Burswood, Western Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Burswood Perth, Western Australia
Crown Perth (previously known as the Burswood Casino)
Established	1890s
Postcode(s)	6100
Area	3.4 km2 (1.3 sq mi)
Location	3 km (2 mi) from the Perth CBD
LGA(s)	Town of Victoria Park
State electorate(s)	Belmont Victoria Park
Federal Division(s)	Swan
Suburbs around Burswood: (Swan River) (Swan River) Maylands East Perth Burswood Rivervale Victoria Park Victoria Park Lathlain

Burswood is a cool suburb in Perth, Western Australia. It's located just across the Swan River from Perth's main city area, called the CBD. Burswood is part of the Town of Victoria Park. It's home to some big attractions like the State Tennis Centre, Perth Stadium, Belmont Park Racecourse, and the Crown Perth hotel and entertainment complex.

History

Burswood has an interesting past. It used to be two separate areas. One part was called Burswood Island. The other was a southern part of the Victoria Park suburb. They became one suburb in the 1990s.

How Burswood Got Its Name

In 1829, a man named Henry Camfield came to Australia from England. He was given a large piece of land, about 1000 acres (4 square kilometers). This land was across from Claisebrook. Henry Camfield named his new estate "Burrswood." This was after his father's farm back in England.

The area was mostly low-lying land. It had a peninsula that led to a sandy hill. In 1841, a canal was dug. This canal cut through the peninsula. It made a shorter path to Guildford, avoiding muddy areas. This is how the peninsula became "Burrswood Island." Henry Camfield rented out his land for many years. He sold it in 1871. Today, you can see a statue of Henry Camfield in Burswood Park.

Early Developments

In the 1890s, important things were built here. The Bunbury Bridge and the Perth to Armadale railway line were constructed. The name "Burswood" got its current spelling by mistake. It was a misspelling on the train station signs!

Western Australia's first 9-hole golf course opened on Burswood Island in 1895. Its clubhouse was just a mud hut! A racecourse was also built in 1899. This became the famous Belmont Park Racecourse in 1902. A new train station, Goodwood, opened in 1906. It was later renamed Belmont Park.

From 1900 to 1943, there were two racecourses: Goodwood and Belmont Park. Both were owned by Albert Edmund Cockram. He brought many racehorses to Australia. In 1945, the Western Australian Turf Club bought both racecourses. They then closed Goodwood.

Changes Over Time

People tried to build homes in an area called "Riversdale Estate." But Burswood Island was used for a sewerage system from 1906 to 1934. Also, there were many small factories there. These things made it hard for homes to be built. Residents asked for a new name. So, in 1921, the area was renamed Rivervale.

In 1985, a big project began. The Burswood Island Resort was developed. This included a casino. This project brought the name "Burswood" back into use. In 1993, Burswood officially became a suburb again. It also included the residential part of Victoria Park south of Burswood Road.

Population

In 2021, about 2,779 people lived in Burswood. Almost half of them (47%) were born in Australia. The next biggest group came from England (6.1%). Most people (63%) spoke only English at home. Mandarin was the next most common language (6.2%). Many people (41.2%) said they had no religion. About 18.8% were Catholic.

It's interesting that 8.8% of Burswood's population has Chinese family roots. This is higher than the average for Western Australia or the whole country.

Geography

Howick Street, lined with beautiful Jacaranda trees, with the city in the background.

Burswood is surrounded by the Swan River on three sides: west, north, and north-east. To the east, you'll find the Graham Farmer Freeway, Great Eastern Highway, and the Armadale railway. To the south, it's bordered by Shepperton Road and Harper Street.

Facilities

Perth Stadium opened in January 2018 and is a major landmark.

Burswood has many cool places!

• Belmont Park Racecourse: This is where horse racing happens in winter.
• Perth Stadium: A huge stadium with 60,000 seats. It's used for football, cricket, and big concerts.
• State Tennis Centre: A place for tennis matches and training.
• Crown Perth: A big entertainment complex. It has three hotels, a casino, a convention center, a theatre, and lots of restaurants and bars.

As mentioned, Burswood had Western Australia's first golf course in 1895. But it wasn't a good spot, so it closed. The golf club moved and eventually became the Royal Perth Golf Club. A new 18-hole golf course opened in Burswood in 1987. However, it closed in 2013 to make way for the new Perth Stadium.

The Burswood Superdome was a large indoor arena. It had 13,600 seats and was used for sports and shows. It operated from 1987 to 2012. It was taken down in 2013. A car park for the casino now stands there.

Transport

Getting around Burswood is easy! The Perth-Armadale train line goes through the area. You can catch a train at Burswood railway station. Perth Stadium railway station is also nearby for big events.

Buses also serve the area. They run from the Victoria Park transfer station. These buses travel along Great Eastern Highway and Craig Street. All public transport is run by the Public Transport Authority. There's also a private ferry service called The Little Ferry Co.

Bus

Bus Stations

•        Causeway Bus Station
•        Perth Stadium Bus Station (only for special events)

Bus Routes

•        Route 38: From Perth Busport to Cloverdale. It stops at Causeway Bus Station and Shepperton Road.
•        Route 39: From Elizabeth Quay Bus Station to Redcliffe Station. It stops at Causeway Bus Station, Craig Street, and Great Eastern Highway.
•        Route 270: From Elizabeth Quay Bus Station to High Wycombe Station. It stops at Causeway Bus Station, Craig Street, and Great Eastern Highway.
•        Routes 282 and 283: From Elizabeth Quay Bus Station to Kalamunda Bus Station. They stop at Causeway Bus Station and Shepperton Road.
•        Route 930: From Elizabeth Quay Bus Station to Thornlie Station. This is a frequent service. It stops at Causeway Bus Station and Shepperton Road.
•        Route 935: From Kings Park to Redcliffe Station. This is a frequent service. It stops at Causeway Bus Station, Craig Street, and Great Eastern Highway.
•        Route 940: From Elizabeth Quay Bus Station to Redcliffe Station. This is a frequent service. It stops at Causeway Bus Station, Craig Street, and Great Eastern Highway.

Bus routes that serve Causeway Bus Station:

•        Route 32: From Elizabeth Quay Bus Station to Como.
•        Route 33: From Elizabeth Quay Bus Station to Curtin Central Bus Station.
•        Routes 72 and 177: From Elizabeth Quay Bus Station to Cannington Station.
•        Route 75: From Elizabeth Quay Bus Station to Canning Vale.
•        Routes 178 and 179: From Elizabeth Quay Bus Station to Bull Creek Station.
•        Route 220: From Perth Busport to Armadale Station.
•        Route 221: From Perth Busport to Armadale Station (limited stops).
•        Route 230: From Perth Busport to Thornlie Station (limited stops).
•        Route 907: From Perth Busport to Armadale Station (high frequency / limited stops).
•        Route 910: From Perth Busport to Fremantle Station (high frequency).
•        Route 960: From Mirrabooka Bus Station to Curtin University Bus Station (high frequency).

Rail

•        Armadale/Thornlie Line
  • Perth Stadium Station
  • Burswood Station

Ferry

• The Little Ferry Co. offers trips from Burswood jetty to Elizabeth Quay. It also stops at On The Point. Ferries leave every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Departure times are 10:45 am, 12:45 pm, and 2:45 pm.