labourer father and indigenous mother.[2]

George Walter Harper (1880-1956) was an orchardist, the youngest of ten children born in Guildford.[3]

Charles Walter Harper (1880-1956) was an orchardist and co-operator.[4]

Malvina Evalyn Wood (1893-1976), librarian and college warden.[5]

Alfred's Kitchen

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "2011 Census QuickStats: Guildford (WA)". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 28 March 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  2. ↑ Abdullah, Yasmin Jill (2007). "Abdullah, George Cyril (1919–1984)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. ADU. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  3. ↑ "Australian Dictionary of Biography".
  4. ↑ Smith, Kevin P. (1983). "Harper, Charles Walter (1880–1956)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. ANU. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  5. ↑ Medcalf, M (2005). "Wood, Malvina Evalyn (1893–1976)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. UDA. Retrieved 30 March 2015.

References

  • Bourke, M. J. (Michael Joseph), (1971) Old buildings at Guildford [microform] ( Microfilm copy of typescript ([240, 190] leaves) and illustrations prepared for University of Western Australia, Faculty of Architecture, 1971.)
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