Burswood
Perth, Western Australia
Crown Perth (previously known as the Burswood Casino)
Coordinates31°57′50″S 115°53′38″E / 31.964°S 115.894°E / -31.964; 115.894
Population2,779 (SAL 2021)[1]
Established1890s
Postcode(s)6100
Area3.4 km2 (1.3 sq mi)
Location3 km (2 mi) from the Perth CBD
LGA(s)Town of Victoria Park
State electorate(s)
Federal division(s)Swan
Suburbs around Burswood:
(Swan River) (Swan River) Maylands
East Perth Burswood Rivervale
Victoria Park Victoria Park Lathlain

Burswood is an inner southeastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located immediately across the Swan River from Perth's central business district (CBD). Its local government area is the Town of Victoria Park. Burswood is the location of the State Tennis Centre, Perth Stadium, Belmont Park Racecourse, and the Crown Perth casino and hotel complex.

History

Burswood developed as two separate entities – Burswood Island, and a southernmost part within the suburb of Victoria Park until the 1990s.

Henry Camfield, who emigrated from England to the Swan River Colony in 1829, with two indentured servants and their families, was granted 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) of land opposite Claisebrook. Camfield named the estate after his father's farm, Burrswood, near Groombridge in Kent.[2][3]

The area was a low-lying peninsula leading to a ridge and steep, sandy hill with scrubland beyond. The peninsula became Burrswood Island in 1841 when Burswood canal was cut to offer a more direct route to Guildford, which had previously been encumbered by mud flats. By this time, the land was earning income and Camfield let it to tenants until he sold it in 1871 when he was living at Camfield House. A statue of Henry Camfield is located in Burswood Park surrounding the entertainment complex today.

During the 1890s, the Bunbury Bridge and the Perth to Armadale railway line were built in the area. The current spelling of Burswood was a result of a misspelling on the station signage.[4] Western Australia's first golf course (9-hole) was built at Burswood Island in 1895 – the clubhouse was a mud hut – and in 1899 a racecourse was also built. This was built by Albert Edmund Cockram and in 1902 it became the Belmont Park Racecourse. In 1906 Goodwood railway station, later renamed Belmont Park, opened.[5]

From 1900 until 1943, there were two racecourses, Goodwood and Belmont Park. These were owned by Albert Edmund Cockram as was Burswood Island. He developed the racecourses and became the largest importer of thoroughbreds into Australia. The Western Australian Turf Club took over both in 1945 purchasing it from the estate of Albert Edmund Cockram and closed Goodwood.[5]

Efforts were made to establish a residential district at "Riversdale Estate", but the use of Burswood Island as part of a sewerage filtration system (1906-1934) and the existence of various light industries from the 1910s onward worked against development. Residents in the area requested a change of name and in 1921, the name Rivervale was adopted.[6]

In 1985, the development of the Burswood Island Resort, including a casino, rehabilitated the name and the suburb was gazetted as Burswood in 1993, also including the residential area of Victoria Park south of Burswood Road.

Population

In the 2021 Census, there were 2,779 people in Burswood. 47.0% of people were born in Australia. The next most common country of birth was England at 6.1%. 63.0% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Mandarin at 6.2%. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 41.2% and Catholic 18.8%.[7]

Notably 8.8% of Burswood's population has Chinese ancestry, well above the state or national averages.


Geography

Jacaranda-lined Howick Street, with the CBD in background

Burswood is bounded by the Swan River to the west, north and north-east; Graham Farmer Freeway, Great Eastern Highway and the Armadale railway to the east, and Shepperton Road and Harper Street to the south.[8]

Facilities

Perth Stadium opened in January 2018

Burswood includes Belmont Park Racecourse, Perth's winter thoroughbred racing track;[9] Perth Stadium, a 60,000 seat multi-purpose venue for all football codes, cricket and entertainment events;[10] the State Tennis Centre;[11] and Crown Perth (formerly the Burswood Entertainment Complex), with three hotels, a casino, a convention and function centre, a theatre and many restaurants and bars.

