Lathlain, Western Australia

Lathlain's development commenced in the 1890s when Peet & Co subdivided and sold lots in the "Victoria Park Station Estate" east of the railway station, with quarter-acre blocks on sale for £25-£30. A brochure advertising the state claimed the lots were "So near Perth, near the Station and so near the Trams" (although the tram service never quite eventuated). Residental development was slow, and Gallop records in his historical notes that "bush land with some heavy timber and the occasional stray cow from Belmont greeted the post-war generation who built the suburb.^[3]

The suburb's name honours Sir William Lathlain, the Lord Mayor of Perth from 1918 until 1923. The name was in general use since the 1950s, after a park of this name was built there, but was not gazetted until 1981.^[4]

It was first proposed in 1953 for the Perth Football Club to move to vacant land at Lathlain in November 1953, and the Perth City Council supported the scheme. The ground was built, as residents started to move into the area and a primary school (1956) was built. On 11 July 1959, the club moved into the premises, and went on to win premierships in 1966-1968 and 1976-1977.

[edit] Geography

Lathlain is bounded by Great Eastern Highway to the northwest, the Armadale railway to the southwest, Roberts Street to the southeast and Orrong Road and Graham Farmer Freeway to the northeast. The suburb is almost entirely residential, although and a number of parks can be found - most notably Lathlain Park and Lee Reserve.^[5]

At the ABS 2001 census, Lathlain had a mostly above-average-income white population of 2,647 people living in 1,283 dwellings, most of which are detached houses on separate lots. The ABS identified property and business services and retail as the primary occupations. About 7% were of Italian origin.

[edit] Facilities

Lathlain is a residential suburb containing two reserves, two hotels and a primary school. Commercial and other services are provided by Victoria Park and Belmont.

[edit] Transport

Lathlain is served by the Victoria Park train station on its southwestern edge, and by various bus services. All services are operated by the Public Transport Authority.

The Lathlain railway station, built in 1959 and once located at the end of Goddard Street, was closed on 3 February 2003. Almost no trace of it exists today.

[edit] Politics

Lathlain's booth supports the Australian Labor Party at both federal and state elections, although less strongly than booths to the south and east - in the 1996 election it voted for the Liberal Party.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

^ 2001 Census, Australian Bureau of Statistics
^ REIWA Suburb Profile
^ Dr Geoff Gallop. "From The Swan To The Canning - Historical Notes on Victoria Park and Surrounding Districts", December 1989. Originally published in Southern Gazette, 24 October 1989, p.7. Accessed at Battye Library, Perth.
^ Town of Victoria Park. Timeline 1970-2004. Retrieved on 2001-11-10.
^ 2006 StreetSmart directory, Department of Lands and Surveys, Perth.