Mandurah facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mandurah Western Australia
Mandurah war memorial
Population	90,306 (2021 census)
• Density	847.1/km2 (2,194/sq mi)
Established	1831
Postcode(s)	6210
Area	106.6 km2 (41.2 sq mi)
Time zone	AWST (UTC+08:00)
Location	72 km (45 mi) SSW of Perth 108 km (67 mi) N of Bunbury 18 km (11 mi) NW of Pinjarra 18 km (11 mi) S of Rockingham
LGA(s)	City of Mandurah Shire of Murray
State electorate(s)	Mandurah, Murray-Wellington, Dawesville
Federal Division(s)	Canning

Mandurah is a city on the coast of Western Australia. It is about 72 kilometers (45 miles) south of Perth, the state capital. Mandurah is the second largest city in Western Australia. In 2021, about 90,306 people lived there.

The main part of Mandurah is on the Mandurah Estuary. This estuary is where the Peel Inlet and Harvey Estuary meet the ocean. The city's name comes from the Noongar language word mandjar. This word means "meeting place" or "trading place."

Mandurah was planned as a town in 1831. This was two years after the Swan River Colony was started. But not many people moved there at first. Until the 1950s and 1960s, it was mostly a small fishing village. After that, many people who were retired moved to Mandurah. They liked the city for its boating and fishing. Some even moved to homes built along the canals in the south.

Mandurah is part of the wider Peel region. This region includes four other local areas. Mandurah is sometimes counted with Perth for statistics. This is because a major freeway and a railway line now connect the two cities. Perth and Mandurah now form a large connected area along the coast.

Mandurah's Location and Growth

Mandurah used to be a group of small holiday towns. These towns were along the shores of the Peel-Harvey Estuary. In just over ten years, it has grown into a big regional city. It is now connected to Perth along the coast. Mandurah is only 18 kilometers (11 miles) south of Rockingham. Rockingham is a southern suburb of Perth.

Mandurah has become a popular place for people from Perth to retire. The Mandurah railway line opened in 2007. This line made it easier to travel to Perth's city center. A direct road to the Kwinana Freeway also opened in 2010.

Mandurah's Natural Environment

The Peel Inlet and Harvey Estuary are at the heart of Mandurah. This estuary system is one of Australia's largest. It is about twice the size of Sydney Harbour. The city is built around this freshwater system. This system then flows into the Indian Ocean.

Mandurah and its suburbs have many kilometers of sandy ocean beaches. The city also has areas built around man-made canals. These canals extend from the Peel Inlet. Examples include Halls Head and Dudley Park.

Most of Mandurah sits on sand dune systems. These dunes are common along Western Australia's southwest coast. The soil in these areas is not very fertile. This is because the sandy dunes do not hold water well. You can find limestone rocks north of the city. Mandurah is also close to Yalgorup National Park. This park is home to special living rock formations called thrombolites. It also has many different plants and animals.

Mandurah is in the Swan Coastal Plain area. This area has many types of plants. These include coastal dunes, sandplains, and woodlands with banksia and eucalypt trees. Mandurah has several wetland areas around the Peel Inlet. These wetlands are dry in summer and wet in winter. They are home to many birds. You can see osprey nests, spoonbills, and darters. Other birds include galahs and different kinds of cockatoos.

Mandurah's Weather

Mandurah has a typical Mediterranean climate. This means it has hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. In summer (December to February), the average high temperature is 27 °C (80 °F). The average low is 19 °C (66 °F). Sometimes, it can get very hot, over 40 °C (104 °F).

In winter (June to August), the average high is 18 °C (64 °F). The average low is 9 °C (48 °F). Being near the ocean helps keep temperatures from changing too much. Areas a few kilometers inland can be hotter in summer or colder in winter. Frost is very rare in Mandurah.

