I’ve been living in Armadale for over 50 years now. I moved to Kelmscott from Queens Park in 1972, and I’ve called the City of Armadale home ever since. It’s been such a special place to live, and I really feel a part of the community here.
When I first moved here, it was much quieter. Armadale had a small-town feel, but I’ve watched it grow and develop into a vibrant place with all the facilities and services you could need. It’s been lovely to see the place transform, but it still has that lovely country charm that drew me here in the first place.
I’ve been volunteering at the Perth Hills Armadale Visitor Centre for the past 12 years, and I absolutely love it! I get to share my passion for the region with visitors from all over the world, and it’s always such a joy to tell them about the hidden treasures around here. Outside of volunteering, I stay active at the Armadale Fitness and Aquatic Centre, where I swim and take part in classes. I’ve always been an active person, and it’s great to have such wonderful facilities close by.
The Perth Hills is just full of hidden gems. I’ve always loved bushwalking — there’s nothing quite like the peace and quiet of the Aussie bush. My favourite spot must be around the Armadale Hills and the dam, where we used to have family picnics when I was a kid, which I am fortunate to share this tradition with my children and grandchildren now. It’s so tranquil, especially in the early mornings when the birds are singing, and the wildflowers start to bloom in spring. It’s a beautiful place, and I think a lot of people don’t realise just how much the region has to offer.
Araluen Botanic Park is best known for its tulips which cover the park in carpets of colours during Spring, but the park has much more to offer. With a deep and interesting history, this local gem is an all-year destination.
The hybrid design of the park combines natural bushland with landscaped beds, bridges and buttresses nestled deep within the Brookton valley, a scenic 30-minute drive southeast of Perth.
Explore the park's many trails, which follow winding brooks and lead to showcases of speciality blooms such as heritage climbing roses and some of Western Australia's rarest camellias. Araluen Botanic Park plays host to regular events, such as outdoor concerts and performances and is also a popular wedding venue choice. Whether you grab a bite to eat at on-site eateries, the Roundhouse or Chalet Healy or take your own picnic, there is always something to enjoy at Araluen Botanic Park.
The It's Yates Springtime Tulip Festival takes place annually for approximately six weeks during August and September.
FACILITIES AND FEATURES
14 hectares of landscaped gardens
Heritage climbing roses
Over 230 varieties of camellias
Walk trails
Restaurant and cafe
On-site parking
Picnic areas
Historical and heritage status
OPENING TIMES
18 AUG – 2 OCT - 9.00am to 6.00pm
2 OCT – 18 AUG - 9.00am to 4.00pm
ENTRY FEES
Adult | $15.00 |
*Concession | $10.00 |
Companion Card (2 for 1) | $15.00 |
Child 6-16 years | $8.00 |
Bus Group (20 or More in one vehicle) | $15.00 PP |
Family Pass (2 adults & 3 children) | $45.00 |
Bungendore Park is a natural Jarrah-Marri woodland area that is part of Wungong Regional Park located on the Darling Scarp's border. The park is home to a diverse range of flora and animals, including endangered cockatoo species such as the Baudin's, Forest Red-Tailed Black, and Carnaby's.
The 498ha Bungendore Park Bushland Reserve is home to a wide variety of plants and animals. It's part of the Wungong Regional Park. In fact, its location on the western edge of the Darling Scarp means the park displays a wide range of soils, topography and vegetation types, producing well over 300 different plant species.
Most of the park is open Jarrah-Marri forest with a typical suite of understorey shrubs and orchids. The park also features many blossoms - a fact which helped it to earn its name, which means 'place of the gum blossom' and 'top of a hill' in local Aboriginal language.
Bungendore Park is situated on the edge of the Darling Scarp, with sweeping views to the Swan Coastal Plain. It's located three kilometres south-east of Armadale and can be accessed from Admiral Road. Walkers can set out on marked trails located throughout the reserve.
A committee of Council, known as the Bungendore Park Management Committee, assists in the management of the area. type: asset-hyperlink id: 2spD3ctqZGZEXw2rZdS1L9also helps guide management activities.
The Bungendore Park Environmental Group, a Committee of volunteers, provides oversight on the management of the reserve.
Difficulty
Grade 2 Bush Walk - No prior bushwalking experience required. The surface of the track is hardened or compacted, and it may include a modest incline portion or sections, as well as occasional steps. Walks of no more than 10 kilometres. This is a good option for families with young children.
Location
There are two main access points to Bungendore Park – one from Dryandra Drive off Albany Highway east of Armadale, the other from Admiral Road near the Southern Hills Christian College entrance. Vehicle access to within the park is restricted to only authorised vehicles.
