Campaigns of passion and protest have taken many forms since Nyungar leader Midgegooroo resisted European colonisation, which threatened Beeliar land and community in the early 1830s.
Nearly 137,000 people now live in the City of Cockburn’s 24 suburbs, which span three landscapes: the western coastal area, the wetland chain in the central ward, and bushland and farmland to the east. Diverse issues have shaped each area and inspired a range of protest movements.
Some campaigns fought for better living and working conditions for Cockburn residents. For example, in the early 1900s the
Jandakot Railway League campaigned for a new railway line to the area and, 100 years later, local market gardener Tony Galati fought against restrictions imposed by the Potato Marketing Board.
ImImage of crowd at Jandakot Agricultural Show
Other protests were inspired by a desire to protect the local community, and Australians more generally, from external forces. For instance, in the 1980s, many people supported anti-nuclear protests. Four hundred women from all over Australia, who were concerned at the growing US military presence in Cockburn Sound camped outside the gates of HMAS Stirling for the 1984 Cockburn Sound Women’s Peace Camp.
Several protests were inspired by Cockburn’s beautiful coastline and the deep connection some families have to the area. These included the Coogee Coastal Action Coalition (2002), which opposed the commercial development of Coogee Beach, and the Save Naval Base Shacks group (2010) which fought to protect the historic Naval Base holiday shacks.
Two major campaigns have been fought to protect Cockburn’s precious bushland from new roads and highways. The Farrington Road protest (1984), and the Save Beeliar Wetlands/Roe 8 protest (2000-2017) both highlighted the environmental and social significance of local bushlands. During these campaigns many Cockburn residents literally put their bodies on the line in protest actions to prevent the destruction of surviving bush habitats and wildlife corridors.
A number of other protests groups have also been formed in response to State Government plans for the Cockburn. For example, the Resumptions Protest Federation (formed by Bibra Lake residents) fought for land resumed for State Housing in 1954; the Kwinana Air Buffer Zone Committee (formed by Wattleup and Hope Valley residents) advocated for fair compensation when their entire town and rural areas were resumed for an industrial estate in 1997; and the Cockburn Community Steering Committee (formed by a range of local community organisations in 2013) which speared-headed the ‘Hands Off Cockburn’ protests against the State Government’s unpopular plans to amalgamate Cockburn into surrounding local council area.
All these protests grew out of, and were sustained by, the passion and commitment of local residents. Together, they have helped protect and shape the wonderfully diverse suburbs and environments that make up Cockburn.
Curator Jo Darbyshire
Designer Joe Scerri
Coordinator Denise Cook, Local History Officer, City of Cockburn
[email protected]
2025
Explore the different campaigns featured in the Passion and Protest exhibition using the links below