Alkimos, Western Australia

Alkimos is a coastal suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located 42 kilometres (26 mi) north-northwest of Perth's central business district. It is part of the City of Wanneroo local government area.

Alkimos
Perth, Western Australia
Looking south along Alkimos Beach towards wreck.
Coordinates31.607°S 115.669°E / -31.607; 115.669
Population10,203 (SAL 2021)[1]
Postcode(s)6038
Area13 km2 (5.0 sq mi)
Location42 km (26 mi) NNW of Perth CBD
LGA(s)City of Wanneroo
State electorate(s)Mindarie
Federal division(s)Pearce
Suburbs around Alkimos:
Eglinton Carabooda
Indian Ocean Alkimos Nowergup
Jindalee Butler

For the most part, the suburb is covered in native banksia woodland, scrubland and heath typical of the Swan Coastal Plain. The area is part of the Alkimos-Eglinton region being considered by the State Government for a future city centre and urban region. On 5 November 2008, the WA State Government announced it was actively seeking a development partner for the project.[2]

Geography

Alkimos lies roughly between the future Mitchell Freeway reserve to the east and the Indian Ocean to the west.[3] The locality is bounded to the north by Eglinton, to the east by Carabooda and to the south by the newly developed suburbs of Butler and Jindalee.

History

Alkimos is named after the shipwreck of the Greek freighter Alkimos that ran aground on the coast nearby in 1963.[4] The wreck lies approximately 410 metres off shore.

There are future plans for an Alkimos-Eglinton satellite city, covered by Amendment 1029/33 to the Metropolitan Region Scheme (May 2006). LandCorp estimated that 55,000 people would live in the area once it is complete, that the centre will include "hospitals, tertiary educational institutions, major retail, commercial and recreational facilities" and that stage 1 blocks would be offered for sale in 2008.[5][6] The Environmental Protection Authority, however, raised concerns in November 2005 about the amendment, saying that it "would, in part, be inconsistent with the conservation and protection of significant environmental and geoheritage values in the area", and recommended that the amount of reserves be greatly increased.[7]

Demographics

Alkimos has a population of 6,269 according to the ABS 2016 census.[8] The suburb was not enumerated in the 2011 census.

Amenities and facilities

Amongst others there is an IGA supermarket in Alkimos Beach and a Coles supermarket in Alkimos Trinity estate. Eglinton Rocks and the Alkimos wreck can be viewed from the coastline, where almost untouched beaches are accessible by sandtrack which can be reached from the Marmion Avenue stretch. The suburb offers a wide array of native scrubland, woodland and heath, varying in condition from excellent to completely degraded, and including Xanthorrhoea preissii (traditionally known as "balga"), banksia, sheoak and Nuytsia floribunda. Some degradation has occurred due to uncontrolled vehicular access, clearing for stock grazing, fire and rabbits.[9]

Education

The 2 public primary schools in Alkimos are Alkimos Primary School and Alkimos Beach Primary School. The public high school in Alkimos is Alkimos College, which opened to Year 7 students in 2020, and will grow to Year 12 students by 2025. Year 8 to 12 students can go to the nearby Butler College. It is expected that another public high school will be needed in Alkimos by 2024. St James Anglican School is an K–11 Anglican school in Alkimos, which will expand to Year 12 students in 2021.[10]

Transport

In 2008, Marmion Avenue was extended through the suburb, which had previously been unserviced by the road network. In 2023, the Mitchell Freeway was extended to the southern part of the suburb, terminating at Romeo Road. Transperth operates the 490 and 491 bus services from Butler railway station, which pass through the suburb to Two Rocks and Yanchep respectively; the bus routes are operated by Swan Transit.

The Joondalup Line will be extended through the area with Alkimos railway station planned to be opened in 2024.

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Alkimos (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022. 
  2. "Landcorp press release". Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2008.
  3. Department of Land Information. StreetSmart Perth Street Directory (54th ed.). West Australian Newspapers Ltd. pp. Maps 128-129. ISBN 978-0-909439-67-5.
  4. "History of metropolitan suburb names – A". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2007.
  5. Votes and Proceedings, No.75, WA Legislative Assembly, 10 May 2006. Accessed 29 September 2006.
  6. Alkimos-Eglinton Archived 29 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine, LandCorp, 2005. Accessed 29 September 2006.
  7. EPA Bulletin 1207 - Alkimos-Eglinton MRS Amendment 1029/33 Archived 22 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine, Environmental Protection Authority, 21 November 1995. Accessed 29 September 2006.
  8. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Alkimos (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  9. Environmental Review: Alkimos/Eglinton (MRS Amendment 1029/33) Archived 22 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine, WA Planning Commission, 2003, p.45 etc. (Large PDF)
  10. "Schools Online". Department of Education. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
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