Sorrento, Western Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sorrento Perth, Western Australia
Sorrento and Hillarys from the air, around 2009
Established	1971
Postcode(s)	6020
Area	3.5 km2 (1.4 sq mi)
Location	19 km (12 mi) NW of Perth CBD
LGA(s)	City of Joondalup
State electorate(s)	Carine
Federal Division(s)	Moore
Suburbs around Sorrento: Hillarys Padbury Indian Ocean Sorrento Duncraig Marmion Duncraig

Sorrento is a coastal suburb located north of Perth, the capital city of Western Australia. It is part of the City of Joondalup. A big highlight of Sorrento is the Hillarys Boat Harbour, which was built in the late 1980s. It sits right in the northwestern part of the suburb.

A Look at Sorrento's Past

Sorrento Beach is a popular spot for locals and visitors.

The name "Sorrento" comes from a beautiful Italian seaside town. This area was first mapped out for homes in 1929. Before European settlers arrived, the Whadjuk Aboriginal people lived here. They called the area Mooro and gathered lots of shellfish from the reefs.

The first European to live here was Patrick Marmion in 1849. He ran a whaling station, which was a place to process whales. You can still find some remains of this old station near the Surf Lifesaving Club. There's also a monument to Marmion in Geneff Park.

In the 1930s, Sorrento was a popular spot for fishermen. Many small shacks and boatsheds were built. People started moving into homes here in the early 1950s. Until 1981, Sorrento was actually part of the nearby suburb of Marmion.

Sorrento's growth from 1950 to 1990.

In 1958, a group of nuns, the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions, bought land in Sorrento. They moved their school, Sacred Heart College, to this new location in 1967. The school started accepting both boys and girls in 1977.

To get ready for the 1987 America's Cup sailing race, the government built Hillarys Boat Harbour. This was the first large marina in the northern Perth area. The shops at the harbour, called Sorrento Quay, opened in late 1987. Also, in 1987, the Marmion Marine Park was created. This special ocean park protects marine animals from Burns Beach to Trigg. The new marina became a great way to access this park.

Where is Sorrento Located?

Sorrento is bordered by Hepburn Avenue to the north and Marmion Avenue to the east. Marine Terrace is to the south, and West Coast Drive and the Indian Ocean are to the west.

In 2001, about 7,321 people lived in Sorrento. Because it's by the ocean and close to Hillarys Boat Harbour, Sorrento has become a very desirable place to live. Many people who work in management or professional jobs live here. However, many tradespeople and service workers also call Sorrento home.

Things to Do and Places to Go

Sorrento is mainly a residential area. For shopping and services, residents use the Seacrest Village shopping centre. This centre has a pharmacy and places to get take-away food. Larger shopping centres like Whitford City are also nearby. Sorrento has many parks of different sizes.

The Sorrento Quay shopping area is right at Hillarys Boat Harbour. It's a great place to find shops and restaurants. Just off the coast is the Marmion Marine Park. This park is a protected area for many different kinds of ocean animals.

Sorrento Beach has a special shark siren system. If a shark is spotted nearby, a siren will sound to warn swimmers. The beach also has a Surf Life Saving Club. They help keep people safe, offer training, and have sporting facilities.

There are many parks in Sorrento. Seacrest Park is the biggest. It has two large fields for sports like Australian Rules Football and cricket. It also has a basketball hoop, cricket nets, a big playground, and public toilets. Other parks include Robin Reserve, Albacore Park, Lacepede Park, Harman Park, Geneff Park, Tom Walker Park, and Porteous Park.

Learning in Sorrento

Sorrento has a Catholic private school called Sacred Heart College. There's also a state primary school, Sorrento Primary School, which opened in 1970. Older students in Sorrento usually attend Duncraig Senior High School.

Getting Around Sorrento

Buses serve Sorrento, connecting it to train stations like Warwick Train Station and Whitfords Train Station. These buses are operated by Swan Transit.

Sports Clubs in Sorrento

Sorrento is home to several sports clubs: