Burswood developed as two separate entities – Burswood Island, and a southernmost part within the suburb of Victoria Park until the 1990s.
Henry Camfield, who emigrated from England to the Swan River Colony in 1829, with two indentured servants and their families, was granted 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) of land opposite Claisebrook. Camfield named the estate after his father's farm, Burrswood, near Groombridge in Kent.[2][3]
The area was a low-lying peninsula leading to a ridge and steep, sandy hill with scrubland beyond. The peninsula became Burrswood Island in 1841 when Burswood canal was cut to offer a more direct route to Guildford, which had previously been encumbered by mud flats. By this time, the land was earning income and Camfield let it to tenants until he sold it in 1871 when he was living at Camfield House. A statue of Henry Camfield is located in Burswood Park surrounding the entertainment complex today.
During the 1890s, the Bunbury Bridge and the Perth to Armadale railway line were built in the area. The current spelling of Burswood was a result of a misspelling on the station signage.[4] Western Australia's first golf course (9-hole) was built at Burswood Island in 1895 – the clubhouse was a mud hut – and in 1899 a racecourse was also built. This was built by Albert Edmund Cockram and in 1902 it became the Belmont Park Racecourse. In 1906 Goodwood railway station, later renamed Belmont Park, opened.[5]
From 1900 until 1943, there were two racecourses, Goodwood and Belmont Park. These were owned by Albert Edmund Cockram as was Burswood Island. He developed the racecourses and became the largest importer of thoroughbreds into Australia. The Western Australian Turf Club took over both in 1945 purchasing it from the estate of Albert Edmund Cockram and closed Goodwood.[5]
Efforts were made to establish a residential district at "Riversdale Estate", but the use of Burswood Island as part of a sewerage filtration system (1906-1934) and the existence of various light industries from the 1910s onward worked against development. Residents in the area requested a change of name and in 1921, the name Rivervale was adopted.[6]
In 1985, the development of the Burswood Island Resort, including a casino, rehabilitated the name and the suburb was gazetted as Burswood in 1993, also including the residential area of Victoria Park south of Burswood Road.
Population
In the 2021 Census, there were 2,779 people in Burswood. 47.0% of people were born in Australia. The next most common country of birth was England at 6.1%. 63.0% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Mandarin at 6.2%. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 41.2% and Catholic 18.8%.[7]
Notably 8.8% of Burswood's population has Chinese ancestry, well above the state or national averages.
Geography
Jacaranda-lined Howick Street, with the CBD in background
Burswood includes Belmont Park Racecourse, Perth's winter thoroughbred racing track;[9]Perth Stadium, a 60,000 seat multi-purpose venue for all football codes, cricket and entertainment events;[10] the State Tennis Centre;[11] and Crown Perth (formerly the Burswood Entertainment Complex), with three hotels, a casino, a convention and function centre, a theatre and many restaurants and bars.
Burswood was the site of Western Australia's first golf course established in 1895. The site was found to be unsuitable and the course was closed and the site abandoned. The golf club relocated to Belmont in 1901 and eventually became (after relocating again to South Perth), Royal Perth Golf Club. A new 18 hole course was opened in 1987 and closed in 2013 amid controversy, to make way for construction of Perth Stadium and a new hotel.[12] The Burswood Superdome, a 13,600 seat multipurpose indoor arena used for sports and entertainment, operated from 1987 to 2012. It was demolished in 2013, to be replaced by a casino carpark.[13]
^Bowden-Pickstock, Susan (2009). "Burrswood, Kent". Quiet Gardens: The Roots of Faith?. London: Continuum International. p. 111. ISBN9781441184788. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
^"The Camfield Letters". The West Australian. Perth, WA. 28 November 1936. p. 6. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
^ abRobyn, McSweeney (31 August 2015). Albert Edmund Cockram king of the racecourse : 1870-1943. Davis, Sue. Bridgetown, W.A. ISBN9780994369116. OCLC911422186.((cite book)): CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Dr Geoff Gallop. "From The Swan To The Canning - Historical Notes on Victoria Park and Surrounding Districts", December 1989. Originally published in Southern Gazette, 14 November 1989, p.8. Accessed at Battye Library, Perth.
