Applecross is a riverside suburb of Perth, Western Australia, bounded by Canning Highway and the Swan River. It is located within the City of Melville.

History



The suburb of Applecross takes its name from the Applecross peninsula in Wester Ross, Highland, on the northwest coast of Scotland. Many of the streets in the suburb have names from the area, including Carron, Gairloch, Ullapool, Kintail, Strome, Ardross, Alness, Kishorn, Glenelg, Duncraig, Dunvegan, Killilan and Roskhill.[2]

The suburb of Applecross was originally assigned to Lionel Lukin on 28 May 1830. The land was finally acquired by Alexander Matheson, second son of Sir Alexander Matheson, 1st Baronet of Lochalsh, in February 1896. Matheson formed the Western Australian Investment Company Limited and instigated and named the subdivision of the area.

A distinguishing feature of the suburb is the jacaranda trees that line its streets and flower in the late spring. In keeping with this theme, Applecross is home to an annual Jacaranda festival in late November.






Landmarks

A number of well known landmarks and facilities are in Applecross. These include:
Raffles Hotel and apartments at Coffee Point

The former Heathcote Hospital - used for mental health services from 1929 to 1994. Now used as a community recreation facility. 

The site also features a memorial to the actor Heath Ledger. Point Heathcote was named after Midshipman G.C. Heathcote. Captain James Stirling landed at the location in his 1827 expedition up the Swan River, and the site was seriously considered by Stirling as an alternative to the Perth site when establishing the Swan River Colony in 1829.