Bayswater, Western Australia


Bayswater is an inner city suburb, located 6 kilometers north-east of the central business district of Perth, the capital of Western Australia. It is located north of the Swan River, within the City of Bayswater local government area. It is a mixed use suburb, with mostly residential zoning, with a light industrial area in the east.

History

Aboriginal people of the Noongar language group originally inhabited the Bayswater area, the occupants of the north bank of the Swan being among Yellagonga’s people, who ranged systematically over a wide area of the coastal plain. The population was rich and complex in culture, sparse in number and nomadic in habit. Its movements were governed by the seasonal availability of food. The Aborigines were hunters and gatherers, who regularly burnt the bush to assist them in both pursuits. They concentrated their activities in the most fertile areas, including the peninsula in nearby Maylands. A large Aboriginal base camp, at least 4,500 years old lies under the Tonkin Highway, just to the north of Guildford Road.
When Europeans founded the Swan River Colony in 1829, the Swan River was a big focus, and land along the river was divided into narrow strips called ribbon grants, but most of the area remained undeveloped until the 20th century because the land was very poor quality and waterlogged. The only obvious sign of colonisation in the area was a track that goes between Perth and Guildford, which will become the present day Guildford Road.
In 1881, the Fremantle-Guildford railway line was built, which passed through Bayswater, which triggered significant development. The original ribbon grants began to be subdivided. The first section to be developed was called Bayswater Estate, and was the land between Drake and Lawrence Streets.
When gold was discovered in the colony, in the present day Goldfields-Esperance region, many people from eastern Australia and overseas came to the Swan River Colony, and eventually settled in Bayswater. Yet still, Bayswater was semi-rural, with people buying land for garden and farming homes.
The opening of the Midland Railway Workshops down the railway line in 1904 brought workers from the eastern states and overseas, Britain in particular, fuelled much growth, and more permanent building were constructed. Many still stand, such as Ellis House, Halliday House, and some commercial buildings along King William Street in the town centre. Bayswater School, which was founded in 1894, was expanded in 1900, 1906, 1910 and 1914 to service the rapidly expanding population.
In 1933, Bayswater introduced a town planning scheme, re-enforcing the developing industrial area in the east, and setting aside land for future residential areas. In 1935, the first Garratt Road Bridge was built across the Swan River, providing a link from Bayswater to Ascot. During World War 2, Bayswater became a place for signalling operations, and many homes were taken over for that.
After World War 2, there was much growth. There was demand for another school in the area, so buildings from East Fremantle were transported to a new site at Hillcrest.
In the early 1980s, Tonkin Highway was built, cutting through communities, changing the character of the area. It was planned since the 1960s, affecting the development of the area.
Bayswater is now mostly developed, with little opportunity for future developments, but there is a large piece of industrial land on the eastern side of Tonkin Highway that is going to be developed, and there is currently a housing development approved on the Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary, which there is a debate about between residents and the Western Australian Planning Commission.

Name

The suburb Bayswater was named after a subdivision of a land parcel centred on what is now King William Street / Coode Street. The estate was named "Bayswater" when the lots were first advertised for sale by Feinberg and Rogers auctioneers on 4 July 1885. That property is presumed to be named after the London suburb of Bayswater.

Geography

Bayswater is bounded on the south by the Swan River, the west by Maylands, the north by Bedford, Embelton and Morley, and the east by Bassendean and Ashfield. It is located north-east of the central business district of Perth, the capital of Western Australia, and covers an area of approximately.
Bayswater is mostly made up of residential housing, with an industrial area in the eastern parts of the suburb. The suburb is divided into a small eastern portion, and a western portion by Tonkin Highway. Many parks and bushland line the southern part of the suburb, near the Swan River. They include the Riverside Gardens and the Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary.
The streets throughout the suburb are mostly grids, which are remnants from the rectangular ribbon grants that extended from the river.

Demographics

Bayswater's population at the 2016 census was 14,432. This is an increase on the 13,525 recorded at the 2011 census, 12,152 recorded at the 2006 census, and the 11,303 recorded at the 2001 census. 49.1% of residents are male, and 50.9% are female. The median age was 38, which is above the West Australian average of 36, and out of residents over the age of 15, 44.3% are married, which is below the state average of 48.8%.
The median weekly household income for residents of Bayswater was $1,705, which is higher than the state, and the country, which have $1,595 and $1,438 respectively. Major industries that residents worked in were school education, cafés, restaurants and takeaway food services, architectural, engineering and technical services, hospitals, and state government administration. 4% of residents are unemployed, which is below the state average of 4.7%.
The population of Bayswater is predominantly Australian born, with 62.5% of residents were born in Australia, which is around the state average of 62.9%. The next-most-common birthplace was England, New Zealand, India, Italy, and Vietnam.
The most popular religious affiliations were no religion, with 28.6%, Roman Catholicism, Anglicanism, Uniting Church, and Buddhism. Churches in Bayswater are Saint Columbus Catholic Church, Apostolic Church, and a Russian Orthodox Church.

