WAPlanned settlement
Kwinana
A 1952 refinery deal brought a whole new town to a quiet coast.
1952Oil refinery agreement signed
WHAT STARTED IT
To win the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company’s refinery, the State agreed in 1952 to dredge Cockburn Sound, supply water and power, and build 1,000 homes on the coast south of Fremantle. The company signed for a £40 million refinery at Kwinana.
WHAT SUSTAINED IT
Medina, the first suburb, was designed by Margaret Feilman on British new-town lines and placed to shield residents from refinery fumes; 653 homes were finished by 1955. The refinery went on stream that year, and other heavy industries followed along the coast.
TURNING POINTS
1952The State and Anglo-Iranian Oil sign the refinery agreement on 3 March.
1952Tenders are called for the first 330 of 1,000 government homes for refinery workers.
1955The refinery goes on stream in February and 653 homes are complete at Medina.
WHAT IT DOES NOW
Kwinana has grown into a string of suburbs, but Medina’s layout survives much as Feilman planned it. Industry still lines the Cockburn Sound shore.