Atwell, Western Australia

Infobox Australian Place | type = suburb
name = Atwell
city = Perth
state = wa

---

caption = Old farm building at northern entrance to Atwell
lga = City of Cockburn
postcode = 6164
est =
pop = 6928 (2006 census)Census 2006 AUS|id=SSC51061|name=Atwell (State Suburb)|quick=on|accessdate=2008-10-05]
area = 3.7
stategov = Jandakot
fedgov = Fremantle
near-nw = Cockburn Central
near-n = Jandakot
near-ne = Banjup
near-w = Success
near-e = Banjup
near-sw = Hammond Park
near-s = Aubin Grove
near-se = Banjup
dist1 =
location1= Perthcoord|-32.143|115.867|type:city(6928)_region:AU-WA_scale:30000|format=dms|display=title

Atwell is a suburb within the metropolitan area of Perth, Western Australia, situated 21 km south of the CBD of Perth city, and located in the City of Cockburn local government area.

Geography

Situated on the Swan coastal plain, between the coast, and the Darling scarp, the terrain is generally flat , with many small natural and created wetlands. It is situated on the western boundary of the Jandakot ground water protection area, and hence suburban development to the east is not permitted. It is bounded to the north by Armadale Road, the Kwinana Freeway to the west, Tappers Road to the east and to the south by Gibbs Road.

History

The Whadjug Nyungar aboriginal people were the first human inhabitants of the region. Occupying the region from 40,000 years ago. The many lakes and wetlands of the region were important for sustenance and spiritually.

After European settlement of the Perth region in 1829, the land of much of the area including and surrounding what is now Atwell was granted to G Dunnage. The area was later part of the dairy property owned and operated for many years by Ernest Atwell. Originally it was purchased in the 1920s to spell horses he used in his livery stable business, which was conducted in Fremantle. It was later developed into one of the largest dairies in the Perth region. The huge amount of land was slowly sold off but the Dairy was still operating until the late 1950s. The house and workers cottage were eventually demolished when the area was cleared for redevelopment.cite web|url=http://www.perthpulse.com.au/atwell/page.cgi?x=history.pp|title=History - Atwell|author=Atwell community portal|year=2008]

Development of the suburb of Atwell began in the early 1990s through the creation of several housing estates such as Beeliar parklands and has continued to expand with the estates, Atwell Waters, and Harvest Lakes being developed. Most of the suburb has now been developed, with only small sections in the south remaining.fact|date=October 2008

tatistics

Selected medians and averages from the 2006 census:

ervices

Community centres

There are two Community centres in Atwell. The Atwell Community centre and the Harvest Lakes Community Centre, situated in the grounds of the Harmony primary school.

Education

There are two primary schools in Atwell. Atwell Primary was established in 1998 and had 950 students in 2008. Harmony Primary was established in 2004 and in 2008 had 559 students. The secondary school, Atwell College, established in 2008 for years 7 to 8, had 350 students in 2008 and also incorporates the Kim Beazley Learning Community for children with special needs.

Health

Atwell currently has a general practitioner's medical centre, an infant health clinic, a pharmacy and a physiotherapy clinic.

Retail

There are currently two retail centres in Atwell. A small centre in the north was opened in the late 1990s, consisting of a delicatessen and a Chinese restaurant. A second larger centre was opened in central Atwell in the early 2000s consisting of a supermarket and several other food and service stores. A third centre is zoned for the southern Harvest lakes region, though no firm plans are currently in place.fact|date=October 2008

Recreation

Leisure

Atwell has a large number of parks and reserves. The two major parks are Atwell reserve, which has a lake, playgrounds, skate park and BBQ facilities and Harvest lakes park which has a lake and playgrounds.

ports

Atwell Oval is the main sporting ground and has a clubhouse and change rooms for the Jandakot Jets Football Club which plays Australian rules football. The South Fremantle Colts also train there. In addition Softball and Tee ball are also played here. Atwell and Harmony Primary school ovals are open to the public and have cricket pitches and nets.

Transport

Public

Regular bus services on route 527 operate to Cockburn Central railway station, located just outside the North Western boundary of Atwell, and Gateways regional shopping centre in Success. Train services connect to Perth and Mandurah.

Road

Atwell is well connected with transport infrastructure, being situated adjacent to a transport hub at Perth's southern approaches. Access to Perth in the North and Rockingham / Mandurah in the South is via the Kwinana Freeway which is accessible via interchanges at Armadale Road and Gibbs Road. East Access to Armadale is via Armadale Road. Western access to Fremantle is via Beeliar Drive and North Lake Road.

Pedestrian and cycling

Footpaths and dual use cycle paths are present on all of the major roads within Atwell. A dual use path on Armadale Road leads to the Kwinana Freeway dual use path, which connects to the more than 750 km cycle routes in the Perth Region. [cite web|url=http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/cycling|title=Bikewest]

Other Atwells

References