Discover Wanneroo’s curious characters, secret spots and local legends hiding in plain sight.
It’s time travel, local style. Wanneroo is packed with curious characters, secret spots, and stories hiding in plain sight – if you know where to wander.
Culture connection
Wanneroo’s rich cultural history dates back tens of thousands of years. The Whadjuk and Yued people, two Nyoongar language groups, moved around Wanneroo’s coastal sandplain according to the six Noongar seasons, and this important cultural connection continues today.
The Yaberoo Budjara Heritage Trail begins at Neil Hawkins Park on the shores of Lake Joondalup, running through Yellagonga Regional Park, Neerabup National Park and onto Yanchep National Park. The 28km walking trail highlights features of natural, Aboriginal and historical significance and is based on local Whadjuk Noongar elder Yellagonga’s tribes’ movement track. Their track linked together the linear lakes of the coastal plain, and the same track was later used by Europeans as a stock route. The trail can be completed in its entirety or as five separate, shorter sections, allowing you to tackle the trail which matches your preferred length and skill level.
Local landmarks
For an opportunity to experience times-gone-by, head to Perry’s Paddock where remnants of the historical stables and homestead tell stories of early settler life. Once a working horse training ground, it’s now a peaceful patch of parkland perfect for picnics, pondering the past and soaking up the stillness under the gum trees.
Further north, take a detour into the wonderfully weird with a visit to King Neptune in the Sun City Precinct. This towering concrete sea god was once part of Atlantis Marine Park and is now included on the State Register of Heritage Places. While the dolphins are long gone, Neptune still stands proud, trident in hand, watching over the coast like Wanneroo’s unofficial (and slightly kitschy) guardian.
Back inland, the Lime Kilns near Carabooda are a nod to Wanneroo’s industrial roots – giant stone ovens once used to fire lime. Now, they’re silent sentinels of a bygone era, signifying the long history of Western Australia’s lime burning industry, the development of Quinn’s Rocks, and the migrant families who built and worked the kilns
Hallowed honours
In the heart of town, the Walls of Honour on Civic Drive pay tribute to local legends – from pioneers and settlers to Noongar leaders – through striking artworks by Judith Forrest. This important artwork is a reminder that history isn’t just past, it’s ongoing.
If you’re feeling adventurous, head to Yanchep National Park, where hidden WWII bunkers lie tucked among the trees. Constructed during World War Two as part of coastal defences and to support the vital radar function housed nearby, they’re a time capsule from a tense chapter in global history, and now, a secret worth uncovering.
Wanneroo’s stories aren’t just in the past, they’re all around, waiting for you to discover them.
