List of State Register of Heritage Places in the City of Kwinana facts for kids

The State Register of Heritage Places helps protect important historical sites in Western Australia. This register is looked after by the Heritage Council of Western Australia. As of 2024, the City of Kwinana has 85 places listed as heritage sites. Out of these, three are extra special and are on the State Register of Heritage Places.

Protecting Kwinana's History

Western Australia works hard to keep its history alive. The State Register of Heritage Places lists sites that are very important to the state's story. These places are protected so future generations can learn from them.

Special State Heritage Places

The City of Kwinana is home to three places that are so important, they are listed on the State Register of Heritage Places. These sites tell us about Kwinana's past.

• Kwinana Signal Box: This old signal box was built in 1959. It's found in the Kwinana Railway Marshalling Yards in Kwinana Beach. It's special because it's the only signal box left in Western Australia that still uses its original levers to control trains! It was added to the State Register on 13 July 2001.

The Kwinana Signal Box, a unique piece of railway history.

• Mead Homestead: Located in Leda, this homestead dates all the way back to 1850! It's a collection of old buildings and sites that show what early settlement in the area was like. It was added to the State Register on 27 August 1999.

Mead Homestead, showing buildings from the 1850s.

• Peel Town Archaeological Sites: These sites are near Mount Brown in the Beeliar Regional Park in Henderson. They are from the Clarence settlement, which started in 1829. These sites help archaeologists learn about the very early days of the area. They were added to the State Register on 8 December 2022.

More Local Heritage Sites

Besides the three state-listed places, the City of Kwinana has many other heritage-listed sites. These places are important to the local community and tell stories about Kwinana's development. Here are a few examples:

• Smirk Cottage: This cottage is in Medina.

Smirk Cottage in Medina.

• Sloan's Cottage, Leda: Another historic cottage located in Leda.

Sloan's Cottage in Leda.

• Key Cottage: Found in Kwinana Beach, this cottage is also known as Mona's Mount.

Key Cottage, Kwinana Beach.

• Sloans Reserve: This reserve in Leda was once home to Woodlands Cottage.

Sloans Reserve in Leda.

• Kwinana War Memorial: A place to remember those who served, located in Kwinana Town Centre.

The Kwinana War Memorial.

• Radio Communication Centre: In Leda, this site was once No. 228 RAAF Radar Station.

Bunkers from the old RAAF Radar Station.

• Medina Shopping Centre: An important community hub in Medina.

Medina Shopping Centre.

• The Spectacles Wetlands: A natural heritage site located between The Spectacles and Postans.

The beautiful Spectacles Wetlands.

• Wells Park: A park in Kwinana Beach.

The sign for Wells Park.

• Mt Brown: A significant landmark near Naval Base and Henderson.

View from Mount Brown lookout.

• Wandi Nature Reserve: A natural area in Wandi.

Wandi Nature Reserve.

• Lake Wattleup / Sayer Road Swamp: A wetland area in Mandogalup.

Lake Wattleup.

• SS Kwinana - Shipwreck, Wells Park: The remains of a shipwreck near Kwinana Beach.

The SS Kwinana shipwreck in 1922.

• White Bridge: A road bridge over the Peel Main Drain in Hope Valley.

White Bridge over the Peel Main Drain.

• Medina Town Hall: Also known as Queen Elizabeth Hall, located in Medina.

Medina Town Hall.

• Chalk Hill: A lookout point in Medina.

Chalk Hill Lookout.

These are just some of the many places in Kwinana that have been recognized for their historical importance. They help us understand the past and appreciate the unique story of the area.