The beach resort lost to Kwinana Freeway

Known now as a jetty, a nice piece of landscaping and a freeway view - Como Beach was once a thriving and popular river beach resort. Since the Narrows Bridge was yet to be built, the South Perth peninsula was relatively isolated. It became a camping hotspot, and the beach was loved since the water was shallow and calm. Once the jetty was built, ferry access (and later a tram route) lead to upwards of 7,000 visitors a day during summer holidays.

Many businesses sprung up including tea houses, lodgings and dance pavilions. But once the Kwinana Freeway was constructed, cutting off vehicle access, it was never as popular. These days it's a nice foreshore walk, but it's a far from its peak in popularity. There's not even much of a beach left.

In today's video, we'll explore Como Beach's history and look at what remains today - including the famous Pagoda and the Como Theatre.

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Sources:

https://inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au/public/inventory/printsinglerecord/2322491a-4d41-4322-a37e-82bd1b95c3d6

https://southperth.wa.gov.au/docs/default-source/4-develop/planning/heritage/precinct-8-como-beach/como-beach-and-como-jetty-(cat-b).pdf?sfvrsn=2

https://discover.southperth.wa.gov.au/trails/3

https://inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/c12d5fdd-6d94-439f-ba35-ca5b9ffa7159

https://inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/47a4d64a-f959-434c-bafa-53a394d14a28

https://inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/4c7060eb-a7f4-44bd-ac32-3b44e885957f

https://inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/d09aaed3-1334-4039-83da-06853d24aa5f

https://inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au/Admin/api/file/4b1e5891-318d-4d7c-6bae-a829e6d26172

https://southperth.wa.gov.au/discover/pictures-and-stories/local-history

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Como_Theatre

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwinana_Freeway

https://southperth.wa.gov.au/discover/services/aboriginal-history-of-south-perth

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narrows_Bridge_(Perth)

Library:

https://encore.slwa.wa.gov.au/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1679715__Scomo%20beach__P0%2C13__Orightresult__U__X3?lang=eng&suite=def

State Records:

https://archive.sro.wa.gov.au/index.php/mitchell-freeway-narrows-to-riverton-welshpool-section-preservation-of-como-beach-jetty-general-wa-housewives-petition-to-preserve-como-beach-newspaper-cuttings-records-of-beach-maintenance-1957-0388

https://archive.sro.wa.gov.au/index.php/harbours-and-rivers-survey-of-como-beach-foreshore-from-mill-pt-southwards-to-richardson-st-02-11-1916-ralph-taylor-08861

Newspapers:

17th Jan 1916

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/37600936?searchTerm=%22como%20beach%22

New years day carnival with photos (5,000 attendance)

20th December 1918

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/37605126?searchTerm=%22como%20beach%22

old timey photo of people on the beach

25th March 1923

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/58046069?searchTerm=%22como%20beach%22

Photo of Como Beach Carnival

24th June 1926

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/37656479?searchTerm=%22como%20beach%22

Period photo Gordon’s Pagoda

14th November 1936

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/7350802

Cassey’s Tea Rooms

Images:

South Perth Como Beach photo collection: https://southperth.spydus.com/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/MSGTRNGEN/OPAC/PICTURESOUTHPERTH

1905, The Decoy

https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b1770128_1

1913, Como Beach Estate

https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b4400175_3

1914, Como Heights marketing (includes illustration of ferry shelter)

https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b4743676_2

1915, swimmers and horses in the river

https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b1919191_1

1918, beach full of people (thumbnail potential)

https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b1919189_1

1918, swimmers in the river

https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b5968068_1

1920, Como Beach Estate advertisement

https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b4743674_2

1920s, amateur swimming and life saving club

https://southperth.spydus.com/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/OPAC/ARCENQ/39913211/2819748,42?FMT=IMG

1920s, the beachside

https://encore.slwa.wa.gov.au/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2162104?lang=eng

1920s, lots of people on Como Jetty

https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b1963016_1

1920s, the Emerald river cruiser

https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b1996656_1

1925, river sunset

https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b2214826_1

1926, Como Jetty

https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b2214817_1

1953, Como Theatre (two photos, inside and out)

https://encore.slwa.wa.gov.au/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2317230__Scomo__Ff%3Afacetmediatype%3Av%3Av%3APhotograph%3A%3A__P0%2C20__Orightresult__U__X6?lang=eng&suite=def‍ ‍

1971, John Tonkin

https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b2415430_1

1977, Como Jetty

https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b6535867_1

1983, Pagoda as Stardust Room

https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b3654688_1

1989, good photo of jetty and swimming area

https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b6022913_1

1980 album, still showing a beach

https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b2459688_3

Video:

1959, A bridge is built

https://encore.slwa.wa.gov.au/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1409139?lang=eng

1961, The Narrow’s Bridge

https://encore.slwa.wa.gov.au/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1382836?lang=eng&ivts=MTjHjASFywr9mi26Cx7Pcg%3D%3D&casts=63aLgzWjKE4%2Ft7mJ3KgYBw%3D%3D