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ABOUT
Located on the Canning River (Djarrlgarro Beelier) approximately 33km from Perth (Boorloo), this dam combines scenic beauty, an established picnic area for the whole family and modern playground equipment for kids. It also tells of a fascinating Western Australian history of one of our most important reservoirs and supply of Perth's drinking water.
There are several trails to explore in the vicinity of Canning Dam, designed to guide you to historical features such as the old water contour channel and the stilling chamber. You can also take a stroll across the dam wall and enjoy the views from lookouts at either end.
Please note: no fishing, marroning or contact with the water body is permitted however visitors are welcome to enjoy the recreational facilities provided nearby.
FACILITIES & FEATURES
Picnic areas with bbq free facilities
Toilets (wheelchair accessible)
On-site parking
Walk trails (signposted)
Historical sites
Wildlife spotting (particularly in the morning)
OPENING TIMES
Canning Dam is open every day of the week until 6pm (5pm from May to October).
ABOUT
Churchman Brook Dam was built in the 1920s and provided a substantial portion of Perth's water supply until 1937. Later Wungong and Canning Dams were built to accommodate extra supplies for Perth's growing population. The dam was registered on the City of Armadale's heritage list in December 2008.
With a range of grassed areas, picnic benches, playground equipment, toilets and free gas barbeques, this is an ideal spot to enjoy and explore the Perth Hills.
FACILITIES AND FEATURES
Picnic areas
Toilets
Barbecues
Playground
Toilets
Parking
OPENING HOURS
December – April hours: Every day until 6pm.
May – October hours: Every day until 5pm.
Lloyd Hughes Park on Martin Street, Kelmscott, is approximately 17ha in size. A watercourse (tributary to the Canning River) runs through the reserve, which contains bushland in good condition. The Park is bounded by Martin Street, Marmion Street, Canning Mills Road, and abuts Banyowla Regional Park to the north. The Park straddles the boundary between the Ridge Hill Shelf and the Darling Scarp soil types.
The vegetation is dominated by Marri woodland on the lower slopes, and Wandoo woodland on the upper reaches of the reserve. Weeds threaten areas of the bushland (probably resulting from past disturbances such as rubbish dumping). These weeds include Ehrharta calycina (veldt grass), Avena fatua (wild oat), Watsonia Sp., and Eragrostis curvulata (African Love Grass).
Lloyd Hughes Park (the Park) is a 17.7 hectare A-class reserve managed by the City of Armadale in the Darling Scarp foothills, Kelmscott.
The Park is situated on the interface that exists between the Ridge Hill Shelf and the Darling Scarp. A seasonal creek runs through the park to join the Canning River.
The park is characterised by Marri and Jarrah woodland, in addition to Flooded Gum woodland along the creek line.
Areas within the park were once used to mine gold and slate.
The park has significant conservation value due to the transitional nature of the vegetation as the area traverses the Swan Coastal Plain and Darling Scarp. The bushland has a diverse ecosystem that provides a habitat for native fauna and wildflowers while also providing residents with a vital recreational area.
The Friends of Lloyd Hughes contribute to the conservation of this area. The Friends of Lloyd Hughes is a community-based group that assists the City with on-ground management. This passionate group of volunteers works on revegetation, weed control and dieback management within the park
Walk Trail Difficulty: The Park features two walk trails: Prickly Moses and Yam Trail. A QR Code that links to a trail map can be found on the signs at the Martin Street entrance. The walk trails are considered 'Grade 2', with some bushwalking experience recommended. On-leash dog walking is permitted.
Main entrance Martin Street, Kelmscott. The Park is bounded by Martin St, Marmion St, Canning Mills Rd, and abuts Banyowla Regional Park to the north.
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Masa is a welcoming cafe offering a grapevine covered alfresco area and along with indoor air-conditioned seating. For the coffee-lovers convenience, Masa Cafe also has a drive-thru coffee window, meaning you can get your caffeine hit, without leaving the comfort of your car.
Masa and Co Cafe is a locally run business open from:
Weekdays: 6am to 2pm
Weekends: 7am to 1pm
We’re excited to announce that the program will reopen for 2025 registrations on Monday, 31 March 2025. Be sure to mark your calendars for the chance to choose one of the six native plant packs designed to support local habitats and enhance our urban environment.
Event Date: Sunday 18 May 2025
Cost: Free
Event contact: Phone 9394 500 or email info@armadale.wa.gov.au
Here are some key details to remember;
Eligibility: To be eligible for this subsidy, you must be a resident in the City of Armadale, or a school located within the City.
One Plant Pack per Household: Each household is eligible to receive one plant pack (containing 10 plants).
