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History of metropolitan suburb names - R


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

REDCLIFFE

This suburb name originates from the early days of the Colony when Captain Mark John Currie set to work developing his grant of 2,560 acres on the Swan River in the vicinity of current day Redcliffe. In early 1831, Currie constructed a brick homestead on the property near where Water Street is now situated and called it "Redcliff". In official records dated 1846, the name of the property is spelt "Redcliffe" and it appears this spelling was the usually adopted one from the early 1840's onwards. The area was subdivided in 1897.


RED HILL

Red Hill is a descriptive name derived from the colour of the earth in the area.


RIDGEWOOD

Ridgewood is a descriptive name, relating to a wooded ridge on the Swan coastal plain. Approved in 1998.


RIVERTON

This suburb derives its name from its location on the banks of the canning River. The area was subdivided in 1914, and Riverton was referred to locally as Riverton Bridge in 1937 to avoid confusion with the South Australian suburb of Riverton. This name was never formally approved and officially the suburb has always been Riverton.


RIVERVALE

Rivervale was known as "Barndon Hill" prior to 1884. Barndon Hill was named after Richard Barndon who opened an inn called the "Brewers Arms" on the south road to Guildford in October 1843. Barndon was associated with Henry Camfield who held land in this vicinity. Rivervale was first used as the name of a railway station on the Perth Armadale line, and was later adopted as the name of the suburb. It is a descriptive name derived from its location on the Swan River..


ROCKINGHAM

Rockingham is named after the ship "Rockingham" which ran aground on the beach which fronts the suburb in 1830. The ship was the last of three ships to bring Thomas Peel's settlers to the new colony, and although initially salvaged, was eventually sunk in Cockburn Sound. The site of Rockingham was identified by J S Roe, Surveyor General, in 1846, and a townsite was surveyed here by Alfred Hillman in 1847


ROLEYSTONE

This suburb derives its name from a property, with the name being recorded as early as 1858 when it was purchased by Thomas Buckinhgham. It was also referred to as "The Rolling Stone" and "Rowley Stone" in early police reports. The area was subdivided into farmlets in 1902, and was subsequently developed as orchards and market gardens.


ROSSMOYNE

The name Rossmoyne derives its origin from the desire of a developer for a good promotional name. In 1937, the developer, V W Webb and his family made a trip to Scotland and on their return, sought a promotional name for some of their Rossmoyne land. Mrs Webb coined the name Rossmoyne, a euphonic name with no particular background, although connected with the trip to Scotland. The name was used for an estate put up for sale in 1955 and soon became the commonly used suburb name for this area. By 1959, development had progressed sufficiently for the Canning Road Board to seek official recognition for the name Rossmoyne. The name was approved in February 1960 and gazetted the following month.

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