Subiaco (known colloquially as Subi) is an inner western suburb of Perth, Western Australia, north-west of Kings Park within the boundaries of the City of Subiaco.
Subiaco (known colloquially as Subi) is an inner western suburb of Perth, Western Australia, north-west of Kings Park within the boundaries of the City of Subiaco. Historically a working class suburb containing a mixture of industrial and commercial land uses, since the 1990s the area has been one of Australia’s most celebrated urban redevelopment projects. It remains a predominantly low-rise, urban village neighbourhood centred around Subiaco train station and Rokeby Road.
History
Prior to European settlement the area was home to the Noongar people.The area was settled in 1851 by Italian Benedictine monks. The monks named the area after Subiaco in Italy, the location where Benedict of Nursia, the founder of the Order of Saint Benedict, had begun his work.The area developed rapidly in the late nineteenth century following the construction of the Fremantle to Guildford railway line in 1881. Industrial uses were established around the station with housing developed to the south with the area becoming a vibrant commercial hub by the 1930s (this area is now referred to as "Old Subiaco"). However, this industrial employment base went into decline from the 1960s with many of the suburb's historical buildings becoming derelict.
In 1997 the railway line through Subiaco was lowered, with a new station completed in 1998. This opened up 80 hectares of land for the Subiaco Central redevelopment project administered by the Subiaco Redevelopment Authority.
Weather
Things to do
Landmarks of suburb include Subiaco Oval, Mueller Park, the Regal Theatre, the Subiaco Hotel, the Victorian terraces on Catherine Street and the Subiaco Arts Centre.
The main street of Subiaco is Rokeby Road, which was named after General Henry Montagu, 6th Baron Rokeby, who was commander of the 1st Infantry Division during the Crimean War. Another important commercial road is Hay Street.
Residential areas include Subi Centro, a modern housing development with the sunken Subiaco railway station on reclaimed industrial land near Wembley, and older heritage properties towards Shenton Park.
Major hospital facilities include St John of God Subiaco Hospital and King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women.
School facilities include Subiaco Primary School, Bob Hawke College, and Perth Modern School, the only academically selective school in Western Australia.
On the corner of Rokeby and Hamersley Roads is a clock tower war memorial, built in 1923 to commemorate soldiers from the district who died in World War I. The names of those who died in later conflicts have also been added.