Kelmscott, Western Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kelmscott Perth, Western Australia
Kelmscott railway station
Established	1830
Postcode(s)	6111
Area	14.9 km2 (5.8 sq mi)
Location	23 km (14 mi) SE of Perth 5 km (3 mi) N of Armadale
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

Kelmscott is a suburb located in the southeast of Perth, the capital city of Western Australia. It's part of the City of Armadale area. Kelmscott is about 23 kilometers (14 miles) southeast of Perth, right along the Albany Highway.

It was one of the very first towns planned in the Swan River Colony. The name "Kelmscott" comes from a place in Oxfordshire, England. This was the hometown of Thomas Hobbes Scott, who was the first Anglican church leader in the colony.

The Canning River flows right through Kelmscott. On one side of the river, the land is flat, like most of Perth. Here you'll find shopping centers, a light industrial area, Kelmscott Senior High School, and homes. On the other side, the land rises into the beautiful Darling Scarp hills.

Kelmscott celebrated its 175th birthday on October 9, 2005. Fun fact: the very first Red Rooster restaurant started here!

Kelmscott's Story: A Look Back in Time

Before European Settlers Arrived

Long before Europeans came, the land of Kelmscott was home to the Whadjuk Noongars people. They are an Aboriginal group. They called this area "Goolamrup."

Early European Settlement

In November 1829, Governor James Stirling explored the Canning River. He was looking for a good spot for a new town. Kelmscott was officially founded on July 6, 1830. It was named after Kelmscott, England, where the first Anglican clergyman, Thomas Hobbes Scott, was born.

The first building in the new town was a soldier's barracks. It stood for many years until the 1930s. Early land grants went to Charles Wright and John Adam. Two streams in Kelmscott are named after them: Wright's Stream and Adam's Stream. A lake was also named after Charles Wright.

In 1830, John Atkinson surveyed Kelmscott. He drew up the very first map of the town.

Kelmscott was an important stop on the track from Perth to Albany. In 1836, a new road called King George's Sound Road was built. This road later became Albany Road, and then the Albany Highway we know today.

In 1831, Theophilus Ellis became the government representative in Kelmscott. He had been a captain in the army. He was the first police officer appointed in Western Australia.

In 1856, Henry Gibb and Thomas Saw opened an inn. This inn, now called Narrogin Inn, has one of Western Australia's oldest licenses to sell drinks. In 1894, Kelmscott got its own local council, separate from the Canning Roads Board.

Modern Times in Kelmscott

In 1972, Peter Kailis, a Greek immigrant, opened the first Red Rooster restaurant in Kelmscott. He later became the sole owner of the popular fast-food chain.

On October 9, 2005, Kelmscott celebrated its 175th anniversary. A special steam train, the Pm706, traveled from Perth railway station to Kelmscott station. This was a rare event for a steam train to run on the modern train lines.

The 2011 Bushfire

On February 6, 2011, a large bushfire affected the Kelmscott and Roleystone areas. It was a day with a total fire ban. The fire caused a lot of damage. Sadly, 72 homes were destroyed, and 37 homes were damaged. This was the biggest loss of houses from a single bushfire in Western Australia's history. Many residents had to leave their homes quickly for safety.

Even after the fire, some residents were able to return to their homes. This gave hope to others that their properties might also be safe.

Learning in Kelmscott

Kelmscott has several schools for students of different ages:

• Kelmscott Primary School (opened in 1882) - This is one of the oldest primary schools in Western Australia.
• Kelmscott Senior High School (opened in 1973) - This school is for students from years 7 to 12.
• Clifton Hills Primary School (opened in 1972)
• Sowilo Community High School (opened in 2000) - This is an independent school that helps young people who might be struggling with traditional education.

Fun Events in Kelmscott

• The Kelmscott Show is a popular yearly event. It's run by the Kelmscott Agricultural Society. The show has been held almost every year since 1897. It was only paused for a few years in the 1930s and in 2020 due to the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Getting Around Kelmscott

Kelmscott has two main highways that help people travel:

• Albany Highway (State Route 30) - This road goes south towards Pinjarra and Bunbury.
• Brookton Highway (State Route 40) - This road goes east towards Brookton.

The Albany Highway runs through Kelmscott, dividing it into two parts. At the southern edge of Kelmscott, the Albany Highway meets the Brookton Highway. The 2011 bushfire damaged the Buckingham Bridge on the Brookton Highway. A new bridge was opened in 2013. As part of the Metronet project, some railway crossings in Kelmscott were changed into underpasses, making travel smoother.

The Kelmscott railway station opened in 1893. It's located in the main part of Kelmscott and is part of the Armadale train line.

Bus Services

Kelmscott has many bus routes that help people get around:

•        Route 219: From Kelmscott Station to Armadale Station.
•        Route 220: From Armadale Station to Perth Busport.
•        Route 221: From Armadale Station to Perth Busport.
•        Route 240: A circular route starting and ending at Kelmscott Station, serving various streets.
•        Route 241: Another circular route from Kelmscott Station, serving Albany Highway and Brookton Highway.
•        Route 243: From Kelmscott Station to Armadale Station.
•        Route 244: From Kelmscott Station to Armadale Station.
•        Route 245: From Kelmscott Station to Armadale Station.
•        Route 907: A high-frequency route from Armadale Station to Perth Busport, with limited stops.

Train Services

•        The Armadale Train Line serves Kelmscott.
  • Kelmscott Station
  • Challis Station

Images for kids

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  Bridge below the school, Kelmscott, Western Australia, 23 March 1928