Gosnells: River Landscapes and History

Gosnells can be explored for trip planning through three distinct themes: the river landscape at Astley Street River Foreshore, the linear Centennial Pioneer Park near the town centre, and the history surrounding Wilkinson Homestead. You can choose based on whether you would like to enjoy a walk, discover natural features or learn about the district’s development.

River Landscape at Astley Street River Foreshore

Astley Street River Foreshore is a scenic place for walking or relaxing. The area includes floodplain woodland. In addition, more than 20,000 native trees, shrubs and sedges have been planted there. This figure refers to these plant groups collectively, not to trees alone. Alongside its use as a place for walking and relaxing, the area has a clear nature theme: river floodplains and extensive planting of native vegetation. If you would like to plan your stay around scenic experiences, these features offer a concrete point of reference.

Park and River Design

Centennial Pioneer Park is a linear park near the centre of Gosnells. It is located behind the Gosnells Knowledge Centre and the Addie Mills Centre. These landmarks help you place the park within the town centre; the description “linear park” also refers to its elongated shape. As part of a river restoration project, log and rock riffles were installed in the riverbed to oxygenate the water.

The nature themes of the two places differ: Astley Street River Foreshore features floodplain woodland and native planting, while Centennial Pioneer Park focuses on changes to the riverbed and their purpose of oxygenating the water. This lets you consider vegetation and waterway design as two distinct areas of interest.

Wilkinson Homestead and the District’s History

Wilkinson Homestead is historically significant because it represents the development of the Gosnells district from the turn of the 20th century onwards, both as a residential area and as a major citrus-growing region. This brings two aspects together: the development of housing and the importance of citrus growing. If you would like to understand Gosnells not only through its green spaces but also through the history of the district, this offers a distinct area of interest.

At the Gosnells site associated with Wilkinson Homestead, a very old jarrah tree is a striking feature of the park; it is estimated to be 500 years old. The tree therefore represents a different timescale from the district’s development from the turn of the 20th century onwards. Together, the homestead and the tree offer two distinct points of connection: the history of a region and a single, very old natural feature.

Educational Program for Groups

The City of Gosnells Museum at Wilkinson Homestead offers a hands-on educational program for school and homeschool groups. If you are considering the program for such a group, check the program details in advance, as they may change.

Discover more destinations: Henley Brook, Mahogany Creek, Wooroloo, Midland, Rockingham City, Millendon, Secret Harbour, The Vines

For the main travel guide: Perth.