Forrestfield, Western Australia

Forrestfield is a suburb of the City of Kalamunda in Western Australia. It lies 15 kilometres to the south-east of Perth at the base of the Darling Scarp and the southern border of Perth Airport.

The suburb is split by Roe Highway into a southern residential area and a northern industrial area. The suburb is adjacent to Wattle Grove, Cloverdale and Kalamunda.

Industrial area

Rail

The industrial area contains a major rail hub. The 241 hectare Forrestfield Marshalling Yard was built adjacent to the Kwinana railway line opening in stages between 1968 and 1973 in conjunction with the nearby Kewdale Freight Terminal as a replacement for the Perth marshalling yard and two other inner Perth yards. Within the confines of the yard, separate depots were built for locomotive, carriage and wagon maintenance.<ref>Nomination of Western Australia Standard Gauge Railway for an Engineering Heritage Australia Heritage Recognition Award Engineers Australia Western Australian Division September 2011 page 25</ref><ref name="rt 1969-10">Template:Cite journal</ref>

It was previously used by the Western Australian Government Railways, Westrail and Australian Railroad Group.<ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref>Western Australia Australian Railroad Group</ref> As at January 2018, Aurizon, SCT Logistics and Watco Australia use the yard.<ref>Western Australian Operations Aurizon</ref><ref>Forrestfield Rail Freight Template:Webarchive SCT Logistics</ref><ref>Minutes Western Australia Port Operations Task Force March 2017</ref> Aurizon closed its terminal in late-2017 as part of the closure of its intermodal business.<ref>Aurizon to close Forrestfield terminal Business News 14 August 2017</ref><ref>Linfox and Pacific National snap up Aurizon intermodal arm Fully Loaded 14 August 2017</ref> Gemco Rail also has a facility.<ref>Engenco wins $5 million WA train maintenance contracts Template:Webarchive Engenco 30 March 2014</ref>

Bounded by Dundas Road to the east, the Tonkin Highway to the south and Perth Airport to the west, some of the land was no longer required for railway by in the late 1990s and rezoned for industrial use.<ref>Proposed amendment to the Metropolitan Region Scheme now available for comment Template:Webarchive Planning Minister 29 May 1998</ref><ref>Forrestfield Marshalling Yards Shire of Kalamunda Town planning Scheme 2 Amendment 177 Environmental Protection Authority January 1999</ref> A combined 102 hectares was sold to the CBH Group, LandCorp and Specialised Container Transport.<ref>Government boosts industrial land at Forrestfield Template:Webarchive Lands Minister 12 April 2000</ref><ref>Annual report for year ended 30 June 2000 Western Australian Government Railways Commission pages 7, 18</ref>

CBH Group's Metro Grains Centre was completed in 1998.<ref>Opening of $100M CBH Metro Grain Centre at Forrestfield Template:Webarchive Minister for Transport 6 Match 1998</ref><ref>Metro Grain Centre CBH Group</ref> In mid-2005 BlueScope constructed a large warehouse on former Westrail land.<ref>Expanded WA Capacity Template:Webarchive Steel in Touch (BlueScope) Spring 2005</ref> Kenworth DAF Trucks also relocated from Guildford to a new complex on Abernethy Road in 2005.<ref>CJD Trucks Kenworth DAF Perth Truckworld</ref>

Infrastructure

On November 3, 2016,<ref>Construction starts on Forrestfield-Airport link Government of Western Australia 18 November 2016</ref> construction commenced on the Airport line, which opened on October 9, 2022.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The line has three stations: Redcliffe, Airport Central, and High Wycombe.

The Western Australian Government has prompted the City of Kalamunda to investigate the possibility of business and infrastructure opportunities arising from the completion of the new link for Forrestfield and its surrounding areas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The completion of the Airport Link is expected to facilitate the continuing growth of Perth Airport as a nationally integral part of employment, commerce and international trade.

Forrestfield's northern and eastern outskirts are home to the majority of the areas industrial enterprise. The area is host to a wide range of commercial business-to-business industries. Some of the most notable occupants include Grace Removals,<ref>Perth Grace Removals</ref> Improvid<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the Super Retail Group.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

Template:More citations needed section Settlement of the area dates from the late 1800s. Population was minimal until the early 1900s, with growth during the interwar period. Significant development did not occur until the post-war years, with rapid growth from the 1950s into the 1970s. The population has been relatively stable since the early 1990s, a result of some new dwellings being added to the area, but a decline in the average number of persons living in each dwelling.

There is authority to suggest it is named after John Forrest, Western Australia's first Premier, or his brother Alexander. However, local folklore suggests that the name comes from Charles Hale, who settled in the area in 1902 and planted crops amongst the native forest bushland, hence Forrestfield.Template:Explain In 1921 a Forrestfield Progress Association was formed, and the name was shown on plans in 1944.<ref>Template:LandInfo WA</ref>

Shopping

Located on the corner of Hale Road and Strelitzia Avenue, the Forrestfield Forum and Marketplace comprises 52 shops including Coles and Woolworths supermarkets. It is owned by the Hawaiian Group.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Home Hawaiian Forrestfield</ref>

Cumberland Road has a FoodWorks supermarket, a newsagency, a hairdresser, some dining and fast-food venues.<ref>Forrestfield Template:Webarchive Foodworks</ref> There are a range of other retail establishments scattered throughout Forrestfield, including taverns, liqueur shops, a nursery, and various delis.

Educational facilities

Forrestfield contains the following educational institutions:

• Darling Range Sports College, formerly Forrestfield Senior High School<ref>Home Darling Range Sports College</ref>
• Dawson Park Primary<ref>Home Dawson Park Primary School</ref>
• Forrestfield Primary<ref>Home Forrestfield Primary School</ref>
• HillSide Christian College, formerly Forrestfield Christian School<ref>Home Hillside Christian School</ref>
• Woodlupine Primary<ref>Home Woodlupine Primary School</ref>
• Tabor College<ref>[1] Tabor College</ref>

Demographics

In the Template:CensusAU, Forrestfield recorded a population of 13,181 people: 50.0% male and 50.0% female. The median/average age of the Forrestfield population is 38 years.<ref>[2] Australian Bureau of Statistics</ref>

Amenities

Template:Unreferenced section Hartfield Park Recreation Centre: This complex includes an indoor stadium as well as playing fields for cricket, rugby, Australian rules football, hockey, soccer (football), an 18-hole golf course, an equestrian centre plus support facilities for each. There is also a nature conservation park and a lake. Discovery Park - Perth Airport Caravan and Holiday Park on Hale Road just off of Tonkin Highway.

Public transport

Bus

• Template:Legend2 270 High Wycombe Station to Elizabeth Quay Bus Station – serves Hawtin Road and Hale Road<ref>Template:Cite Transperth bus</ref>
• Template:Legend2 271 High Wycombe Station to Forrestfield – serves Berkshire Road, Bougainvillea Avenue, Dawson Avenue, Hicks Street, Cypress Road, Hale Road, Anderson Road, Lewis Road, Jubilee Road, Cumberland Road and Edinburgh Road<ref>Template:Cite Transperth bus</ref>
• Template:Legend2 280 High Wycombe Station to Westfield Carousel – serves Berkshire Road and Hale Road<ref>Template:Cite Transperth bus</ref>
• Template:Legend2 281 Darling Range Sports College to Lesmurdie Senior High School – serves Berkshire Road and Hale Road<ref>Template:Cite Transperth bus</ref>
• Template:Legend2 293 High Wycombe Station to Redcliffe Station – serves Abernethy Road<ref>Template:Cite Transperth bus</ref>