Morley, Western Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Morley Perth, Western Australia
Bishop Street, Morley
Established	1918
Postcode(s)	6062
Area	10.5 km2 (4.1 sq mi)
Location	10 km (6 mi) from the Perth CBD
LGA(s)	City of Bayswater
State electorate(s)	Morley, Bassendean, Maylands
Federal Division(s)	Perth, Cowan
Suburbs around Morley: Noranda Noranda Beechboro Dianella Morley Kiara Bedford Embleton Bayswater

Nora Hughes Park

Morley is a suburb in Perth, Australia. It's about 10 kilometers (6 miles) northeast of Perth's city center. Morley is home to the Galleria Shopping Centre, which is one of Perth's biggest shopping spots. You'll also find the Morley bus station right next to the shopping center.

Starting in the late 1950s, Morley (which used to be called Morley Park) grew into a busy place for shops and businesses. The name Morley first showed up on maps around the early 1900s. It was officially used after World War I when the land was divided for homes. It's thought that the name honors Charles William Morley, who was a farmer here in the 1860s and 1870s.

History of Morley

In the early days of the Swan River Colony, the Morley area was mostly used for farming. It was known as Morley Park back then. In 1929, local landowners asked the Bayswater Road Board for better roads and lighting. This would help them transport their farm goods to markets more easily.

Growth of Shops and Homes

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, new businesses started to appear. These included the Wirrina Drive-In movie theater, the Morley Park Hotel, and the Boans department store. At the same time, many new homes were built. This was part of a plan by Margaret Feilman, a town planner for the Shire of Bayswater. Her plans helped home-building companies create large housing developments, which was a new idea in the 1960s.

Later Developments

In 1984, the Tonkin Highway was built right through Morley, splitting the suburb in two. The original Boans department store burned down in 1986. A new shopping center, the Galleria Shopping Centre, was built in its place and opened in 1994.

In 2015, the City of Bayswater made a plan to improve the main shopping area of Morley. This plan aimed to make the area even better. It focused on making the streets around the Galleria Shopping Centre more inviting. It also planned to improve Progress Street as a main street and upgrade the Morley bus station. In 2019, the last Blockbuster video rental store outside of the United States closed in Morley. This left only one Blockbuster store remaining in the world, located in Bend, Oregon, USA.

Fun Things to Do in Morley

The Morley Sport and Recreation Centre is a great place for many activities. You can play indoor soccer, basketball, badminton, and netball there. It also has facilities for roller skating and roller derby. The center was updated in 2023 with a $6.7 million redevelopment, making it even better for sports and fun.

Schools in Morley

Morley has several schools for students of different ages.

Primary Schools

• Hampton Park Primary School (a public school)
• Infant Jesus Primary School (a private Catholic school)
• Morley Primary School (a public school)
• Weld Square Primary School (a public school)

High Schools

• Hampton Senior High School (a public high school)
• John Forrest Secondary College (a public high school)
• Morley Senior High School is located in the nearby suburb of Noranda.

Getting Around Morley

Bus Transport

Morley is well-connected by bus, with a major bus station.

Morley Bus Station

•        Morley Bus Station is a central hub for many bus routes.

Key Bus Routes

Here are some of the main bus routes that serve Morley:

•        Route 20: Travels from Morley Bus Station to Edith Cowan University Mount Lawley.
•        Route 40: Connects Morley Bus Station to Elizabeth Quay Bus Station in the city.
•        Route 66: A limited-stop service from Morley Bus Station to Elizabeth Quay Bus Station.
•        Routes 341, 342, 343: These routes go from Morley Bus Station to Beechboro.
•        Route 344: Travels from Morley Bus Station to Warwick Station.
•        Route 345: Connects Morley Bus Station to Bennett Springs.
•        Route 346: Goes from Morley Bus Station to Noranda.
•        Route 347: Connects Morley Bus Station to Morley Senior High School.
•        Route 371: Travels from Morley Bus Station to Warwick Station.
•        Route 950: A high-frequency service from Morley Bus Station to Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre.
•        Route 955: Goes from Morley Bus Station to Ellenbrook North.
•        Route 980: A high-frequency service from Morley Bus Station to Elizabeth Quay Bus Station.
•        Routes 998 and 999 (CircleRoute): These are limited-stop circular routes that pass through Morley Bus Station. Route 998 goes clockwise, and Route 999 goes anti-clockwise.

Famous People from Morley

Morley has been home to some well-known Australians.

• Michael Hussey and David Hussey are brothers who grew up in Morley and became famous Australian cricketers.
• Singer Samantha Jade, who won The X Factor Australia, also grew up in Morley.