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Balcatta, Western Australia

Coordinates: 31°52′34″S 115°49′01″E / 31.876°S 115.817°E / -31.876; 115.817
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Balcatta
PerthWestern Australia
Southern entrance of Balcatta Senior High School
Map
Coordinates31°52′34″S 115°49′01″E / 31.876°S 115.817°E / -31.876; 115.817
Population10,813 (SAL 2021)[1]
Postcode(s)6021
Area7.3 km2 (2.8 sq mi)
Location10 km (6 mi) NNW of Perth CBD
LGA(s)City of Stirling
State electorate(s)Balcatta
Federal division(s)Cowan
Suburbs around Balcatta:
Carine Hamersley Balga
Gwelup Balcatta Westminster and Nollamara
Stirling Osborne Park and Tuart Hill Yokine

Balcatta is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its local government area is the City of Stirling. It is a primarily middle-class suburb made up of mainly Italian, Greek and Macedonian families, as well as many families from other European countries. It is also one of the largest suburbs in the northern part of the Perth metropolitan area. Much of Balcatta is a commercial and industrial area.

History

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Balcatta's name was derived from the Aboriginal words "bal" meaning "his" and "katta" meaning "hill".[2] The name was recorded by Alexander Forrest in 1877 as referring to the northern portion of Careniup Swamp.[3]

Before the 1960s, the area mainly consisted of market gardens, before residential and industry grew from the 1970s onwards.[4]

The area became popular with Southern European migrant families, because it was one of the few areas that had not been settled and many migrant families wanted to build their own homes in their distinctive style, many complete with plaster figurines of lions and romanesque style columns adorning the front verandah and entry. Similarly, other European immigrant families had already settled in nearby suburbs such as Osborne Park, and made their living as market gardeners.[citation needed]

The area was especially popular with Macedonian families, leading to the establishment of Macedonian Cultural Centre "Ilinden" on Grindleford Place. Balcatta was also a popular area among other peoples from the Balkans.[citation needed]

As many of the older families pass on and others choose to update by building a newer home further north, the area is becoming increasingly popular with those of Asian cultural background, which has also led to some parts of Balcatta being subdivided into small units or villas.[citation needed]

Areas of interest

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Jones Street

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The longest street in Balcatta. Winding through the locality, Jones Street has had repeated work done by the local council to resurface it out and make it safer for both pedestrians and motorists. A number of new round-abouts have been constructed in order to slow down traffic at various points on the road. Jones Street also runs past Takari Primary School and ends at Delawney Street behind the Water Corporation Depot and Stirling Recycling Plant.

Amelia Street

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This hilly street runs east to west through Balcatta. It also goes past one side of Balcatta Senior High School.

Balcatta Senior High School

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Balcatta Senior High School (BSHS) is the only public high school in Balcatta. A large[clarification needed] percentage of its students are from non-Anglo Australian backgrounds.[citation needed] The school has specialist programs in the arts, such as dance and drama. BSHS was opened in 1967 and at the time was the northernmost school in the Perth metropolitan area.

Jones Paskin Reserve

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This is a large oval mainly utilised in the summer as a cricket oval and for general use by the local community. This is the home ground of the Balcatta Cricket Club.

Transport

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Bus

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Bus routes serving Wanneroo Road:

References

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  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Balcatta (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ "Balcatta". City of Stirling. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Perth suburbs Aboriginal names" (PDF). Kaartdijin Noongar. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  4. ^ Edwards, Kyra. "Stirling Snapshot" (PDF). History Teachers' Association of Western Australia.
  5. ^ "Route 387". Bus Timetable 57 (PDF). Transperth. 11 June 2024 [effective from 15 July 2024].
  6. ^ "Route 402". Bus Timetable 58 (PDF). Transperth. 12 June 2024 [effective from 15 July 2024].
  7. ^ "Route 414". Bus Timetable 59 (PDF). Transperth. 8 May 2024 [effective from 15 July 2024].
  8. ^ "Route 415". Bus Timetable 59 (PDF). Transperth. 8 May 2024 [effective from 15 July 2024].
  9. ^ "Route 427". Bus Timetable 61 (PDF). Transperth. 8 May 2024 [effective from 15 July 2024].
  10. ^ "Route 428". Bus Timetable 61 (PDF). Transperth. 8 May 2024 [effective from 15 July 2024].
  11. ^ "Route 998". CircleRoute Timetable 200 (PDF) (CircleRoute). Transperth. 12 June 2024 [effective from 15 July 2024].
  12. ^ "Route 999". CircleRoute Timetable 200 (PDF) (CircleRoute). Transperth. 12 June 2024 [effective from 15 July 2024].
  13. ^ "Route 384". Bus Timetable 72 (PDF). Transperth. 12 June 2024 [effective from 15 July 2024].
  14. ^ "Route 385". Bus Timetable 57 (PDF). Transperth. 11 June 2024 [effective from 15 July 2024].
  15. ^ "Route 386". Bus Timetable 57 (PDF). Transperth. 11 June 2024 [effective from 15 July 2024].
  16. ^ "Route 388". Bus Timetable 57 (PDF). Transperth. 11 June 2024 [effective from 15 July 2024].
  17. ^ "Route 389". Bus Timetable 57 (PDF). Transperth. 11 June 2024 [effective from 15 July 2024].
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