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!

Hester Park

Today I wanted to blog on an often misunderstood area of Thornlie (or perhaps Langford) - that is, our Hester Park!

Cornering Spencer and Nicholson road, just down from the Nicholson Rd Bridge, it is a spacious and open park that consists of two large ovals, a river (yes a river!) and some lovely bushland.

I often walk our dog down here as it is quiet and secluded...which often attracts unsavoury behaviour. But this I believe is just a consequence of the neglect and lack of local governments interest and investment in the park, a view shared by Bill Johnston in early 2013.
Hester Park; A Site of Neglect

When visit here, I am overwhelmed by the beauty and tranquility of the place, despite its excessive litter and dry landscape. The river is just beautiful, and the fresh air and trees are refreshing and aesthetic.

Contrasting with this is the lack of facilities (public toilets for one), the carpark riddled with potholes and just the sense of derelict decay.

As Thornlie folk, we must treasure this area and appreciate its assets. Should it be developed into housing, we would lose a special and historical area that holds so much value to wildlife and dog walkers alike.

I'd like us all to make the time to use and value this asset, for even in its current state, the sun still shines on this beautiful place. 

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/

Thornlie Real Estate; Whats the deal?

A quick look at reiwa.com.au or domain.com.au and you will notice that the housing prices in Thornlie aren’t as cheap as they used to be. Only 12 months ago my husband and I were looking to buy in the area and there were many offerings in the cheaper pricing range (under $400k) than there are today.

After buying our home, we found that many of our neighbors were long term Thornlie dwellers and we were so pleased with the presentation of houses in our area. This got me thinking – what is it about Thornlie that has so many people setting themselves up here for life?

I spoke to local real estate agent Nathan Frisina who has been selling homes in Thornlie and the surrounding suburbs for the past 10 years. I asked him why it is exactly that people are interested in buying in the area and why they seem to stay so long.

"Thornlie is an affordable suburb with good infrastructure, shops and parks and is only 18km from the city. It is one of Perth’s largest suburbs and offers a variety of homes from $330,000 - $700,000."

When I asked about the increase in home values, Nathan explained
"Properties in the Thornlie area have increased quite dramatically in the past 12 months. The main reason for the increase in house prices in is that first home buyers have flooded back into the market.

With high rental prices and low interest rates this has encouraged first time buyers to enter the market. The population growth in WA in the past couple of years is also starting to have a positive effect on

house prices."

This is great news for home owners in the area to know that our suburb is recognized for the value it offers. Thornlie is only 20 minutes from the City of Perth with easy access to Roe Hwy, has its own train station and loads of parks and river reserves for recreation.

I went out to photograph the following streetscapes to illustrate the different appearances in the estates. I found many homes were well presented and each estate had its own style. 

Range View Way, Thornlie. Homes here are circa 1950-1960. One of the first residential streets in the Thornlie Area.

Towncentre Drive, Forrest Lakes Estate Thornlie, established in the 1990s and still growing. There is a new development area with house and land packages being built....now!

The gorgeous private Crestwood Estate, Thornlie which was established in the 1970s. All homes back onto parklands that are maintained and managed by the estate. There is also a community pool and centre for use of residents.

Discovery Drive, Castle Glen Estate, Thornlie which was established in the 1980s.

Nathan had the following advice for people looking to buy into the area soon.

"With properties selling so quickly in the area I would recommend contacting some local agents and ask to be put on their mailing lists for newly listed properties as many homes are selling before hitting the internet."

We certainly feel lucky to have bought when we did, and while we have no intention of selling any time soon, it is encouraging to know that the area is valued for the diversity and services it offers. What cannot be captured in pictures is the lush greenery and the charm of the homes, each offering a different flavour of lifestyle. It honours the progression of the suburb and is almost a living history of the area. How lucky we are to live in such a special place!

Forever 6108!

Thornlie Homestead Revisited ; Part 2

This week it was absolutely necessary to have a midweek blog on the new information I have found on the original Thornlie Homestead, the ruins of which are located in the Homestead Park on Glenbrook Road.

