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History of metropolitan suburb names - G


The following information is a summary of origins for suburb names within the Perth metropolitan area. Please select the first letter of the suburb you wish to see:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

GIDGEGANNUP

The rural suburb of Gidgegannup derives its name from Gidgegannup Spring, which was first recorded by surveyors passing through the area in 1852. Gidgegannup is an Aboriginal word meaning 'place where spears are made'. "Gidgie' is the word for spear.


GIRRAWHEEN

Development of this predominantly public housing suburb commenced in 1970. "Girrawheen" is an eastern states Aboriginal word meaning "place of flowers".


GLENDALOUGH

The suburb of "Glendalough" was originally granted to Thomas Helms in 1837. In March 1898, the northern portion was transferred to a "Clerk in Holy Orders", Daniel O'Ryan, who gave his address as "Glendalough, Leederville". It appears that this area had earlier been designated as the parish of Glendalough by the Roman Catholic Church. Glendalough in Ireland is a famous Catholic centre in the County of Wicklow. A hermitage was established there in the 7th century by Saint Kevin. The name means "valley of the two lakes" and it is significant that Glendalough in Western Australia is situated between Lake Monger and Herdsman Lake.


GLEN FORREST

The hills suburb of Glen Forrest was first settled as a timber milling centre as early as 1877. In 1902 the Government declared a Townsite here and named in Amherst. It was renamed Smith's Mill the next year, and in 1915 changed to Glen Forrest. The name was the suggestion of a local resident, and combines "Glen" from the nature of the topography and "Forrest" from John Forrest, the first Premier of Western Australia.


GNANGARA

Gnangara is a rural suburb in the City of Wanneroo. It was approved in 1980 and derives its name from the lake located there, Lake Gnangara. Gnangara is an Aboriginal word, the meaning of which is not known, although possibly meaning "spring" (water flows into the lake from the NW corner).


GOLDEN BAY

Previously named Peelhurst, Golden Bay was approved as a suburb name in 1985. It is a developers promotional name, derived from the golden sands of the beach there.


GOOSEBERRY HILL

This suburb takes its name from the hill of this name, recorded by Surveyor Ranford in 1878. It is believed to be derived from the fact that Cape Gooseberries thrived in the area and had been used as early as 1861.


GOSNELLS

Development of the district of Gosnells dates back to 1829 when the rich soils and abundant waters of the Canning River attracted early settlers. One of the early pioneers was John Okey Davis who arrived in WA with his wife and seven children on the ship "Lotus" in 1829. Davis' land was eventually sold to Charles Gosnell in 1862. Gosnells was a director of a famous London firm of John Gosnell and Co., perfumery manufacturers, and it was from this association that the name of the area originated.


GREENFIELDS

This suburb is named after "Greenfields Estate", a promotional developers name used for the area in 1980. It was previously known as Goegrup, East Mandurah and Riverside Gardens.


GREENMOUNT

Named after Greenmount Hill, a point on the road to York referred to in colonial documents as early as 1831. The name is descriptive.


GREENWOOD

Name derived from the promotional estate name Greenwood Forest used by the Gold Land Development Corporation who began development of this area in 1969.


GUILDFORD

The history of the suburb of Guildford had its beginnings in 1827 when Captain James Stirling was despatched by Governor Darling of New South Wales to explore part of the West Coast of Australia. Whilst exploring the Swan River, Stirling was favourably impressed by the fertile alluvial flats around the area now known as Guildford, and replenished his water supplies from Success Spring at Success Hill on the west bank of the Swan River at Bassendean. The junction of the Swan and Helena Rivers was also chosen as the site for a town, and the first surveys were carried out in the Town of Guildford by H.C. Sutherland in late 1829. The name was chosen after the town of Guildford, in Surrey, England. It was probably the choice of Ellen Stirling, as she came from "Woodbridge" in Surrey.


GWELUP

The suburb of Gwelup takes its name from a small swampy lake located in the southern portion of the suburb. The feature is recorded in Lands Department records in 1878 as Gwelup Swamp and in recent years as the surrounds have been cleared and filled, it has been recorded as a lake. The Aboriginal meaning of the name has been derived from "Gwelgannow" which means to "shift the position" and "step aside" and would therefore probably be "the lake that shifted position".

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