Discover the suburb of Innaloo, including its history and residential growth and community development.
History
While the name Innaloo was adopted in 1927, it was originally referred to as Njookenbooroo, believed to be derived from the Aboriginal name for Herdsman Lake or a nearby swamp.
The area now known as Innaloo was originally part of land bought by Thomas Mews in 1831 and, while subdivision in northern Innaloo was approved in 1898, development lagged for many years. The southern section was subdivided in 1916 but again demand was not high. A map drafted in the early 1920s indicates only 10 houses had been built in the region with the majority of land used for grazing.
In 1915, the Education Department acquired land in the area and built the Njookenbooroo School on the north-east corner of Odin Road but the names of the school and post office were changed in 1927, at the request of the local progress association.
Residential development
Extensive development in the area began in the 1940s with street names taken from Greek mythology and the passenger list from the ship Rockingham. Residences in Innaloo are primarily single detached homes, built around the time of World War Two. Most are of timber-frame construction and reflect post-war design standards.
Innaloo also contains a scattering of duplex homes and recently built units, which are gradually replacing older housing stock. The majority of these newer dwellings are of brick and tile construction and have a modern design.