From Noongar Wetlands to Named Suburb — A 40,000-Year Story

 

The Mooro people of the Whadjuk Noongar clan lived here for at least 40,000 years. They knew these lakes as Galup and Ngurgenboro — gathering places tied to the Wagyl, the serpent spirit who shaped the Swan River basin. Up to 400 people would assemble at Galup for the ceremony. The land held deep memory long before it held a postcode.

 

European settlers arrived in the 1840s, followed by Spanish Benedictine monks who farmed olives and grapes here before departing for New Norcia in 1864. Serious subdivision began in 1909, accelerated by tramway expansion through the 1910s and '20s. In April 1924, the area was gazetted as Wembley Park — named after the London suburb hosting that year's British Empire Exhibition, not the stadium. It was shortened to Wembley in 1935, and nothing about the name has needed changing since.

 

Who Lives Here: A Portrait of Modern Wembley

 

The 2021 census recorded approximately 12,061 residents across 4.25 square kilometres. Median age: 37 — one year younger than the state average, with the largest cohort aged 30 to 44. It reads as a suburb for people who've made deliberate choices about how they want to live.

Around 59.5% of residents were born in Australia. The next largest birthplace group is Bhutan at 6.5% — one of Perth's highest concentrations — followed by England (5.9%), India (2.3%) and New Zealand (1.7%). It's a genuinely multicultural community, and it shows most clearly in the food, the food court, and the school gate conversation.

 

 

Galup (formerly Lake Monger) Reserve

 

In June 2025, Landgate officially restored the Whadjuk Noongar name Galup — a change voted for by the Town of Cambridge in 2024 and long overdue. The 70-hectare freshwater wetland draws up to 12,000 visitors per week, not least for one of Perth's most photographed views: the city skyline framed by water and black swans from the 3.5-kilometre sealed path that loops the reserve. Fully accessible playgrounds, BBQ facilities and birdlife that punches well above metropolitan expectations.

 

 

Herdsman Lake Regional Park

A 285-hectare regional park on Wembley's northwestern edge and one of Perth's finest birdwatching destinations — over 100 recorded species, some of them transcontinental migrants. Walk the 7-kilometre loop, take the Olive Seymour Boardwalk into the heart of the wetland, or join the Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre for an evening night walk. Entry is free. Watercraft are banned, which means the wildlife is always the main event.

Both wetlands connect via the 21-kilometre Yange Kep Bidi (Wetland Trail), linking Galup, Herdsman Lake and Freshwater Bay on the Swan River foreshore in a single continuous walk.

 

Wembley Golf Course — 36 holes, an 80-bay automated driving range with city skyline views, mini-golf, a PGA Learning and Performance Centre (the only one in WA), and the 300 Acres restaurant and bar. Widely regarded as the best public golf complex in Australia. No membership required.

Bendat Basketball Centre — Home of the Perth Lynx (WNBL) and training base for the NBL's Perth Wildcats. Two show courts, seating for 2,000, and six multi-sport training courts. Named in 2015 for Perth Wildcats owner Jack Bendat on his 90th birthday — a man who served in WWII, emigrated to Perth in 1966, and shaped WA sport for decades.

Herdsman Fresh Market — Open since 1979 on Herdsman Parade. Fresh produce, seafood, deli items reflecting the suburb's multicultural appetite. On a Saturday morning, it remains one of Wembley's most reliable pleasures.

Cambridge Street is the suburb's main dining strip — not the trendiest in Perth, but probably the most liveable. Here's what's worth your time:

•        Monsterella — Neapolitan pizza with 48-hour bases and a pasta menu that earns its own following. The kind of Italian that makes people territorial.

•        Mummucc's — Monsterella's wine-focused sibling. Curated list, knowledgeable staff, no theatrics.

•        La Casetta — Open since 1969. Over 55 years of continuous operation. A fully licensed, 100-seat Italian institution that has fed multiple generations of the same Wembley families.

•        Condor — South American share plates and handcrafted cocktails. Bold flavours, warm room, the kind of place you stay longer than planned.

•        Cambridge International Food Court — Running since 1998. Penang laksa, Hong Kong roast pork, Vietnamese pho, charcoal satay. Wembley's multicultural memory in edible form.

•        The Wembley Hotel — Built in 1932, heritage-listed, still pouring. Originally the tram line's terminus for beach-goers heading down the old Plank Road (now Oceanic Drive) to the coast. Dog-friendly courtyard, live music, laneway cocktail bar. Over 90 years of uninterrupted hospitality under the same terracotta roof.

•        The suburb was named after the London suburb hosting the 1924 British Empire Exhibition — not the stadium. It predates Wembley's most famous football moments by decades.

•        Approximately 31,291 tonnes of waste were tipped into Galup during mid-20th century reclamation works. Today, it draws 12,000 visitors a week. Perth's capacity for environmental reinvention is quietly impressive.

•        The Wembley Hotel was the original tram terminus for Perth's beach-going public. The old Plank Road — Perth's first road to the ocean — ran directly past its front door.

•        Wembley has one of Perth's highest concentrations of Bhutanese-born residents at 6.5% of the population, making it the second-largest birthplace group in the suburb after Australians.

•        Galup was officially renamed from Lake Monger by Landgate in June 2025, restoring the Whadjuk Noongar name the Mooro people had used for over 40,000 years.

 

Is Wembley a good suburb to live in?

 

Consistently ranked among Perth's most sought-after inner-western addresses — excellent schools, two major nature reserves, strong dining culture, good transport links, and a property market that holds value well.

 

How far is Wembley from Perth CBD?

 

Approximately 5 kilometres northwest. Around 10 to 15 minutes by car via the Mitchell Freeway; 20 to 25 minutes by bike via the shared path network.

 

Is Lake Monger now called Galup?

 

Yes — Landgate officially restored the name Galup in June 2025, following a vote by the Town of Cambridge in August 2024. Both names remain in informal use.

 

What's the best restaurant on Cambridge Street?

 

Monsterella for Italian. Condor for South American. La Casetta for heritage dining. The Cambridge International Food Court for multicultural variety at everyday prices. There's no wrong answer.