Crawley, Western Australia

Crawley Perth, Western Australia
Crawley
Coordinates	31°59′10″S 115°49′19″E / 31.986°S 115.822°ECoordinates: 31°59′10″S 115°49′19″E / 31.986°S 115.822°E
Population	3,108 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s)	6009
Location	5 km (3 mi) SW of Perth CBD
LGA(s)	City of Subiaco City of Perth
State electorate(s)	Nedlands
Federal Division(s)	Curtin
Suburbs around Crawley: Nedlands Kings Park Perth Nedlands Crawley Matilda Bay Nedlands Swan River

Crawley Edge Boatshed

Crawley is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Subiaco and City of Perth. The earlier name of the locality was Crawley Park.^[2]

It is home to the University of Western Australia, the state's oldest university.

River-side features

The Crawley Edge Boatshed is a well-recognised and frequently photographed site in Crawley.^[3] It is thought to have been originally constructed in the early 1930s. It has changed hands several times, and after being refurbished in the early 2000s, it was re-launched by triple solo-circumnavigator of the world, Jon Sanders, and single solo-circumnavigator David Dicks.

A statue called Eliza is also located in Matilda Bay in the Swan River, in Crawley. Created by Tony and Ben Jones, the statue was unveiled on 15 October 2007, to commemorate Crawley Baths, Perth's prime competition and recreational swimming venue from 1914-1964. Eliza is often dressed up in clothing to represent special occasions.^[4]

The Royal Perth Yacht Club re-established on the shore of Pelican Point also in Crawley, after moving from its location in Perth, in 1953.

World War flying boat base

The Swan River at Crawley was utilised before the war as a flying boat landing location ^[5]

During World War II, the bay in the Swan River at Crawley was the location of a flying boat base, for Patrol Wing 10 ^[6] which had to leave Surabaya in Java.^[7] The base was also known as Pelican Point due to the feature in the river being the defining and identifiable location from the air, at the end of the bay.

After the war and decommissioned as a base ^[8] a move to re-develop and expand the base was opposed ^[9]

It was also the start point for The Double Sunrise squadron which was formed in 1943 to keep the air route between Australia and the United Kingdom open.^[10]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "State Suburbs: Crawley". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
2. Brain, Alison V.(2001) Crawley Park and its occupants, 1829-1910. Early days, Vol.12, pt.1 (2001), p.39-46
3. for example http://henrietta.liswa.wa.gov.au/record=b2545015~S2 and http://henrietta.liswa.wa.gov.au/record=b2546795~S2. Re ownership see: - (2000) Who owns this shed? -Boatshed off Mounts Bay Road badly vandalised and needs repair. Subiaco post, 6 May 2000, p.20, http://henrietta.liswa.wa.gov.au/record=b1948481~S2 - then - (2002) Historic boat shed back in Nattrass hands.Historic Mounts Bay Road boatshed bought by the Nattrass family.Subiaco post, 2 Nov. 2002, p.64 http://henrietta.liswa.wa.gov.au/record=b2110979~S2
4. Eliza on flickr
5. "FLYING BOAT ARRIVES AT CRAWLEY". Sunday Times (Perth) (1982). Western Australia. 19 January 1936. p. 1. Retrieved 15 July 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
6. http://www.dutcheastindies.webs.com/patrol_wing10.html
7. "FAREWELL TO "PATWING TEN"". The West Australian. 60, (18,208). Western Australia. 17 November 1944. p. 2. Retrieved 15 July 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
8. "ONCE A FLYING-BOAT BASE". The West Australian. 63, (19,072). Western Australia. 30 August 1947. p. 13. Retrieved 15 July 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
9. "AIR BASE.". The West Australian. 62, (18,648). Western Australia. 20 April 1946. p. 13. Retrieved 15 July 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
10. Catanzaro, Joseph (28 December 2010). "Herois squadron loses last pilot". The West Australian. Retrieved 28 December 2010.

Further reading

• Williams, A. E. (1984) Nedlands : from campsite to city, Nedlands, W.A : City of Nedlands. ISBN 0-9590898-0-2