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The local community describes Balcatta as a multicultural, active and friendly neighbourhood. To better understand what is means to be ‘a local’ our suburb profile seeks to understand the local stories Koora (past), Yeyi (present), Boordawan (future) and respond to Ngalang Maya (our place). This snapshot identifies the unique character of Balcatta’s neighbourhood and helps the City rethink how we deliver services with a local focus.
Balcatta, meaning ‘his hill’, was predominantly used for market gardening until the '60s and '70s, when industries moved into the area and blue-collar workers began to establish homes.
What it means to be a 'local'
First recorded by Alexander Forrest in 1877, Balcatta is the Aboriginal name for the northern portion of Careniup Swamp, derived from the words "bal" (meaning "his") and "katta" (meaning "hill").
In 1844, a grant of 780 acres was granted to Samuel Moore in an area now covered by Balcatta. After his death in 1875, the land was sold to John Charles Mews for £300 and the first trace of the name Balcatta can be found on the offer for sale by Mews in 1888. Another section of Balcatta was also once part of an extensive grant given to T. R. C. Walters in 1840.
Significant Balcatta landmarks include the limestone pinnacles on the grounds of Balcatta Senior High School, which were unearthed in the 1930s and 1940s as surrounding sand was excavated. The Balcatta industrial area occupies the northern portion of Balcatta and the site is a significant employment centre for the region, offering a range of services including retail, office, wholesale and light industry.
Local community groups
Local markets
Local sporting clubs
- Balcatta Football Club
- Balcatta Cricket Club (and Juniors)
- Balcatta Baseball Club
- Balcatta Volleyball Club
- Stirling Amateur Football Club
- Stirling Junior Football Club
- Gwelup Croatia Soccer Club
- Black Stars Football Club
- WA Blind Cricket Club
- Stirling Macedonia Soccer Club.
Local leisure
Local schools
What you have told us so far
Facts
Balcatta population
8,245
Average number of people per household
1.7
The average age in Balcatta is 39 years old!
30
Top five birthplaces
Australia (57%), Italy (5%), India (4%), England (3%), North Macedonia (2%)
Median weekly household income
$1,168
86% of residents are satisfied with liveability
65%
Local plans
Before the 1960s, land at Balcatta was predominantly used for market gardening and other rural activities. But, as residential development progressed rapidly from the late '60s, blue-collar workers began to establish homes in the area to be close to workplaces - yet the movement of industries to the area did not begin in earnest until the 1970s.
Dwellings in Balcatta are mainly single detached residences, although a number of unit developments exist within the eastern sector between Main Street and Wanneroo Road. Houses are generally made of brick and tile with many reflecting a southern European influence in their design. Character housing can be found in the area east of Main Street - these are generally older, timber-framed dwellings that housed the majority of market gardeners before Balcatta’s suburban development.
Dwellings in Balcatta are mainly single detached residences, although a number of unit developments exist within the eastern sector between Main Street and Wanneroo Road. Houses are generally made of brick and tile with many reflecting a southern European influence in their design. Character housing can be found in the area east of Main Street - these are generally older, timber-framed dwellings that housed the majority of market gardeners before Balcatta’s suburban development.
Projects and engagements
Local news
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