Mandurah is full to the brim with wonderful and exciting surprises. From the city’s history as a popular fishing village, to the picturesque coastal views, to the rapid growth of community – the city of Mandurah has never failed to delight and excite both visitors and long-time residents.

Although not big compared to other cities in Australia, Mandurah is the state’s second- largest  city in Western Australia, with a population of more than 90,000 spread across 173.5km2 area! Once you see the spacious nature parks and beautiful ocean views, it’s no wonder that Mandurah was crowned 2022 Top Tourism Town!

The Mandurah Estuary is a large system of water that is a part of the Peel Inlet, connected to the Indian Ocean via the Dawesville Channel in Mandurah. Although covering an incredible area  (134 square kilometers), the average water depth is only approximately 1-2 metres, making it safe and friendly for all family members to enjoy.

For those who are looking for a swim, connected to the Estuary is Mandurah’s iconic Kwillena Gabi Pool. The pool was named by Bindjareb Boodja Traditional Owners, and fittingly translates to ‘dolphin waters’, as these playful mammals are a common sight in Mandurah’s waterways. Surrounded by floating pontoons, the Kwillena Gabi Estuary Pool starts shallow and becomes approximately 4.5 metres deep allowing kids to show off their bombies! 

The Mandurah Bridge has been rebuilt not once… not twice… but three times! 

Throughout history, the Mandurah Bridge has been a crucial part of transportation for the city. The first build in 1894 was led by Matthew Price who constructed the bridge from jarrah and karri at 12 feet wide by 600 feet long. This design was built to last, withstanding many storms and floods. 

In 1952, at the end of WWII, the State government committed to improving transport infrastructure in Mandurah and they saw it was time the Mandurah Bridge was replaced. The piles were to be made completely from reinforced concrete to prevent teredo worm damage that Price’s design experienced. 

With each rebuild, the Mandurah Bridge has become stronger, more durable and has grown to accommodate the growing population. 

The most recent rebuild was in December 2017, which saw the Mandurah bridge grow to 4 lanes with a clearance height of 4.4 metres. Since its construction, the Mandurah bridge has greatly improved vehicle and pedestrian movement with two traffic lanes for each direction as well as providing a separate and wider lane for pedestrians and cyclists. 

Today, the Mandurah bridge is an important part of everyday life in the city improving road safety, reducing traffic congestion and offering a scenic drive over the Estuary.

The first people of the region were the Bindjareb people of the Noongar Nation who gathered, fished and lived in the area. As Mandjoogoordap is home to abundant natural resources, the people lived comfortably enjoying the wonderful wildlife home to the area.

Mandurah is part of the Peel region, one of the nine regions of Western Australia. In 1829, British settlers arrived on the shore, which saw Thomas Peel granted 250,000 acres of land between what is now Cockburn and the Peel inlet. Thomas Peel transformed the land, and not for the better, destroying Bindjareb homes, people and culture. In 2017, there was a campaign seeking to rename the Peel region due to these  devastating ties to history. 

Not quite, but pretty close!

If you don’t know Fiona Burton, allow us to introduce you. Fiona Burton holds an impressive resume, having made scones for the Queen herself in England’s very own Buckingham Palace! Although the pastry chef had a delightful time baking fresh scones and cakes for the Queen and her guests. Now, Burton shares her passion for pastries with Mandurah with her business Fiona’s Fancies. 

What brought Fiona to Mandurah was her love for Australia. She knew she wanted to move to the country with her husband and when she discovered the seaside city Mandurah she knew she found home. Fiona describes Mandurah as her “little piece of paradise.” 

Many people might not know that the Creery Wetlands might not be what it is today if it wasn’t for the immense support and protection of the Wetlands from the community. It was back in 1985, Len Howard led a campaign with the Peel Preservation Group against the canal development of the Creery Wetlands. The result was transformative, changing the direction of the city council and becoming the biggest conservation win in history for the Peel region. Howard became an environmentalist superstar, with his legacy and advocacy influencing policies today.