Winthrop, Western Australia

Winthrop Perth, Western Australia
Piney Lakes Reserve
Winthrop
Coordinates	32°03′11″S 115°49′34″E / 32.053°S 115.826°E / -32.053; 115.826Coordinates: 32°03′11″S 115°49′34″E / 32.053°S 115.826°E / -32.053; 115.826
Population	6,430 (2006 census)[1]
Established	1976
Postcode(s)	6150
LGA(s)	City of Melville
State electorate(s)	Bateman
Federal Division(s)	Tangney
Suburbs around Winthrop: Myaree Booragoon Brentwood Willagee Winthrop Bateman Kardinya Murdoch Bateman

Winthrop is a southern suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Melville.

History

Winthrop was originally a pine tree plantation owned by the University of Western Australia. The first blocks were sold in the early 1980s. After the first residents moved in, more blocks were sold off in a number of phases. Shortly after the first residents, a convenience store opened for business, which now includes a Post office, IGA store and a florist. Soon the Winthrop Primary school and Winthrop village shopping centre were opened. Blocks were so sought after that many people resorted to sleeping near the sales office for up to a week just to secure a position.

The name is most likely derived from that of the first Chancellor of the University of Western Australia, Sir John Winthrop Hackett. There are very few reminders of Winthrop's past as a pine plantation, with scattered remnants of pine trees being the only indication.

Transport

Winthrop Village Shopping Centre

A covered bus stop in Winthrop. This is located outside of Winthrop primary school. It is a timed stop for the 504 & 940 routes.

Road

Winthrop is bordered by 3 major roads: Leach Highway to the north, Murdoch Drive to the east, North Lake Road to the west and Somerville Boulevard to the south, which connects North Lake Road to Murdoch Drive.

The main local neighbourhood distributors are: Winthrop Drive, dividing the east and west of Winthrop, and Jackson Avenue, which passes both Winthrop Primary School and the Winthrop Village Shopping Centre. Winthrop Village Shopping Centre has been labeled Western Australia's 'Best Value Supermarket' by Today Tonight. Other minor tier roads include 'Hatherley Parade', 'Aitken Drive' and 'Ten Seldam Circle.'

Bus

There are numerous bus routes serving Winthrop. These are:

• 115 (Hamilton Hill – Elizabeth Quay Bus Station)
• 503 (Bull Creek – Murdoch)
• 504 (Bull Creek – Murdoch)
• 511 (Murdoch – Fremantle)

Train

The closest train stations are Bull Creek and Murdoch, both situated 1.2 km east of Winthrop. Fremantle Train Station is located approximately 9 km to the west.

Education

The primary schools in or around Winthrop are Winthrop Primary School, Booragoon Primary School, Caralee Community School, Kardinya Primary School and Yidarra Primary School. Nearby secondary schools include Applecross Senior High School, Corpus Christi College, Melville Senior High School, Murdoch College, and Kennedy Baptist College which was formed by a merger of Winthrop Baptist College and Somerville Baptist College in 2013. Nearby tertiary institutions include Murdoch University, Murdoch Institute of Technology, and Challenger Tafe.

Nature

Largest block of original pine trees

Hill Park in Winthrop

Winthrop has many parks, with the central area of the suburb containing "Winthrop Park" (pictured looking ESE over above). It is bordered by pine trees.

There are few areas left of the original pine plantation, the largest of which is located near Winthrop Park.

To the north-east of Winthrop there is the Piney Lakes Reserve. There are a number of trails through it and a guided footpath. The Piney Lakes conservation centre hosts school visits, and aims to maintain the natural ecosystem in the area.

The Piney Lakes Nature Reserve is home to a number of native birds including willie wagtails, warblers and cockatoos. Southern brown bandicoots also inhabit the area.

A natural wetlands houses many native flora and fauna and is open to the public.

References