Balcatta

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'

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- Facts about Balcatta
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Local community groups
- Campion Community Gardens
- Stirling Community Men's Shed
Stirling farmers market
Every Sunday from 7.30am to 11.30am
25 Cedric Street, Stirling WA 6021
Local sports clubs
Local leisure centre
Stirling Leisure Centres - Hamersley
Local schools
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.

What you've told us so far

Local issues

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Local focus

The City has created Locally-led Stirling to drive deeper connection at a local suburb level to listen and respond with a local focus. At the heart of this Locally-led approach is an understanding that local people know what they need and a vision for everyone to get involved in shaping what it means to be “a local”.

We want to bring neighbours together, invest in local stories and inspire opportunities to work together. To find out more about Locally-led Stirling, visit Shaping our City.

If you are looking for ways to get involved in your local area, please contact one of the City’s Local Engagement Officers by emailing getinvolved@stirling.wa.gov.au.

Local plans

Residential development

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.

Public open space and community infrastructure

Balcatta has a total of 52ha of public open space which includes 32 local open spaces and six district open spaces that offer a range of facilities, including:

Richard Guelfi Field and Jones Paskin Reserve, which both have playing fields
Grindleford Reserve and Macedonia Park, both home to soccer
Rickman Delawney Reserve with its own tennis courts.

Balcatta contains two shopping centres:

Primewest Northlands Shopping Centre on Wanneroo Road, serving district shopping needs
Amelia Heights Shopping Centre, catering for local requirements.

Four primary schools are located in the area and Balcatta Senior High School provides secondary education for local students.

The industrial area to the north of Balcatta is home to numerous businesses, including the offices of the Water Corporation and Western Power.