Applecross, Western Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Applecross Perth, Western Australia
Jacarandas in bloom
Established	1896
Postcode(s)	6153
Location	7 km (4 mi) from Perth
LGA(s)	City of Melville
State electorate(s)	Bateman
Federal Division(s)	Tangney
Suburbs around Applecross: Swan River Swan River Swan River Swan River Applecross Swan River Alfred Cove Ardross Mount Pleasant

Applecross is a lovely suburb in Perth, Western Australia. It sits right by the Swan River and Canning Highway. This area is part of the City of Melville.

Discovering Applecross's Past

How Applecross Got Its Name

The name Applecross comes from a beautiful area in Scotland. It's a peninsula called Applecross in Wester Ross. Many streets in this suburb are named after places in that Scottish region. For example, you'll find streets like Carron, Gairloch, Ullapool, and Ardross.

Early Days and Land Owners

The land that is now Applecross was first given to Lionel Lukin in 1830. Later, in 1896, a man named Alexander Matheson bought the land. He started the Western Australian Investment Company Limited. Matheson was the one who planned out the area and gave it the name Applecross.

Matheson wanted to create fancy homes along the riverfront. He even ran a ferry service to bring people from Perth for fun days out. They could enjoy picnics, tennis, and sailing. However, it was hard to find enough water, which slowed down building. So, Matheson sold the land around 1903.

Thomas Burke's Vision

In 1925, a businessman named Thomas Burke (businessman) saw the Applecross land. He realized it could be a great investment for everyday Australians. He bought a large area of 2,200 acres. This land stretched between the Swan River (Western Australia) and the main road to Fremantle.

For the next ten years, Burke divided the land into smaller blocks. He sold them in different areas like Applecross Estate and Kintail Road Estate. Some people built homes right away. Others hoped the land would become much more valuable. This happened when new roads and bridges, like Canning Bridge, made it easier to get to Perth. For example, a block bought for £45 in 1940 was worth £1,750 by 1960!

Beautiful Jacaranda Trees

One special thing about Applecross is its many jacaranda trees. These trees line the streets and burst into beautiful purple flowers in late spring. People started planting them and other interesting trees in 1935. Because of these lovely trees, Applecross hosts an annual Jacaranda festival every November.

Applecross During World War II

In 1940, Applecross was the site of a special car race. It was called a "Patriotic Grand Prix." This was a unique event where cars raced through the streets of the suburb.

Famous Places in Applecross

Applecross has several well-known landmarks and facilities. These include:

• The Raffles Hotel and apartments at Coffee Point.
• The South of Perth Yacht Club, where people enjoy boating.
• The former Heathcote Hospital. This building was used for mental health services from 1929 to 1994. Now, it's a place for community activities. The area, Point Heathcote, was named after Midshipman George Gage Heathcote. Captain James Stirling explored this spot in 1827. He even thought about building the Swan River Colony here instead of Perth.
• Waylen Bay, a lovely bay area.
• Canning Bridge, an important bridge connecting areas over the Canning River.

Well-Known People From Applecross

Many famous people have lived in Applecross, including:

• Joel Creasey, a comedian
• Adele Horin (1951–2015), a journalist
• Glen Jakovich, a footballer for the West Coast Eagles
• Shaun Marsh, a cricketer
• Josephine Langford, an actress
• Katherine Langford, an actress
• Heath Ledger (1979–2008), a famous actor
• Pogo, an electronic musician

Getting Around Applecross

Bus Services

You can get around Applecross and to other places using buses.

•        Bus route 148 goes from Como to Fremantle Station. It travels along Kintail Road, Matheson Road, Riseley Street, and Canning Highway.
•        Bus route 158 goes from Elizabeth Quay Bus Station to Fremantle Station. It also uses Kintail Road, Matheson Road, Riseley Street, and Canning Highway.

Other bus routes that use Canning Highway include:

•        Routes 111 and 160 from WACA Ground to Fremantle Station.
•        Route 114 from Elizabeth Quay Bus Station to Lake Coogee.
•        Route 115 from Elizabeth Quay Bus Station to Hamilton Hill Memorial Hall.
•        Route 910 from Perth Busport to Fremantle Station (this bus comes very often).

Images for kids

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  Views from the old Heathcote Hospital site

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  The old Majestic Hotel site

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  Waylen Bay near The Strand

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  South of Perth Yacht Club

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  Raffles Hotel and apartment complex

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  The view of Perth CBD across the Swan River from the Applecross fishing jetty

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  The art-deco Raffles Hotel