Burswood was the site of Western Australia's first golf course established in 1895. The site was found to be unsuitable and the course was closed and the site abandoned. The golf club relocated to Belmont in 1901 and eventually became (after relocating again to South Perth), Royal Perth Golf Club. A new 18 hole course was opened in 1987 and closed in 2013 amid controversy, to make way for construction of Perth Stadium and a new hotel.[12] The Burswood Superdome, a 13,600 seat multipurpose indoor arena used for sports and entertainment, operated from 1987 to 2012. It was demolished in 2013, to be replaced by a casino carpark.[13]

Transport

The Perth-Armadale rail line runs through the area and is serviced by Burswood railway station. Buses from the Victoria Park transfer station along Great Eastern Highway and Craig Street service the area. Perth Stadium is serviced on event days by the Perth Stadium bus station and the Perth Stadium railway station, with some train services stopping on weekends. All services are operated by the Public Transport Authority.[14][15][16]

Politics

The nearest polling booth, Homestead Seniors Centre in Victoria Park, is marginal at federal level, and supports the Australian Labor Party at state elections.

2022 federal election
Source: AEC
 Labor 40.73%
 Liberal 27.92%
 Greens 19.90%
 United Australia Party 2.61%
 Animal Justice Party 1.99%
2010 federal election
Source: AEC
 Liberal 46.5%
 Labor 35.6%
 Greens 12.9%
 CDP 1.93%
 Family First 0.61%
2007 federal election
Source: AEC
 Liberal 43.1%
 Labor 41.4%
 Greens 11.8%
 CDP 1.22%
 One Nation 0.61%
2004 federal election
Source: AEC
 Liberal 42.4%
 Labor 39.6%
 Greens 9.90%
 Democrats 2.29%
 One Nation 1.60%
2001 federal election
Source: AEC
 Labor 39.9%
 Liberal 38.6%
 Democrats 7.76%
 Greens 6.59%
 One Nation 4.27%
2008 state election
Source: WAEC
 Labor 43.0%
 Liberal 40.0%
 Greens 13.9%
 CDP 1.57%
 Family First 1.44%
2005 state election
Source: WAEC
 Labor 55.0%
 Liberal 30.7%
 Greens 9.18%
 CDP 2.87%
 One Nation 2.76%
2001 state election
Source: WAEC
 Labor 48.1%
 Liberal 29.5%
 Greens 8.68%
 One Nation 6.35%
 Democrats 4.75%
1996 state election
Source: WAEC
 Labor 47.0%
 Liberal 36.6%
 Greens 7.22%
 Democrats 5.41%
 Independent 3.78%

References

  1. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Burswood (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022. 
  2. ↑ Bowden-Pickstock, Susan (2009). "Burrswood, Kent". Quiet Gardens: The Roots of Faith?. London: Continuum International. p. 111. ISBN 9781441184788. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  3. ↑ "The Camfield Letters". The West Australian. Perth, WA. 28 November 1936. p. 6. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  4. ↑ "History of metropolitan suburb names – B". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2007.
  5. 1 2 Robyn, McSweeney (31 August 2015). Albert Edmund Cockram king of the racecourse : 1870-1943. Davis, Sue. Bridgetown, W.A. ISBN 9780994369116. OCLC 911422186.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. ↑ Dr Geoff Gallop. "From The Swan To The Canning - Historical Notes on Victoria Park and Surrounding Districts", December 1989. Originally published in Southern Gazette, 14 November 1989, p.8. Accessed at Battye Library, Perth.
  7. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Burswood (State Suburb)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  8. ↑ Department of Land Information. StreetSmart Perth Street Directory (54th ed.). West Australian Newspapers Ltd. pp. Map 371. ISBN 978-0-909439-67-5.
  9. ↑ "About Perth Racing". Racing and Wagering Western Australia. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  10. ↑ "Fact sheets". Perth Stadium. Perth, WA: Government of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 2 May 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  11. ↑ "Welcome to State Tennis Centre". State Tennis Centre. Burswood, WA. 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  12. ↑ Prestipino, David (16 April 2013). "Burswood Park Golf Course closure leaves 80,000 in the rough". Sunday Times. Perth, WA. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  13. ↑ Offer, Kaitlyn (31 May 2013). "Burswood Dome to be demolished after 26 years of rock, pop, sport". Sunday Times. Perth, WA. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  14. ↑ "Transperth Optus Stadium". Transperth.wa.gov.au. Public Transport Authority of Western Australia. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  15. ↑ "Transperth Network Sheet 5" (PDF). Transperth.wa.gov.au. Public Transport Authority of Western Australia. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  16. ↑ "Train Timetable - Armadale/Thornlie Line" (PDF). Transperth.wa.gov.au. Public Transport Authority of Western Australia. 4 August 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
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