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Kelmscott, Western Australia facts for kids

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Kelmscott
PerthWestern Australia
Transperth Kelmscott Station.jpg
Kelmscott railway station
Population 10,462 (2016 census)
 • Density 702.1/km2 (1,818/sq mi)
Postcode(s) 6111
Area 14.9 km2 (5.8 sq mi)
Location
LGA(s) City of Armadale
State electorate(s) Armadale
Federal Division(s) Burt
Suburbs around Kelmscott:
Champion Lakes Martin Martin
Camillo Kelmscott Roleystone
Seville Grove Armadale Mount Nasura
Bridge below the school, Kelmscott, Western Australia, 23 March 1928
Bridge below the school, Kelmscott, Western Australia, 23 March 1928

Kelmscott is a southeastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia in the local government area of the City of Armadale. It is 23 kilometres (14 mi) southeast of Perth along the Albany Highway.

Kelmscott was one of four initial townsites established in the Swan River Colony. It was named after Kelmscott, Oxfordshire, the birthplace of the first Anglican clergyman in the colony, Thomas Hobbes Scott (1783–1860).

The suburb of Kelmscott is bisected by the Canning River. On the western side of the river is the flat coastal plain upon which most of Perth is situated. This area includes the Stargate Kelmscott and Kelmscott Village shopping areas along Albany Highway, the light industrial area, the Kelmscott Senior High School and a residential area. To the east, the suburb rises into the western Darling Scarp.

Kelmscott celebrated its 175th anniversary on 9 October 2005. The highlight of the celebrations was the running of the Hotham Valley Railway steam locomotive Pm706 from Perth railway station to Kelmscott station, with stops at Cannington, Gosnells, then Armadale station. This was the first running of steam "under the wires" on the Transperth network for some time. The event was specially arranged by the Public Transport Authority, whose Minister is also the member of parliament for the local electorate.

Kelmscott is home of the first Red Rooster restaurant, as well as Australia's busiest drive-through KFC service.

Annual Events

  • The Kelmscott Show, run by the Kelmscott Agricultural Society, has been held annually since 1897 (with the exception of the years 1930-1938).
  • The Head of the River rowing regatta takes place annually during Autumn at the Champion Lakes Regatta Centre.
  • The people of Kelmscott have an annual bench press competition. 2016 saw "big boy" Conor aged 4 bench 220 for 3 reps.

Bushfire 2011

On the 6 February 2011, a declared total fire ban day, a bushfire occurred on private property adjacent to the Brookton Highway in the Roleystone / Kelmscott area. There were a total of 72 homes destroyed and 37 homes damaged. This is the single biggest house loss in Western Australia to a single bushfire event. Some loyal Kelmscott residents managed to return to their homes in the death zone, as described by Premier Colin Barnett, and could be seen on their balconies giving hope to fellow residents that their properties were safe.

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