Mandurah gets about 850 mm (33 inches) of rain each year. Most of this rain falls in winter. Winter rains often come with strong winds and storms. These storms can cause a lot of damage. Mandurah is known for having many tornadoes. It has one of the highest numbers of tornadoes in the world.

Summer storms are rare but do happen. In December 2011, Mandurah received almost seven times its normal monthly rainfall in one day. Another storm in January 2012 caused power outages and flooding. Lightning struck a man and many buildings. There were 2,300 lightning strikes near the city that day. This is more than Perth usually gets in a whole year.

Mandurah's History

The Noongar people, who lived in the southwest of Western Australia, called this area Mandjar. This name meant "meeting place." It later became the name "Mandurah."

In 1829, Thomas Peel came to Western Australia from the United Kingdom. He brought workers and supplies. He was supposed to get land, but he arrived late and lost his original grant. Peel then started a small settlement called Clarence. Later, he led the remaining settlers to the area we now call Mandurah.

Other families, like the Halls, Tuckeys, and Eacotts, also settled in Mandurah. By 1837, only 12 settlers were recorded in Mandurah. Fish were plentiful, and a fish cannery opened in 1870. These factories helped preserve fish and fruit from local industries.

A railway line opened between Perth and Pinjarra in 1893. This helped Mandurah become a popular place for tourists. In 1898, the town had a population of 160 people.

Mandurah was managed by the Murray Road Board until 1949. Then, the Mandurah Road Board was created. Over the years, Mandurah grew quickly. This was helped by new industries in nearby towns. On July 1, 1987, it became the Town of Mandurah. Three years later, in 1990, Mandurah officially became a city.

Important Historical Places

Mandurah has many places that are important to its history and culture. These include:

• Cooper's Mill (around 1843)
• Christ's Church (Anglican) (around 1870)
• Thomas Peel's original house site (1830)
• Uniting Church (formerly Methodist Church – 1940)
• Eacott Cottage (1830)
• Brighton Hotel (1882)
• Little Theatre and the old Fish Cannery site
• Sutton's Corner Store and house (1862, 1928)
• Tuckey Store & House
• Mandurah Museum (which includes the old school from 1900)
• Mandurah Bridge (first built in 1894, replaced in 1953 and 2018)
• Hall's Cottage (1833) in Halls Head
• Sutton's Farm (1860s) in Halls Head
• Sutton's graveyard (1860s) in Halls Head
• Allandale Homestead (Dawes House – 1913)
• Herron Homestead (1866)
• Hardy House (around 1853)
• Fouracres Cottage ruin (around 1854)

Example of an older-style coastal home at Mandurah

Mandurah's Population

The 2021 census showed that 107,641 people lived in Mandurah.

• About 2.9% of the people were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.
• 68.0% of people were born in Australia.
• The next most common birthplaces were England (10.8%), New Zealand (3.5%), and South Africa (1.6%).
• 87.6% of people spoke only English at home.
• The most common religions were No Religion (46.0%), Anglican (15.8%), and Catholic (15.3%).

Jobs and Money in Mandurah

Mandurah's economy mainly relies on building, tourism, and retail (shops). It also has some jobs in mining and farming.

Fun for Tourists

Mandurah is seen as the main entry point to the South West region. It has many attractions, especially near the water. It is a great place for fishing and crabbing in Western Australia. The city is famous for its blue manna crabs. There is a special event called Mandurah Crab Fest every March.

Mandurah is home to the largest group of Bottlenose Dolphins in Western Australia. There are about 120 dolphins living there. Like nearby cities, dolphins and whales visit Mandurah every year. Watching them is a popular activity. In December, the canal areas in Mandurah are famous for their Christmas lights. Special boat tours are offered to see them.

There are also two zoos near the city. You can find a miniature village, a tourist railway, and a national park. In 2023, Mandurah was named Australia's top tourism town.

