Location

The City of Wanneroo is located on the north-eastern fringe of the Perth metropolitan area, between 12 and 60 kilometres from the Perth CBD. The City of Wanneroo is bounded by Gingin Shire in the north, the Shire of Chittering and the City of Swan in the east, the Cities of Stirling and Joondalup in the south, and the Indian Ocean in the west.

Included Areas

The City of Wanneroo includes the suburbs and localities of Alexander Heights, Alkimos, Ashby, Banksia Grove, Butler, Carabooda, Carramar, Clarkson, Darch, Eglinton, Girrawheen, Gnangara, Hocking, Jandabup, Jindalee, Koondoola, Landsdale, Madeley, Marangaroo, Mariginiup, Merriwa, Mindarie, Neerabup, Nowergup, Pearsall, Pinjar, Quinns Rocks, Ridgewood, Sinagra, Tamala Park, Tapping, Two Rocks, Wangara, Wanneroo, Woodvale (part) and Yanchep.

Land Use

The City of Wanneroo is one of the fastest growing local government areas in Australia. The City includes substantial rural areas, rapidly expanding residential areas and some commercial and industrial land uses. The City encompasses a total land area of about 685 square kilometres, including coastal plains, wetlands, market gardens and bushland. Most of the rural areas are in the north and east. Rural land is used mainly for horticulture, agriculture and quarrying.

Name Origin

The City of Wanneroo is thought to be named from an Aboriginal word meaning “a place where women dig up roots”.

Indigenous Meaning

The original inhabitants of the Wanneroo area were the Yellagonga Aboriginal people.

Settlement

European settlement dates from 1838 when the first land grants were made. Land was used mainly for cattle grazing, market gardening and poultry farming. Population was minimal until the late 1800s and early 1900s, with the township of Wanneroo established in the 1880s. Significant development occurred during the post-war years, aided by the provision of electricity in 1954, the State Government Corridor Plan in 1970, and the northern spread of development from Perth. Rapid growth took place from the 1970s, starting in the southern suburbs of Girrawheen and Koondoola, and moving northwards over time. The population more than trebled between 1991 and 2011, rising from 45,000 in 1991 to 149,000 in 2011. Population increase is expected to continue.

Major Features

Major features of the City include Neerabup National Park, Yanchep National Park, Koondoola Regional Bushland, Yellagonga Regional Park, Kingsway Regional Sporting Complex, Wanneroo Aquamotion, Barbagallo Raceway, Wanneroo Botanic Gardens, Mindarie Marina, Perth International Telecommunications Centre, Wanneroo Regional Museum, Limelight Theatre, Wanneroo Town Centre, Kingsway City Shopping Centre, Ocean Keys Shopping Centre, North Metropolitan TAFE (Clarkson Campus), Carramar Golf Course, Lakelands Country Club, Marangaroo Golf Course, Sun City Country Club, Wanneroo Golf Club and numerous beaches, lakes and parks.

Transport

The City of Wanneroo is served by the Mitchell Freeway, Wanneroo Road and the Joondalup (Clarkson) railway line.