Rockingham

Article by: Jay
Last updated: Tuesday, 11-Jul-2006 00:00:00 CEST

Rockingham is a holiday resort city of some 79,000 residents, located 47km south of Perth. It forms the southernmost border of the Perth metropolitan area. Rockingham was one of the earliest settlements in W.A, and is closely associated with Captain Stirling's first landing on Garden Island in 1827 and the early years of the Swan River Settlement. It was surveyed in 1847, and was a thriving town in 1897 when Rockingham split from the Fremantle Roads Board and became a town in its own right.

Most Recent Pages

The City of Rockingham is located 47 kilometres south/west of Perth. It has an estimated resident population in the City of 79,000. The number of electors is 46,368 and the number of dwellings is 28,231. The area of the City is 261 square kilometres. The total length of sealed roads is 707 kilometres and the total length of unsealed roads is 22 kilometres.

Suburbs & Localities include Baldivis; Cooloongup; East Rockingham; Golden Bay; Hillman; Karnup; Peron; Port Kennedy; Rockingham; Safety Bay; Secret Harbour; Shoalwater; Singleton; Waikiki; Warnbro.

Tourist Attractions
Penguin Island; Shoalwater Islands; Museum; WA Water Ski Park; Marapana Deer & Wildlife Park; Peel Estate Winery; Baldivis Estate Winery; Rockingham City Shopping Centre; Pt Peron Lookout; Churchill Park; Bell Park; Numerous Beaches; PCYC's Skatepark; Art Gallery; Community Theatre; Restaurants; Salt Lakes, Naragebup Environment Centre; Aquatic Centre; Archery Park; Golden Ponds Fishing; Swim with the Dolphins; Surfing.

Local Industries
Nickel refinery; light industry; crayfishing; fishing; farming; tourism; forestry; market gardening; boat building; structural engineering; horticulture; ceramics; viticulture; grain silos; building service industries; building' and construction; entertainment and leisure; retail and commerce.

Rockingham and its Attributes

Only a 45 minute drive south from Perth, Rockingham is a popular destination for day trippers and holiday makers alike.

The safe, sandy beaches and sheltered waters of Cockburn and Warnbro Sounds are ideal for aquatic activities.such as swimming, diving, sailing, boating, windsurfing and fishing.

The many beautiful offshore islands are added attractions, with their sculpted limestone rocks, little coves and reef areas for diving and snorkelling.

Not all the attractions in Rockingham involve the seacoast. Others include horse riding, tenpin bowling, swimming pool, shopping (especially at weekends in holiday periods), cinemas and the many restaurants. In the nearby area are two wineries, a wildlife park and a water ski park.

There are also many picnic places and barbecue facilities along the foreshore, including Bell and Churchill Parks, which have expansive lawns and shady trees.

History inclined visitors will enjoy following the Heritage Trails and browsing in the Rockingham Museum which has interesting displays about the early days. The self drive and bicycle tour Rockingham also visits many places of historical and present day interest.

In our early days, Rockingham was a busy port for the timber industry, shipping Jarrah and Sandalwood overseas.

During World War II, troops were stationed along our coast, and Garden Island was used by the army, navy and "Z" force. Garden Island has now become the HMAS Stirling, Australia's largest Fleet Base, capable of supporting half the fleet.

Rockingham is a popular tourist destination with its beautiful expanses of safe beaches, water sports, and environmental parks. The city fronts onto the sheltered waters of Cockburn Sound - Garden Island, Penguin Island and Seal Island are very close by. Rockingham is known as "Your Aquatic Playground", and a whole host of water related activities are available in a relaxed holiday atmosphere with fun and excitement for everyone.

Rockingham offers many memorable experiences.

Go swimming with wild dolphins when you take a tour out to the dolphin pods offshore, relax in the clear, sheltered water of Cockburn Sound or head to nearby Point Peron for some scuba diving.

Take the ferry out to nearby Penguin Island to see the gorgeous fairy penguins close up; then visit the interpretive centre to gain an understanding of the diminutive birds.

Rockingham's slogan is 'Your Aquatic Playground', and it certainly lives up to this claim. Go snorkeling, sailing, or surfing at the beautiful beaches, or try the jetties for fishing and crabbing. Rockingham has a number of beaches safe for children.

Rockingham is closely linked to the first settlement of Western Australia, when Captain James Stirling brought the first settlers to Garden Island, just near Rockingham, in 1829.

Today Garden Island is home to the West Australian Naval Support facility known as HMAS Stirling. From 1872 to 1903 Rockingham was a major exporter of jarrah timber to many parts of the world.

Today Rockingham has ample shops for shopping enthusiasts, plenty of restaurants, cafes and pubs, and a selection of accommodation from resorts to caravan parks.