Shopping in Mandurah

Mandurah has shopping available seven days a week, all year round. There are five main shopping areas. These include Mandurah Forum, which was updated between 2016 and 2018. Other areas are The Bridge Quarter in the city center and Dolphin Quay. There are also large shopping centers in Meadow Springs, Greenfields, Halls Head, and Falcon.

Mining Near Mandurah

Mandurah itself is not a mining town. However, there are several mines within two hours of the city. These include bauxite mining and alumina refining plants. The Huntly Mine near Pinjarra is the largest bauxite mine in the world. Mandurah is also only an hour away from the Boddington Gold Mine. This mine has recently become Australia's biggest gold producer.

Festivals and Events

The Mandurah Crab Fest happens every year in March. It is held on the estuary foreshore. This festival celebrates the region's seafood. It has food stalls, cooking shows, live music, and entertainment. The first Crab Fest was in 1999.

Every New Year's Eve, Mandurah has fireworks and live entertainment. These events last through the evening until midnight.

Getting Around Mandurah

Mandurah Ocean Marina Bridge

Highway 1 goes through Mandurah. It is called Mandurah Road towards Fremantle and Old Coast Road towards Bunbury. Pinjarra Road and Gordon/Lakes Roads are important roads that go east-west in the northern part of the city. The Kwinana Freeway and Forrest Highway also allow traffic to bypass the city. Mandjoogoordap Drive connects directly to the Kwinana Freeway.

The Mandurah railway line opened in December 2007. It connects Mandurah to Perth. A train ride takes about 50 minutes. Transperth provides public bus services within Mandurah. There are eleven bus routes in the city. Mandurah is also a stop for Transwa bus services. These buses travel between Perth and the South West.

The Mandurah Estuary Bridge was built between 1981 and 1986. It was the first bridge of its kind in Australia. The Dawesville Channel opened in April 1994. This large man-made channel helps ocean water flow into the Peel Inlet. This was done to help with algal blooms that had been a problem in the estuary for many years.

News and Media

Mandurah is at the southern edge of Perth's TV license area. It is also close to the regional Western Australia license area. Local TV translators provide five free digital TV channels from Perth. These include ABC, SBS, Seven Perth, Nine, and 10. Three channels from southern Western Australia can also be received.

One local newspaper, the weekly "Mandurah Times," serves the city. The "Mandurah Mail" used to be a printed newspaper. In 2022, it became an online-only publication.

Mandurah has two local radio stations: 91.7 The Wave and 97.3 Coast FM. You can also hear Perth radio stations in the city.

Water Use and Recycling

Mandurah is part of a water recycling project. It is called the Halls Head Indirect Water Reuse Project. This project won an award in 2009 for water treatment and recycling. It uses an underground water layer (an aquifer) to filter the area's sewage water. This provides safe, clean water for watering local parks, gardens, and sports fields. Mandurah is also connected to Perth's main water supply.

Sports in Mandurah

Mandurah is home to several sports teams. The Peel Thunder Football Club plays in the West Australian Football League. The Mandurah City FC plays in the Football West State League Division 1. The Mandurah Magic plays in the NBL1 West basketball league.

Greyhound racing events are held weekly at the Greyhounds WA Mandurah venue.

There are also several golf courses in the area. These include the Mandurah Country Club, Meadow Springs Golf Club, and Secret Harbour.

Famous People from Mandurah

Many notable people have come from Mandurah, including:

• Hayden Ballantyne – a player for the Fremantle Dockers (football)
• Brian Taylor – a football commentator
• Daniel Wells – a player for the Collingwood Magpies (football)
• Tim Brown – a darts player
• Michael Messineo – a popular YouTuber
• Nathan Wilson – a player for the Fremantle Dockers (football)
• Harley Bennell – a player for the Fremantle Dockers (football)

Images for kids

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  Mandurah war memorial

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  Example of an older-style coastal home at Mandurah

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  Mandurah Ocean Marina Bridge

See also

In Spanish: Mandurah para niños