Heathridge, Western Australia facts for kids

Heathridge is a friendly suburb in Perth, a big city in Western Australia. It's about 33 kilometers (20 miles) south of Yanchep. This suburb is part of the City of Joondalup, which is like its local government area.

What's in a Name? The Story of Heathridge

The name Heathridge was chosen for a special reason. It comes from the heath (a type of low-growing plant) that used to cover the sandy hills in the area. The name also hinted at how far away it felt from the busy center of Perth.

A Look Back: Heathridge's History

Before the 1970s, Heathridge was mostly empty land. It was a quiet, undeveloped area. The name Heathridge was first suggested in 1974 by a company that wanted to build homes there. The government officially approved the name in October 1975.

Homes started to appear in Heathridge in 1976. More land became available for building throughout the 1980s. In the late 1990s, even more parts of the suburb were developed. This helped Heathridge grow into the community it is today.

Where is Heathridge? Its Geography

Heathridge has clear boundaries that help you know where it is. To the north, you'll find Hodges Drive. The Mitchell Freeway is on its eastern side. Ocean Reef Road marks the southern edge, and Marmion Avenue is to the west.

Who Lives in Heathridge? Demographics

In 2016, about 6,661 people lived in Heathridge. This information comes from a census, which is like a big survey of everyone living in an area. Slightly more than half the residents were male (50.5%), and just under half were female (49.5%). The average age of people living in Heathridge was 34 years old.

Beliefs and Faiths in Heathridge

Many different beliefs are found in Heathridge. In 2016, the most common answer when people were asked about their religion was "No Religion." Other popular choices included Catholic and Anglican. Overall, Christianity was the largest religious group in the suburb.

Shopping and Services: Heathridge's Economy

Local Shops and More

Heathridge has its own shopping center. It's called the Heathridge Shopping Centre. Here, you can find restaurants, grocery stores, and places to buy drinks. It's a handy spot for residents to get what they need.

How Heathridge is Run: Governance

Heathridge is part of the City of Joondalup. This is its local government, which helps manage things like parks and roads. Two local councillors represent the suburb.

At the state level, Heathridge is part of the Joondalup electoral district. This means residents vote for a person to represent them in the state parliament. For national matters, Heathridge is part of the Division of Moore in the Australian federal parliament. Residents vote for a member to represent them in the national government.

Fun and Facilities: Amenities in Heathridge

Parks and Green Spaces

Heathridge has many parks where you can relax and play. Some of these include Captain Park, Whitmore Park, and Balanus Park. These parks are great for general recreation.

At the southern end of the suburb, you'll find Heathridge Park. This park is home to the Heathridge Community Centre. It has indoor basketball courts, a large grass oval, and tennis courts. It's also where the Ocean Ridge Cricket Club and Ocean Ridge Amateur Football Club play.

Other large ovals like Prince Regent Park and Admiral Park are perfect for sports. They are used by schools, community groups, and for games like cricket, Australian rules football, and association football (soccer). There's also the Granny Spiers Community Centre, which helps people in the community.

Places of Worship

Heathridge has three main places for religious gatherings. These include buildings for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Salvation Army, and a Pentecostal Anglican group. Other religious groups also meet in different locations around the suburb.

Getting Around: Infrastructure and Transport

Heathridge has good transport options, including buses and trains.

Bus Services

Several bus routes serve Heathridge, connecting it to nearby train stations and other suburbs.

• Route 461 travels between Joondalup Station and Whitfords Station, using Marmion Avenue.
• Route 462 also goes between Joondalup and Whitfords Stations, serving Hodges Drive and Marmion Avenue.
• Route 463 connects Joondalup and Whitfords Stations, going along Hodges Drive, Caridean Street, Poseidon Road, Peninsula Avenue, and Admiral Grove.
• Route 464 runs between Joondalup and Whitfords Stations, using Hodges Drive, Caridean Street, Eddystone Avenue, and Ocean Reef Road.

Train Connections

The nearest train station is Edgewater Station, which is part of the Joondalup Line. This train line is very busy and helps many people travel around the Perth area. A new, larger car park was built at Edgewater Station in 2016 to make it easier for people to park and catch the train.

Learning in Heathridge: Education

Local Schools

Heathridge has three primary schools for younger students (Kindergarten to Year 7).

• Heathridge Primary School opened in 1980.
• In 1986, two more primary schools opened: Eddystone Primary School and Poseidon Primary School. Eddystone serves the eastern side of Heathridge and nearby suburbs. Poseidon serves the western side of Heathridge and other surrounding areas. Heathridge Primary School then focused on the central part of the suburb.

For older students (Years 8-12), Heathridge is served by two high schools located just outside the suburb.

• Ocean Reef Senior High School provided high school education for Heathridge students until 1990.
• Belridge Secondary College opened in 1990. It was built to help reduce the number of students at Ocean Reef Senior High School. Belridge Secondary College gradually added more year levels and became a full secondary school by 1995.