Spearwood (post 1900)
In July 1914 Spearwood Primary School was built on Rockingham Road at the current location of Spearwood Alternative Primary School. The first teacher was Mr Hatfield with 15 boys and 14 girls as students.
After World War I there was considerable Southern European settlement notably with Yugoslavs from the Dalmatian coast and Italian immigrants. By the 1920s all the agricultural land in Spearwood was subdivided. Fruit, vegetables, grapes, poultry and quarries were the mainstays of the area.
Following World War II Spearwood was transformed from a rural district to a vibrant suburb of the Perth metropolitan area.
Community spirit has always been strong in the area and grew around the school, sporting groups and organisations such as the Spearwood Fruit Growers and Market Gardeners Association who donated the land, situated on the present Council offices and Spearwood Library, to the Cockburn Shire Council in 1963.
Be sure to check out part one of this two-part post: Spearwood (pre 1900)
Local history questions or anything to add? Please let us know by commenting below.
This article can also be seen on the Cockburn Libraries’ Local History blog and first appeared in the June 2012 edition of Cockburn Soundings
Hi Leah
My name is Gen Bailey and I’m looking for some advice on researching the business history of Spearwood.
I’m looking for information on Walter Bailey, my great-grandfather, who was a produce and horticultural merchant in Spearwood in 1926.
I’m wondering if you could point me in the right direction, where would be the best place to start looking for a timeline or information on the families and business history in the area?
Regards
Gen
Hi Gen,
Thanks for your comment.
History of the Bailey family in the Cockburn area is somewhat sparse. They don’t appear in the local history book at all, and after having looked into it a little I believe that’s because Walter and his family actually lived in Beaconsfield and were only at the store during the daytime, meaning they didn’t participate as fully in the community life of the close-knit Spearwood district (which is the book’s specific focus).
I’ve dug up a little info from old district newsletters, so I’ve sent you an email about that. Hopefully the Bailey’s store will be the focus of a future post!
Leah