City Beach is a beachside suburb of Perth, Western Australia

Perth, Western Australia

Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....

, located within the Town of Cambridge. Its postcode is 6015. The term "City Beach" is also used to describe a specific beach located within the suburb of the same name.

City Beach consists of three sections, a northern section (bordering Scarborough, a central section bordering Wembley Downs and Floreat and a southern section (bordering Bold Park

Bold Park (Western Australia)

Bold Park is a urban bushland area in the suburb of City Beach, in Perth, Western Australia. It is located 8 km directly west of the central business district, its western border less than one kilometre from the Indian ocean. To the east, Perry Lakes reserve is directly adjacent to the park...

). The southern section is the generally more expensive of the residential areas but arguably the Windarra Drive precinct is the most prestigious and expensive, although all sections place City Beach among Western Australia's elite postcodes. The northern part was built immediately prior to the 1962 Commonwealth Games

1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games

The 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Perth, Western Australia, Australia from 22 November-1 December 1962. Athletic events were held at Perry Lakes Stadium in the suburb of Floreat and swimming events at Beatty Park in North Perth....

 (then called the Empire Games) as an athletes' village due to its proximity to Perry Lakes Stadium

Perry Lakes Stadium

Perry Lakes Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium adjacent to Perry Lakes in Floreat, Western Australia, Australia. It was built and funded by the State Government and the City of Perth in 1962 for the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games and had a nominal capacity of 30,000...

 in neighbouring Floreat

Floreat, Western Australia

Floreat is a residential suburb located west-northwest from the central business district of Perth, the capital of Western Australia. It is bordered on three sides by Underwood Avenue, Selby Street, and Cromarty Road; the western border adjoins or runs through Bold Park. It is located in the Town...

.

On 9 December 2005, City Beach's high school was officially closed by the Department of Education and Training due to a lack of new student enrolments and the opening of Shenton College 5 kilometres away in 2000.

History

In 1917, the Perth City Council purchased the Lime Kilns Estate of 1290 acres (522 ha), situated between the Endowment Lands and the City, thus linking the City with the ocean beach. The Council proposed to lay out an up-to-date seaside town near the ocean beach on garden city lines, embodying approved Town Planning principles, and making ample provision for recreation purposes. By 1928, the Council had allocated finance to commence work, and also referred to the beach as "City Beach". It appears this name developed because it was an area developed by the City Council and much more acceptable than "Ocean Beach" which was even more descriptive than City Beach.

Recreational activities

Activities could be divided into that which takes place within the suburb of City Beach and that which takes place on the actual beach. The area contains a football/cricket oval, numerous other grassy parks, as well a large area of bush land with a walking trail.

City Beach has two major beaches (Floreat Beach and "City Beach") as well as a dog beach. Each of those beaches has its own competitive surf lifesaving club with all the associated facilities. Surfing

Surfing

Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...

 is popular in the region and City Beach commonly has reasonable surf conditions for beginner to intermediate, although the break (particularly in summer) is often a shorebreak which can be hazardous at times. Kitesurfing

Kitesurfing

Kitesurfing or Kiteboarding is an adventure surface water sport that has been described as combining wakeboarding, windsurfing, surfing, paragliding, and gymnastics into one extreme sport. Kitesurfing harnesses the power of the wind to propel a rider across the water on a small surfboard or a...

 and windsurfing

Windsurfing

Windsurfing or sailboarding is a surface water sport that combines elements of surfing and sailing. It consists of a board usually two to four metres long, powered by the orthogonal effect of the wind on a sail. The rig is connected to the board by a free-rotating universal joint and comprises a...

 are also summer activities that are frequently seen at City Beach. The sand is white/yellow and soft, making it an ideal surface for the beach volleyball

Beach volleyball

Beach volleyball, or sand volleyball, is an Olympic team sport played by two teams of two players on a sand court divided by a net.Like volleyball, the object of the game is to send the ball over the net in order to ground it on the opponent’s court, and to prevent the same effort by the opponent....

 courts and matkot

Matkot

Matkot is a popular paddle ball game in Israel similar to beach tennis, often referred to as the country's national sport.Matkot is a non-competitive beach game in which two or more players hit a small ball back and forth using paddles...

. The main swimming and surfing area is protected between two groynes and it is overlooked by pleasant lawns.

There are expansive sand dunes and bushland areas along the coast which are home to wildlife such as hawks, mice and rabbits, and the occasional nang or Dugite

Dugite

Dugite is a common name for the highly venomous snake, Pseudonaja affinis, an Australian species which can inflict a fatal bite.-Description:...

. These dunes are currently under repair, and should not be entered, as the presence of people startle wildlife.