Stirling, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids StirlingPerth, Western Australia |
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Homes in the suburb of Stirling
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| Established | 1960s | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 6021 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 4.6 km2 (1.8 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | 10 km (6 mi) NNW of Perth CBD | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | City of Stirling | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Balcatta | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Cowan | ||||||||||||||
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Stirling is a suburb located in Perth, the main city of Western Australia. It's about 10 kilometers north of Perth's city center, right next to the Mitchell Freeway. Stirling is part of the City of Stirling local government area. The main offices for the City of Stirling are actually located within this suburb.
Contents
History of Stirling
Stirling got its name from James Stirling. He was the very first governor of Western Australia, serving from 1829 to 1838. The name was officially approved in April 1976. This happened because the main offices for the City of Stirling were in this area. Before 1976, this suburb was actually part of Balcatta.
Life for Aboriginal People
Long ago, Aboriginal people lived in the wetland areas around Stirling. They hunted for many animals like kangaroos, emus, snakes, and tortoises. They also caught mudfish and gilgies (small crayfish). Water birds and their eggs were also important food sources. We know that Aboriginal sites, which are special places, existed in the Gwelup-Balcatta area nearby.
Early European Settlers (Before 1960)
The first European settlers came to this area to expand the market gardens of Osborne Park. Farming became important here in the 1920s. Three main groups helped this growth. Some were Chinese miners who had retired from the goldfields. Others were soldiers who received land after World War I (this was called the Soldier Settlement Scheme). Many of these soldiers had no experience in farming.
Another group was Italians who moved here before 1927. At that time, Benito Mussolini, a leader in Italy, made it hard for people to leave the country. Many Italians first worked as miners or woodcutters in Western Australia. They were young and willing to work hard, which made them good settlers. By 1935, the area was growing all kinds of fruits and vegetables. A newspaper in 1961 said that "hundreds of acres are under cultivation." It also noted that "nearly all types of vegetable are produced" and some were even sent to other countries.
Stirling's Growth as a Suburb (After 1960)
Big changes happened in Stirling during the 1960s and 1970s. Back then, the main way to get to the area from Perth was by Wanneroo Road and Balcatta Beach Road. This road is now similar to Karrinyup Road. Hertha Road, which is now Civic Place, was the main road in the area. The place where a footbridge stands today used to be a rubbish tip until the early 1970s.
The Osborne Park Hospital opened its doors on April 4, 1962. The civic center and council offices opened in 1966. New houses were also built in the George Street area around the civic center. The postal area for Stirling was approved in April 1976. Over the next eight years, most of the suburb was divided into blocks and built upon.
The building of the Mitchell Freeway to Karrinyup Road in 1983-84 helped Stirling grow a lot. It became an important local center. The bus and train station, which is on the Joondalup railway line, was finished in 1992. Even in 2006, some parts of Stirling were still being developed with new homes.
Geography of Stirling
Stirling is bordered by the Mitchell Freeway on its west and south sides. This freeway runs between Erindale Road and Hutton Street. To the north, Stirling is bordered by Amelia and Poincaire Streets. On the east, the border is a winding line that goes south from Jones Street. Stirling has many lake estates and public parks. The Stirling Civic Gardens are one of these green spaces. These areas make up a good part of the suburb.
People of Stirling
In the 2001 Australian census, Stirling had 5,752 people living in 2,159 homes. Many of these homes are single, detached houses. A lot of them are two-story brick houses on fairly large blocks of land. Stirling is known for being one of Perth's most diverse suburbs. This means many different cultures live there.
In 2001, about 23% of the people were of Italian descent. About 24% were of Macedonian descent. Around 6% were of Asian descent, and 4% were of Greek descent. This mix of cultures is clearly seen in the different styles of houses in the area.
Facilities in Stirling
Stirling is home to the Osborne Park Hospital. This is a community hospital with 205 beds. It offers some special medical services. It also has radiology (like X-rays) and pathology (testing samples). There are no schools directly inside Stirling. However, Balcatta Senior High School is right on its northern border. Many primary schools are also in nearby suburbs like Gwelup, Osborne Park, and Balcatta.
For shopping, Stirling has the Stirling Village shopping center. This center includes an IGA supermarket and other specialty stores. It's located on Cedric Street. For bigger shopping needs, people usually go to Karrinyup Shopping Centre. Stirling also has many parks and sports fields spread throughout the area. The Stirling Lions soccer club is based just outside the suburb's borders.
Transport in Stirling
Stirling has its own train station, called Stirling Station. From here, it takes only about 9 minutes to get to Perth's city center by train. The Public Transport Authority manages the public transport services.
Bus Services
Many bus routes serve Stirling, connecting it to other areas.
- Route 402 goes from Stirling Station to Perth Busport. It uses Cedric Street and Karrinyup Road.
- Route 403 goes from Stirling Station to Perth Busport. It uses Cedric Street, Karrinyup Road, Telford Crescent, Messina Avenue, Cassino Drive, and Hamilton Street.
- Route 414 goes from Stirling Station to Glendalough Station. It uses Cedric Street, Karrinyup Road, and Jones Street.
- Route 415 goes from Stirling Station to Mirrabooka Bus Station. It uses Cedric Street.
- Route 424 goes from Stirling Station to Karrinyup Bus Station. It uses Cedric Street and Karrinyup Road.
- Route 425 goes from Stirling Station to Warwick Station. It uses Cedric Street and Karrinyup Road.
- Route 427 goes from Stirling Station to Warwick Station. It uses Cedric Street, Civic Place, Hugo Street, Osborne Place, Karrinyup Road, and Erindale Road.
- Route 428 goes from Stirling Station to Warwick Station. It uses Cedric Street, Amelia Street, and Odin Drive.
- Routes 998 and 999 are part of the CircleRoute. They go in a big loop, serving Stirling Station, Cedric Street, and Karrinyup Road.
Other bus routes that serve only Stirling Station include:
- Routes 410, 412, 421, and 422 go to Scarborough Beach Bus Station.
- Route 413 goes to Glendalough Station.
- Route 423 goes to Warwick Station.
Train Services
- The Joondalup line train stops at Stirling Station.
