Hester Park - Bird life & black swans!

So we took the dog again today for a run down at the lovely Hester Park, and stopped this time to get some pics of the river! For any kayak enthusiasts, you will know this is a perfect launching spot with some beautiful scenery along the waterways. Even in this hot weather- the water was at good depth and the bird life very active!

In the past we have seen muscovy, mallard and other native ducks and geese. Often there are heron and kookaburras around if you are there at the right time of day. The properties on the eastern side are very lucky and often have the bird life wandering up out of the water on to the grassy banks.

After watching the ducks for a short while, we were spoiled to spot some Black Swans paddling peacefully amongst the other bird life. 

What an absolute treasure.
Forever 6108!

Spencer Village; How we love thee!

Ahhh, now on to one of my favourite things about Thornlie! Yep- you guessed it, the delicious, the thrifty, the aromatic...... Spencer Village!

Hands down, it must be one of the best places to eat in Perth. If you like your asian food- there is no finer dining hall than Spencer!

Located on Spencer Road opposite the Thornlie train station, it is an absolute gem for the culinary enthusiasts with no fear of the spicy eastern flavours! With fresh meals, lots of cheap dishes and variety to boot- you really cant go wrong! If the atmosphere is any indication, you will be buzzing from the excitement and the crowds of people out on a Thursday.

Tonight we started with the 'must have' pork buns from Fook Kee. At only $1.60 for the small or $4.00 for the large, they are an affordable and highly desirable treat! Unfortunately my picture was too late for the glory of the fresh fluffy warm bun, gorgeously cracking and fresh from the steamer. The sweet bread and the delicious pork filling make for an absolute delight! Whilst waiting for our buns, I stood with some chinese girls. We looked at eachother and laughed with excitement but never spoke a word!

The husband was recommended a chicken egg noodle soup from Miss Saigon (hands down my favourite stall, but I reserve the right to change my mind!) The dish comes either dry or with soup with optional chilli strength. I'm told the broth is 'the best in town' - so soup version it was tonight! At $9.50 its more than enough to fill a hungry man!

I got a little bit greedy and went for another share plate.... this one is a malayan curry sauce with roti from Izyan. They do a delicious selection of Malaysian Kosher dishes and while I was extremely tempted to go for the Nasi Lemak- I decided on something new!

 Ahh, now for my "new dish"... the Har Mee prawn noodle dish again from Izyan! While I was initially tempted by the coriander in the display pictures, I was mildly disappointed that there was none on the plate. But really- who's complaining? The first thing I noticed was that I could actually taste the noodles- thats a change from the overpowering sauces I've doused my noodles with at home. Delicious and fragrant with some fresh chopped chilli- I was not disappointed :)

When all plates are empty, and we were sipping the last of our iced tea, there wasn't much left to say. The smiles on our faces said it well enough.

We'll be back again soon- sooner than we know!

Forever 6108!

Thornlie Square; no ordinary shopping complex!

Today I'm looking into the history and development of the local shops, Thornlie Square.

Original Signage, 1970s

To us modern day Thornlie folk, its just another place to grab your milk and bread with a few novelty stores. Its an easy place ot grab some take away or pop into the IGA which is open until 11pm. There is a gym and a TAB not far away, a bottle shop, a newsagent, a patisserie and a chemist. Coles and IGA have all the grocery essentials and you can easily get a haircut or do your washing at the laundromat.

Frontage in the late 1990s-Early 2000s

I was very lucky to find some photos from 1972 on the State Library of WA's trove heritage database. The photos are retrieved from a brochure designed to advertise the new mall, which according to the City Of Gosnells 'History Of Suburb Names' document was the first air conditioned mall in the state!  

Back in the early 1970s, it was a new shopping development opened before Garden City. Women were excited about the prospects of fashion and textiles available in the suburbs.

Boutique Flair, 1972

With the Crestwood estate being at the forefront of contemporary resident friendly estate design in the 1970's, the two went hand in hand to give Thornlie a suave feeling of opulence. 

Childrens amusement ride 1970s

While the IGA and Coles have come a long way to modernise the shopping experience, there is still a small bakery, Goreys Butchers, the fruit and vegetable shop as well as asian grocers selling a huge range of imported groceries. This is a huge indication on the changing demographic of Thornlie and the multicultural suburb that it has become.

Grocery store(s) 1970s

There Thornlie Square is still very much a family friendly shopping complex with 'The Nearest Cafe', a skate park nearby and small stalls that pop up in the halls selling novelty items and crafts. Occasionally local artitsts and fundraisers will hold a stall for specified causes and it creates an atmosphere where you stop and browse rather than dash in for the shopping.

Thornlie Square 2010's

When you next pop down to pick up that pizza or a late night grocery run, spare a thought for the 40 year history of the "local shops" - seems they've been "the local" for the generations before us!

Forever 6108!

State Library of WA

http://innopac.slwa.wa.gov.au/record=b2418538#

City of Gosnells
www.gosnells.wa.gov.au/

Heritage listed Olea Eurpoaea at Thornlie Community Centre

Today I visited the stunning heritage listed olea europaea located in front of the Community Centre at Homestead Park, Thornlie. There are 4 large trees which rain black olives over the ground and dominate the roadside afront the centre.

As the sun was setting, the ducks fed on the grass growth beneath the largest tree which stands alongside the entrance to the community centre car park.

The sun was glorious shining through the trees as it set, making beautiful photographic opportunities.

The trees were planted by Thomas Bannister in 1837 and plaques are mounted on the trees to celebrate this fact. Thomas Bannister was a pioneer and original settler of the area, with the Bannister family owning 'Canning Location 17' which is now part of the suburb of Thornlie.

The olives are native to the north of Iran and north of Iraq, south of the Caspian sea and are known to only grow to 8-15m in height. One look at the trees which are now an amazing 176 years old and it is clear that these trees represent the larger end of the scale.

With the community centre in the background, it is amazing to think of the changes to the surrounds that these trees have seen in their lifetime. The development of the suburb and the spectacular homes that line Glenbrook Road facing the river.

Accompanied by an interested and enthusiastic friend, we crushed the olives in our fingers to find the rich purple colours of the fruits. We tasted the olives which were bitter and tart - a silly assumption that they may taste like a store bought olive! Obviously they require processing in brine to determine them "table ready"!

Forever 6108!

History and Heritage Advisory Group Meeting February 2013
http://www.gosnells.wa.gov.au/files/e9c53136-7fdd-47b6-aa20-a16c009d7b21/Copy_of_Appendix_13_2_2A_26_February_2013.pdf?streamFile=true

Olea Europaea Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive