Floreat, Western Australia

Floreat Perth, Western Australia
File:Birds perry lakes wa.jpg Rainbow lorikeets at Perry Lakes
Floreat
Coordinates
Population	7,230 (2011 census)
• Density	1,643/km2 (4,260/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	6014
Area	4.4 km2 (1.7 sq mi)
Location	8 km (5 mi) WNW of Perth CBD
LGA(s)	Town of Cambridge
State electorate(s)	Cottesloe, Churchlands
Federal Division(s)	Curtin
Suburbs around Floreat: City Beach Wembley Downs Churchlands City Beach Floreat Wembley Mount Claremont Shenton Park Jolimont

Floreat is a residential suburb 8 kilometres (5 mi) west-northwest of the central business district of Perth, the capital of Western Australia. It is bordered on Underwood Avenue, Selby Street, Cromarty Road and Durston Road. It is the head of the Town of Cambridge, which has its municipal offices and library in the suburb. The name of the suburb stems from the Latin word for 'flourish' or 'prosper', which is also the motto of the City of Perth, which Floreat was a part of when it was first built.

Sculpture to commemorate the 1979 Jamboree at Perry Lakes and 75 years of Scouts

Demographics

Floreat had a population of 7,230 at the 2011 census, an increase of 205 from the 2006 census, and 277 from the 2001 census.

Amenities and facilities

The Floreat Forum shopping centre is located in the suburb. The varied shops include Bakers Delight, EB games, Betts, Coles, Woolworths, Sussan, Allphones and multiple cafes such as Delish. It sits adjacent to the Town of Cambridge municipal offices and library. The suburb also sits adjacent to the popular Cambridge Street dining and commercial strip in neighbouring Wembley.

Floreat contains a range of sporting facilities, most notably Perry Lakes Stadium, the peak athletics venue in Perth. It was built as the centrepiece of the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, but subsequently fell into disrepair, and is in the process of being decommissioned and redeveloped. The replacement stadium, Western Australian Athletics Stadium, opened in May 2009, with Perry Lakes due to be permanently closed soon after. The suburb also contains the headquarters of Rugby WA, Floreat Oval, and the Bold Park Aquatic Centre, with further facilities for tennis, lawn bowls and basketball.

The suburb also contains the Perry Lakes Reserve, and lies adjacent to Bold Park and the Wembley Golf Complex.

Education

Floreat contains a public primary school, a lower primary campus of a Catholic school, and a private training institution. It was previously in the catchment area for the now-closed City Beach High School; high school students now attend Churchlands Senior High School if they live north of Cambridge Street, or Shenton College if they live on the south side.

Floreat Park Primary School, opened in 1951, is the only public school within the suburb's boundaries, and caters for students from kindergarten to Year 6.

The Floreat campus of Newman College, a multi-campus Catholic K-12 school, is located on Peebles Road, and caters for students from kindergarten to Year 3, after which students must shift to the school's senior campuses in nearby Churchlands. The site was formerly occupied from 1962 to 1983 by Brigidine College, a Catholic girls' school, which had shifted from a prior campus in Subiaco. The current campus was formed after a merger between Brigidine College and two other local Catholic schools, Marist College and Siena College, taking effect from 1984.

The Perth campus of the Australian Institute of Management is also located within the suburb. The institute provides training and qualifications in management skills; the Perth campus opened in 1987, and is situated on Birkdale Street.

Politics

Floreat is located in the federal electorate of Division of Curtin, currently held by Liberal MP and current Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. The suburb is split between the state electorates of Churchlands, held by Sean L'Estrange, and Nedlands, held by Liberal Bill Marmion.

The suburb has favoured conservative candidates throughout its history, generally those of the centre-right Liberal Party.