Withers, Western Australia Explained

Withers
Type:suburb
Near-S:Usher
Near-E:College Grove
Near-W:Indian Ocean
Near-Ne:Carey Park
Near-N:South Bunbury
Dir1:South
Dist1:2
Location1:Bunbury
Fedgov:Forrest
Stategov:Collie-Preston
Est:1969
Area:4.4
Postcode:6230
Coordinates:-33.366°N 115.63°W
Lga:City of Bunbury
Local Map:yes
Zoom:12
State:wa

Withers is a beachside suburb in Bunbury, Western Australia. It is a primarily residential suburb with a small amount of retail activity. The suburb, which was named after state Member of Parliament and Bunbury mayor Frederick Withers, was developed by the State Housing Commission in the 1960s as the Withers Housing Estate.[1] [2] The layout of the suburb was influenced by the Radburn design philosophy. Building began in 1969 and was completed by 1975. The suburb has the lowest average personal income rate in Bunbury[3] and a history of antisocial problems.[4] [5] It contains two primary schools: the government Maidens Park Primary School, named after the nearby Maidens Reserve, which opened in 1977 and was known as Withers Primary School until its official renaming in 2012,[6] [7] and St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, which was established in 1978.[8] [9] A proposal was floated to rename the suburb in 2011.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 10 November 2017. Withers Homeswest South Bunbury Housing Estate (Place No. 5630). InHerit. Heritage Council of Western Australia.
  2. Web site: Withers is a suburb in search of a new identity. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 10 March 2011. Sharon. Kennedy. 2 September 2021.
  3. Withers Suburb Profile. (8 August 2014). City of Bunbury. PDF.
  4. News: Fielding. Kate. 10 April 2018. Withers put under the spotlight. South Western Times. 6 May 2021.
  5. News: Verhagen. Shannon. 31 August 2020. New roads, more parks and higher density living in plan for Withers. South Western Times. 6 May 2021.
  6. News: New name honoured. Bunbury Mail. Jemillah. Bickerton. 6 June 2012. 2 September 2021.
  7. Web site: New name matches fresh facilities and culture. Government of Western Australia. 1 June 2012. 1 August 2023.
  8. Web site: Contact. St Joseph's Catholic Primary School. 2 September 2021.
  9. Web site: Our School. St Joseph's Catholic Primary School. 3 September 2021.