Gosnells Council

The City of Gosnells is a local government area situated in the southeastern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia, located approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles) southeast of Perth’s central business district and northwest of Armadale. Encompassing an area of 128 square kilometers (49.42 square miles), the City includes a portion of state forest extending into the Darling Scarp to the east. As of the 2016 Census, it had a population of around 118,000 residents. The primary activity center within the City is the Central Maddington shopping center, with additional district centers in Gosnells town center and Thornlie.

The name “Gosnells” traces its origins back to 1862 when Charles Gosnell, owner of the London cosmetic company John Gosnell & Co., purchased Canning location 16 from the Davis family, who were the original grantees in 1829. Although Gosnell’s purchase was a personal investment, when developers bought the land in 1903, they capitalized on the association with the well-known cosmetic company. They claimed they chose the area for its fertile soil, ideal for cultivating flowers used in perfume production, particularly the Arum Lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) abundant in the region. This marketing strategy contributed to the myth surrounding the Gosnell company’s success, leading to the construction of Gosnells railway station on the Armadale line in 1903.

The Gosnells Road District was established on July 1, 1907, following the dissolution of the Canning Road District. Early industries such as brickworks were introduced to Beckenham in the early 1900s. A setback occurred between 1912 and 1915 when a fruit fly epidemic devastated the stone fruit crops, prompting many farmers to switch to dairying and market gardening. The sandy, infertile soils of Canning Vale necessitated irrigation for agriculture. In 1923, the City acquired additional land from the abolished Jandakot Road District. However, significant development did not occur until the post-war years, with the population growing from 7,400 in 1954 to about 11,000 in 1966, and reaching 21,000 by 1970.

On July 1, 1961, the Gosnells Road District became the Shire of Gosnells under the Local Government Act 1960. It attained town status on July 1, 1973, as the Town of Gosnells and later achieved city status on July 1, 1977, assuming its current name.

A substantial industrial estate was established in Maddington during the 1970s, expanding over subsequent decades. Commercial and industrial development has also progressed along Albany Highway between Beckenham and Gosnells in a linear pattern.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Gosnells