Migrants play an important role in the City of Stirling’s history. Chinese and European settlers contributed significantly to the growth of agriculture in the early 1900s. Despite the challenges of moving to a new country with a different language, these migrants established successful market gardens in suburbs like Osborne Park.
By the late 1940s, the local population had reached 31,000 people, and suburban subdivisions were taking shape. Some suburb names were derived from Aboriginal words, such as Yokine (meaning 'dingo' or 'native dog'), Coolbinia (referring to mistletoe), and Nollamara (associated with the black kangaroo paw).
Other suburbs honored local figures. For instance, Mount Lawley recognised the former WA Governor Sir Arthur Lawley. Nearby, the suburb of Menora has a strong association with the Jewish community, and its name refers to the menorah, a seven-branched candelabrum used in Jewish religious ceremonies.
Today, the City of Stirling thrives as a multicultural hub, covering approximately 100 square kilometers. Home to around 240,000 people, it spans 30 suburbs, from Dianella in the east to Trigg in the west, Hamersley in the north, and Mount Lawley in the south. The diverse landscape includes 6.5 km of coastline, 616 hectares of natural bushland, and over 98,000 properties.