Alkimos is a coastal suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located 42 kilometres northwest of the Perth CBD. Select MORE for information on the suburb, its neighbourhood and history.
Welcome to Alkimos
For the most part, the Alkimos is covered in native banksia woodland, scrubland and heath typical of the Swan Coastal Plain. The area is part of the Alkimos-Eglinton region being considered by the State Government for a future city centre and urban region. On 5 November 2008, the WA State Government announced it was actively seeking a development partner for the project.
Inside my neighbourhood
Alkimos is part of the City of Wanneroo local government area and sits within the City’s Established Coastal Place Management Area.
More than 10,000 people currently live in Alkimos. The future development of the train line into Alkimos and through to Yanchep is expected to fuel further growth in the region with population estimated to increase to 30,000 people in the next 20 years.
Origin of name and history
This suburb within the City of Wanneroo is named after the Greek freighter 'Alkimos' which ran aground on the coast adjacent to the suburb.
The 7,033 ton freighter originally came aground south of Geraldton on the 19 March 1963. It was re-floated making its way to Fremantle, towed by the tug 'Pacific Star', which was engaged to take the vessel to Hong Kong for scrap.
On 31 May 1963, just after the journey began, bad weather caused the tow cable to snap and the vessel ran aground near Yanchep. Several attempts were made to re-float her, but all were unsuccessful. The final attempt left her aground in her current resting place and the hulk was sold for scrap. The salvage of the vessel was only partially successful and remnants of the ship remained on the Eglinton Rocks.
The wreck was closely associated with the locality and the name was subsequently approved for the suburb on 26 May 1967.
When foundering off the coast, the wreck gained a reputation for paranormal activity and many stories have circulated relating to the sightings of ghosts at the wreck site. The Wanneroo Regional Museum has on display the ship’s log book and several artefacts from the Alkimos.
(Historic information courtesy of Wanneroo Community History Centre)
Details
Area : 13 km2 (5.0 sq mi)
Elevation:
Population: 10,000 (2021 estimate from 2016 Census)
Local Government Area: City of Wanneroo
Phone: 08 9405 5000
Email: enquiries@wanneroo.wa.gov.au