Amenities

Bayswater has a small town centre with a library, bank, post office, police station and a few small shops. There are also a few shops along Guildford Road, south of the town centre. Resident who require more commercial services have to go to either the Maylands town centre, or the Morley commercial area, which has the Galleria Shopping Centre, both of which are about away from the Bayswater Town Centre.
There are many businesses in the light industrial area to the east. There was a Masters Home Improvement store, before it closed in December 2016, and there is going to be a Bunnings Warehouse taking its place. This area also has the Bayswater SES and the Cleanaway Transfer Station.
In the southern part of the suburb, near the Swan River is the Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary and Riverside Gardens, which includes a playground, boat ramp, the cool breeze café, and large open grassed areas. It is home to Bayswater Sea Scouts, ANA Rowing Club, and the Bayswater Paddlesports Club, on the western side of the park. Nearby is the heritage listed Ellis House, which was restored by the City of Bayswater, and is now a community art centre.
On the corner of Whatley Crescent and Garratt Road is the Frank Drago Reserve, which is home to the Bayswater City Soccer Club, and the .
On Coode Street, near the Bayswater town centre is Halliday Reserve. This park is home to the . It also has a playground and a war memorial, surrounded by rose gardens.
Hillcrest Reserve, on Coode Street is home to the , the and the . It has two ovals, which are used for cricket and football.
Around Bayswater, there are numerous small parks with playgrounds, benches, and dog exercise areas, which are maintained by the City of Bayswater.

Education

Primary Schools in Bayswater:
There are no secondary schools in Bayswater, but some nearby are:
Durham Road School, a kindergarten to year 12 school for students with intellectual and physical disabilities is also located within Bayswater.

Governance

Local

Bayswater is part of the local government of the City of Bayswater, and is mostly within the west ward, with a small portion within the central ward.

State

Bayswater is mostly within the Electoral district of Maylands. Parts east of Tonkin Highway are part of the Electoral district of Bassendean. Both of these districts are strong Labor Party seats. Labor has held the electoral district of Maylands since 1968, and Bassendean since it was created in 1996. Maylands' current member is Lisa Baker, and Bassendean's current member is Dave Kelly.

Federal

Bayswater is entirely part of the Division of Perth in the Australian Federal Government. It is currently a strong Australian Labor Party seat, and has been held by a Labor member since 1983. Its current member is Patrick Gorman.

Transport

Cars are the most popular mode of transport in Bayswater. The 2011 Census said that 62.9% of residents travelled to work in a car. However, bicycle and public transport usage is significantly above the state average. 15.6% of Bayswater Residents saying that they take public transport to work; the state average is 9.4%, and 2.7% ride a bicycle to work; the state average is 1.1%.

Train

Bayswater is serviced by the Bayswater railway station and the Meltham railway station on the Midland railway line, with commuter services between Midland and Perth. The Whatley Train Station, which was located in the eastern part of Bayswater near the intersection of Wyatt Road and Higgins Way, was demolished in 1957 following the closure of the Belmont railway line in 1956.

Bus

Bayswater is served by:

Cycling

There are several Principal Shared Paths going through Bayswater. The Midland Railway Line has a PSP alongside it, which many people use to cycle into the city. Tonkin Highway is going to have a PSP constructed alongside it as part of NorthLink WA. Before then, cyclists had to use an on road bike lane. There is also a PSP alongside the river in the south of the suburb, which people use for recreational cycling.
In 2015, Leake and May Streets were selected in Bayswater to become Perth's first bike boulevard. The speed limit on the bike boulevard is 30 km/h, which is slower than the standard 50 km/h limit in Australia. Cars are made to slow down by having traffic calming measures. The bike boulevard was made to encourage cycling in the area, by linking the river with Bayswater Primary School and the PSP. The bike boulevard was opened in March 2017.

Road

Bayswater is serviced by several arterial roads:
Other main roads that are in Bayswater are:
Bayswater is linked to south of the Swan River by the Garratt Road Bridge and the Redcliffe Bridge.