Digging a little deeper, I visited the Thornlie Library this evening to check out the "Thornlie Living History" collection. There are a range of A4 binded paper books with photocopied records of various historical topics relating to the history of Thornlie. They also have a range of "Oral History Interviews" which I did not get a chance to dig through on this visit, but will certainly be visiting again soon.

To bring some dimension to the photos from my Thornlie Homestead post, I managed to photocopy some images of the Thornlie Homestead from circa 1925. And what a magnificent homestead it was!

Pay close attention to the large trees to the right of the homestead in the following picture, and you will see the very same Olive Trees planted in 1837 and photographed in the June 16 blog.

http://thethornlieblog.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/heritage-listed-olea-eurpoaea-at.html

 At the time of this photograph, the Olea Europaea would have been over 80 years in the ground and well established trees.

Captain Thomas Bannister, the same Thomas Bannister who was credited with the plantation of the Glenbrook Rd Olive Trees, was the original owner of "Canning Location 17", and is believed to have been granted the land as an early settler.

There are comments throughout the documents which indicate the homestead had underground water tanks, chambers for the keeping of convicts who helped to shape the land and numerous outhouses that were built between the 1830s and 1920s. There is mention of chinese labourers clearing the land and various experimental farming ventures that were trialled on the river banks.

Below you will see a map from circa 1900s with the Lot numbers and occupiers of the land. 

Standing in the park today, it is difficult to imagine the building that was established there over 170 years ago. With a little more digging, here's hoping it wont be so difficult to imagine afterall!

Forever 6108!


Know Your Suburb Thornlie Leaflet
Yvonne henderson MLA Member for Thornlie
Sourced from Thornlie Living History Collection June 2013

Photographs of The Thornlie Homestead Circa 1925

Sourced from Thornlie Living History Collection June 2013

Thornlie Development Document

Hon G.P. Wild M.L.A; Minister for Water Supplies

DD 4th April 1963

Sourced from Thornlie Living History Collection June 2013

Thornlie Homestead

After intending to visit for many weeks now, I finally made it down to the Thornlie Homestead site :)

Located in Homestead Park to the left of the community centre on Glenbrook Rd, it is quite literally a line or two of foundation brick poking out of the grass like a row of teeth.

Its so inconspicuous and understated that I suspect many walk straight past it without any realisation as to it's significance. 

I met a man and his son at the park who were collecting rubbish. I asked him if he worked with the community centre, and he explained that he was simply a local resident who spent some time cleaning up the park on the weekend. How remarkable! I was so impressed by this- how generous a local resident was with his time.

He kindly pointed me in the direction of the Thornlie Homestead remnants, of which I have taken photographs to illustrate.

As you can see- there really isn't much left at all! Interestingly, it is suspected that the site may have archaeological value as much of the original building and farming equipment was pushed into the cellars and the flooring when the building was destroyed by fire in the 1970s. If this is true- then much of the history remains buried in this very location! How magical to think about what may lay below.

 When researching online, I found a listing with the State Heritage Office, however there is also a book published in 1975 called 'Thornlie Homestead' by Madge and Ernie Lankester which will make for some interesting reading.

What I have been able to find out, is that the area by the Canning River (now known as Homestead Park) was owned by Walter Padbury, one of the founding members of Thornlie. The homestead was built in the 1880s and originally inhabited by Frank and Amy James. The name "Thornlie" originated from a business house in India Madras which was run by the grandfather of the original inhabitant Frank James.

My favourite photograph of the day however is the next one, which shows the view of the river from the vantage point that would once have been the homestead frontage.

With a little imagination, you can envision standing beside the homestead with the glorious views of the river and the gum trees over 130 years ago.

Forever 6108!

State Heritage Office ; Retrieved from http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/5c1eb1c6-cc93-41aa-b81b-336efa12f3d2

Thornlie Homestead;Retrieved from http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/157835690?versionId=172057523