Pre-registration Required: As this is a ticketed event, pre-registration is necessary to secure your plant pack.
Proof of Residency: must be provided upon collection of your plants.
Stay tuned for more details and we look forward to your participation in 2025! This initiative is proudly co-funded by Water Corporation's Waterwise Greening Scheme and forms part of our ambition for Armadale to be a leading waterwise city (or community)
Each year the City of Armadale hosts two plenary sessions, on behalf of the Bushcare Environmental Working Group (BEWG). During plenary sessions, the community can hear from various experts who are informative and passionate presenters on topics of interest, including wildlife conservation and natural area rehabilitation.
The first plenary session for this year will be Keeping Wild Armadale: The Unique Bushlands of the City. This will be presented by Bronwen Keighery, an experienced botanist. The City of Armadale is located in a biodiversity hotspot within the greater Perth region, where two Australian bioregions the Swan Coastal Plain and the Jarrah Forest meet. This unique location is home to a rich variety of plants and animals.
Bronwen will describe the diverse plant communities of Armadale, placing them in an international, national, state, and local context. She will also highlight the threats facing these plants and the efforts being made to protect them. Special attention will be given to recent research on Armadale’s plant communities and the crucial work being done by local conservation groups.
At the end of the presentation, there will be an opportunity for questions
Location: City of Armadale Function Room
Date: Wednesday 19 March 2025Time: 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Cost: This is a free event, but tickets are still required. Tickets on sale Now.
This is a ticketed event through Humanitix.
If you have trouble registering, please contact us and we can register on your behalf. https://www.armadale.wa.gov.au/events/keeping-wild-armadale-unique-bushlands-our-city
The City of Armadale is committed to assisting Bushcare Community Groups in conserving and restoring our natural bushland in council-owned environmental reserves. It's a fantastic opportunity to have a positive impact on the environment while also meeting new people, staying healthy and active, learning new skills, and reconnecting with nature.
Bushcare Volunteers make a valuable contribution towards biodiversity conservation. Through the provision of support and advice, the City is dedicated to assisting Bushcare Volunteers in achieving agreed-upon goals for the preservation and improvement of natural areas.
Reserve custodians, individual volunteers, informal groups of a few people or formal incorporated bodies are all examples of Bushcare Volunteers. All of them have a goal to preserve and safeguard a natural area within the City of Armadale. The level of commitment and activities conducted by volunteers are determined by the reserve's specific needs, as well as the individual's or group's aims and expertise.
Bushcare Volunteer activities typically include:
Weed control/removal
Dieback injections
Rubbish clean-up
Planting of locally native species
Guided nature walks
Monitoring and recording of flora and fauna
Seed collection
Community education (talks and presentations)
Fire prevention
Passive surveillance, and reporting of any issues that may be affecting a reserve.
Some benefits of becoming a City Bushcare Volunteer include:
Contributing to the preservation and conservation of natural areas
Helping to restore a natural area in your local community
Meeting new people who share a common interest
Learning about local flora and fauna
Getting active outdoors
Raising community awareness of the values of natural areas
Providing input to the City’s natural area management strategies.
If you would like to become a Reserve Custodian, Individual Volunteer, or would like to establish a Bushcare Volunteer Group, the first step is to contact the City to find out if there are already active volunteers in your area of interest. If a group already exists, the City will put you in touch.
If there is no existing Reserve Custodian, Individual Volunteer or Bushcare Volunteer Group for a specific reserve that you are interested in, then your registration will be encouraged.
Call the City on 9394 5000 or send an email.
Minnawarra Park has been the heart of the City of Armadale since the land was acquired in 1958. Since then it's been the site of events, weddings, walks, celebrations and picnics.
Minnawarra Park is located just next to the Minnawarra Historic Precinct, which houses Minnawarra Chapel and History House Museum.
A beautiful place to enjoy a quiet moment or read a book in this tranquil spot.
The Park has a paved, even path that follows the natural contours of the park and connects with the Minnawarra Historic Precinct to the park gazebo, bridge.
The City of Armadale acknowledge the Traditional Owners and the Custodians of the land upon which we stand, work and play.
We acknowledge Aboriginal people as the First Peoples of this land and their connection to the lands and the waters, as they are part of them spiritually and culturally.
We acknowledge their ancestors, the Elders past and present, who have led the way for us to follow.
Phone
Address
7 Orchard Avenue
Armadale, Western Australia 6112
Armadale Fitness and Aquatic Centre
Engage Armadale
Libraries and Heritage
Perth Hills Armadale Visitor Centre
Tourism Council of WA
WesternAustralia.com
Destination Perth
Experience Perth Hills
