The Town was established on 1 July 1994 following the restructure of the City of Perth by the Richard Court State Government, with the aim of delivering more localised governance for suburbs outside the CBD.
The first election was held on 6 May 1995. It was a full postal ballot (which was considered an experiment by the WAEC) and resulted in a record participation rate of 55.44% (compared to the City of Perth 1993 elections at 17%).
The first Council was:
Ross Willcock, Mayor
David Berry, Deputy Mayor (Wembley Ward)
Robina McConnell (Wembley Ward)
Pauline O’Connor (Wembley Ward)
Corinne MacRae (Wembley Ward)
Marlene Anderton (City Beach Ward)
Kerry Smith (City Beach Ward)
Anthony Moore (City Beach Ward)
David Johnston (City Beach Ward)
The State Government provided more than $12 million in infrastructure funding to support the establishment of the Town.
Temporary office accommodation was set up in West Perth while the main Administration Centre was being built. The new facility at 1 Bold Park Drive officially opened on 10 June 1996, with administration staff relocating shortly after.
The Town commenced operations debt free, with $1 million in reserves.
Key Projects and Milestones
1994 – The Town of Cambridge is established through the State Government's restructure of the City of Perth - split along with the Town (now City) of Vincent and the Town of Victoria Park.
1997 – The Town assumed control of the Quarry Amphitheatre (from Kevin and Diana Waldron).
1997 – Rehabilitation projects were commenced at Lake Monger (Galup) and Perry Lakes. Rehabilitation projects continue in both places today.
1997 – The Tuart Course at the Wembley Golf Course was redesigned and reopened.
1997 – Bold Park Aquatic Centre pool was heated for the first time. The Centre underwent a refurbishment in 2016. The pool was established in 1976.
1998 – Town’s first Local Planning Scheme was gazetted.
1999 – Works began in the City Beach restaurant precinct at $2.3 million. Precinct opened in May 2001.
2000 – Floreat Sporting Precinct created. Works completed and opened in 2006. Total value $6.5 million
2002 – The Cambridge Library and Boulevard Centre open – value $6 million.
2003 – The Local Studies collection commenced at the Library; Oral Histories program commenced in 2004.
2005 – Perry Lakes Stadium and Ark Reserve resumed from the Town by the State Government.
2009 – $13 million upgrade to Wembley Golf Course commenced. Included the two tier automated driving range.
2010 – Introduction of FastTrack planning approvals process. Applications which comply with R-codes would be approved within 5 business days.
2010 – Upgraded 240L recycling bins provided free of charge. The Town did not charge for recycling until this year. 2024/2025 saw the introduction of a $50 per recycling bin charge implemented for the first time.
2011 – Wembley Sports Park construction commenced (value $13 million). Alongside the State Government’s $25 million development of the State Netball Centre at the Matthews Netball Centre site.
2015 – Town Planning Scheme Amendment 31 first advertised. Changes made due to consultation. Amendment sent to WAPC for consideration.
2015 – State Government’s amalgamation plans do not proceed. Initially Town of Cambridge looked to amalgamate with City of Subiaco and take in Wembley Downs, Churchlands, and part of Woodlands to become the City of Riversea.
2016 – Wembley Golf Course new restaurant and function centre commenced operations – valued at $11 million. Included $3.5 million Mini Golf Course and playground.
2016 – Scheme Amendment 31 rejected by the Minister (at request of the Town and WAPC).
2016 – Bold Park Aquatic is redeveloped with major upgrades and new facilities – valued at $12.5 million.
2017 – Successful undertaking of three underground power projects in Floreat, plus some areas of Wembley / West Leederville – resulting in all power underground within the Town by 2019.
2022 – New sports pavilion at Alderbury Reserve in Floreat is unveiled – valued at $1.4 million.
2023 – Wembley Golf Course becomes the first facility in WA to unveil the cutting-edge Trackman Range technology at its state-of-the-art driving range.
2024 – Wembley Golf Course is named winner of the prestigious 2023 Metropolitan Golf Facility of the Year title at the Western Australian Golf Industry Awards.
2024 – The Town celebrated its 30th anniversary with a year-long programme of recognitions and events.
2024 – FOGO three-bin system rollout to all single-unit dwellings across the Town, helping meet the State Government's household waste targets and avoiding associated greenhouse gas emissions.
2024 – Council endorses renaming Lake Monger to Galup, the reserve's Whadjuk Noongar name meaning 'place of fire'.
Town Profile
The Town of Cambridge was established on 1 July 1994 through the State Government’s restructure of the City of Perth. The Town of Cambridge – along with the Town (now City) of Vincent and the Town of Victoria Park – has grown into a vibrant community with its own identity in Perth’s inner western suburbs.
Extending over 22 square kilometres across two wards(JPG, 48KB), the Town of Cambridge takes in the suburbs of City Beach, Floreat, Wembley, West Leederville, plus small sections of Mt Claremont, Wembley Downs, Subiaco, and Jolimont.
• Our unique character is something that we’re proud of at Cambridge -we will continue to build on this by protecting recreational spaces and promoting local art and culture through community events.
• We're committed to working with our community to develop neighbourhoods that are welcoming and accessible, making Cambridge a place where everyone feels at home.
• We’re making Cambridge a safer, healthier place to live, work, and visit by prioritising wellbeing initiatives and emphasising greater inclusivity.
Our Heritage
Heritage Places
The Town of Cambridge has a number of heritage places which are significant to the history and character of the local area.
These places may be recognised in one or more of the following:
Heritage List adopted under Town Planning Scheme No. 1
If you would like heritage advice for properties within the town please call us on (08) 9347 6000.
Heritage Trail
Some of the Town's heritage places are captured in a series of interpretive signs erected at 23 sites along the Cambridge Heritage Trail(PDF, 1MB) .
Gain an insight into the town's past by walking the trail as it meanders past sites of historic significance in West Leederville, Wembley, Floreat and City Beach.
Read the plaques along the way to learn about the people, events and places that have helped shape the town of Cambridge.
The original trail which took in 16 signed locations opened on Australia Day 2001 to celebrate the Federation of Australia. In 2015, with the support of the Lions Club of Floreat, the trail was restored and expanded to the current 23 sites.
In 2003, Council resolved to support the naming of all of the Town's 122 Rights-of-Way (ROW) using the surnames of local men and women who were born or lived in the district and enlisted in the armed services during World War I or II.
To inform this process, names were collected from:
the Cenotaph located next to the Leederville Town Hall;
those published in the Christmas 1941 edition of The Western Command; and
a search of the World War II nominal roll database from the Department of Veteran's Affairs website.
In December 2003, Landgate approved the naming proposal; making the proposed names official street names. Details on each name are captured here.
To help honour the people behind the names, Cambridge Library produced a publication tilted “Dunny Runs, Heroes and Heroines: historical laneways of West Leederville and Wembley.” This may be borrowed from the Library or purchased for $27.50.
Other publications available for purchase or loan include “Wembley, its people and its past: an oral history compilation” and “From Limestone and Sandhills: the story of the development of City Beach and Floreat”.
To browse and research more about Town of Cambridge Heritage, visit the Local Studies section of Cambridge Library online or at 99 The Blvd, Floreat.
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1 Bold Park Dr, Floreat WA 6014, Australia
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