Churchlands history: church land beside Herdsman Lake

Churchlands has an old name and a young suburb. The name goes back to 1891, but the City of Stirling records that little housing was built there until the 1980s.

How Churchlands got its name

The Catholic Church, through Bishop Matthew Gibney, bought the land in 1891, and the name Churchlands followed.

Before the suburb

The City of Stirling acknowledges the Wadjak people of the Nyoongar Nation. Herdsman Lake, beside the suburb, is recorded as Ngurgenboro and was used as a food source and a meeting place.

How it grew

Land in the area was granted to Henry Trigg in 1831 and the Hokin family in 1834. Herdsman Lake, first called the Great Lake, carried its current name by 1836. In the 1930s the area was used for grazing and market gardens, and a plan to turn the lake into an airport was dropped in 1936.

Herdsman Lake was declared a regional park in 1997. Churchlands’ housing came mostly from the 1980s, with the north-east part now known as Floreat Lakes.

Places that tell the story

The Herdsman Lake settlers cottage, Gava Cottage, on Pearson Street dates from about 1930 and is on the State Register. Its address is now in the neighbouring Herdsman locality.

Herdsman Lake Regional Park, with its wetlands and walking paths, borders the suburb.

Churchlands today

Churchlands is a newer suburb of mainly 1980s and later houses beside Herdsman Lake.

More about Churchlands

For what Churchlands is like to live in now, read our Churchlands suburb profile. If you own a property in Churchlands and are thinking about selling, start with buyers for your property.

Sources

• City of Stirling: Churchlands
• DBCA LANDSCOPE: Herdsman Lake
• inHerit: Herdsman Lake settlers cottage

Dates and names are drawn from the sources above. Where sources differ, we have said so or given an approximate date.

By Key Performance Real Estate, 338 Beaufort Street, Perth