Bentley, Western Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bentley Perth, Western Australia
Engineering Pavilion at Curtin University in Bentley
Established	1940s
Postcode(s)	6102
Area	5.5 km2 (2.1 sq mi)
Location	8 km (5 mi) from Perth
LGA(s)	City of Canning Town of Victoria Park
State electorate(s)	Victoria Park
Federal Division(s)	Swan
Suburbs around Bentley: East Victoria Park St James Welshpool Karawara Bentley Cannington Waterford Wilson Cannington

Bentley is a lively suburb located in Perth, the capital city of Western Australia. It's about 8 kilometers southeast of Perth's main city center. This area is looked after by two local councils: the City of Canning and the Town of Victoria Park. Bentley is well-known for being home to the main campus of Curtin University and Technology Park, which is a hub for science and technology companies.

A Look Back at Bentley's History

Before European settlers arrived, the land where Bentley now stands was home to the Beeloo Nyungar people. Their territory stretched from the Canning River to the Darling Scarp. They used to hunt and fish near the river, which was surrounded by thick forests.

How Bentley Got Its Name

In 1830, the land was first given to James McDermott. Over the years, it changed owners many times. In 1885, it was divided into smaller blocks. From the 1860s, the suburb was known as "Bentley Hill." This name honored John Bentley (1822–1871). He was a prison warder and a veteran of the Crimean War. He came to the Swan River Colony as a guard and helped supervise convicts building the Albany Highway in the 1860s.

Early Businesses and Homes

In the 1880s, a dairy farm called "Canningford House" was set up near where Albany Highway and Leach Highway meet today. A pig farm was also started nearby in 1905. In the 1940s, the government began building homes in Bentley. Many of these homes were for soldiers who had served in the Second World War. Some of these original homes are still standing and lived in by older veterans.

Growth of Education and Technology

In the early 1960s, two large retirement communities, Bentley Park and Rowethorpe Homes, were built. Then, in 1967, the West Australian Institute of Technology (WAIT) opened. This institute later became Curtin University. In 1985, the Western Australian Technology Park was created across from the university. It grew a lot in the 1990s. Today, over 90 companies and research groups are based there. They employ more than 2,500 people in technology and science. This park helps the Western Australian economy a lot.

Brownlie Towers Development

In the late 1960s, the Brownlie Towers area was built. It featured two tall 10-story buildings called Brownlie Towers. There were also smaller apartments and many townhouses. This area had its own school, community center, shops, and sports facilities. It was designed to be a great community. However, over time, some social challenges appeared. The towers were eventually taken down in 2019. This made way for a new housing project called Bentley 360.

Who Lives in Bentley?

In 2016, there were 8,782 people living in Bentley. About a third of the people were born in Australia. Many residents come from other countries, including Malaysia, China, India, England, and Indonesia. This makes Bentley a very diverse place! While many people speak English at home, other languages like Mandarin, Indonesian, and Cantonese are also common.

Bentley's Location and Surroundings

Bentley is bordered by Kent Street to the west and the Armadale railway line to the northeast. The eastern part of Bentley, near Albany Highway, has many shops and businesses. The western part, near Kent Street, has some environmental areas. Most of Bentley is made up of homes where people live.

Learning and Education in Bentley

Bentley is a great place for learning! It has a university, colleges, and a high school.

• Curtin University
• Morling College
• South Metropolitan TAFE
• Canning College

Because of places like Curtin University and Canning College, many students from other countries come to study here. They often live in Bentley or nearby suburbs like East Victoria Park and Karawara.

What Can You Find in Bentley?

Bentley is a well-established suburb with many useful places. You can find schools, restaurants, and a shopping center called Bentley Plaza. There's also the Bentley Hospital and large retirement communities like Rowethorpe and SwanCare. While it's mostly a place for homes, Bentley also has shops and light industries, especially along Albany Highway. It also has the Boronia Pre-release Centre for Women, which is a facility where women prepare to re-enter the community.

Getting Around Bentley

Bentley has good public transport with many bus services. These buses connect Bentley to other parts of Perth. The CircleRoute bus service also runs through Bentley, connecting it to places like Oats Street railway station.

Bus Stations

• Curtin Central Bus Station
• Curtin University Bus Station

Bus Routes

• 30: Curtin University Bus Station to Perth Busport – serves Hayman Road, Lawson Road and Manning Road
• 33: Curtin Central Bus Station to Elizabeth Quay Bus Station – serves Hayman Road
• 34: Cannington Station to Perth Busport – serves Albany Highway, Ashburton Street, Pollock Street, Walpole Street, Holder Street, Hayman Road, Curtin University Bus Station, Kent Street and Curtin Central Bus Station
• 37: Curtin University Bus Station to Airport Central Station – serves Adie Court and Jarrah Road
• 72: Elizabeth Quay Bus Station to Cannington Station – serves Jarrah Road, Adie Court, Curtin University Bus Station, Hayman Road, Lawson Street and Manning Road
• 75: Elizabeth Quay Bus Station to Canning Vale – serves Jarrah Road, Adie Court, Curtin University Bus Station, Hayman Road and Lawson Street
• 100: Cannington Station to Canning Bridge Station – serves Manning Road, Lawson Street, Hayman Road, Curtin University Bus Station, Curtin Central Bus Station and Kent Street
• 101: Curtin Central Bus Station to Canning Bridge Station – serves Kent Street, Hayman Road, Curtin University Bus Station, Lawson Street, Manning Road
• 177: Elizabeth Quay Bus Station to Cannington Station – serves Chapman Road, Wyong Road and Manning Road
• 178 and 179: Elizabeth Quay Bus Station to Bull Creek Station – serve Walpole Street and Dumond Street
• 201: Curtin University Bus Station to Cannington Station – serves Adie Court, Jarrah Road, Hill View Terrace, Holder Street, Walpole Street, Ashburton Street, Albany Highway and Mills Street
• 220: Perth Busport to Armadale Station – serves Albany Highway
• 284: Curtin University Bus Station to Belmont Forum – serves Adie Court, Jarrah Road, Kent Street, Curtin Central Bus Station and Hayman Road
• 509: Cannington Station to Bull Creek Station – serves Manning Road
• 930: Elizabeth Quay Bus Station to Thornlie Station (high frequency) – serves Albany Highway
• 960: Curtin Central Bus Station to Mirrabooka Bus Station (high frequency) – serves Hayman Road, Curtin Central Bus Station and Kent Street
• 998: Fremantle Station to Fremantle Station (limited stops) – CircleRoute clockwise, serves Jarrah Road, Adie Court, Curtin University Bus Station, Hayman Road, Lawson Street
• 999: Fremantle Station to Fremantle Station (limited stops) – CircleRoute anti-clockwise, serves Lawson Street, Hayman Road, Curtin University Bus Station, Adie Court and Jarrah Road

Images for kids

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  Brownlie Towers A and B block in Bentley