Bicton, Western Australia

Bicton Perth, Western Australia
View of Point Walter Reserve, Bicton
Bicton
Coordinates	32°01′44″S 115°46′59″E / 32.029°S 115.783°E / -32.029; 115.783Coordinates: 32°01′44″S 115°46′59″E / 32.029°S 115.783°E / -32.029; 115.783
Population	6,018 (2006 census)
• Density	1,881/km2 (4,870/sq mi)
Established	1830s
Postcode(s)	6157
Area	3.2 km2 (1.2 sq mi)
Location	15 km (9 mi) from Perth
LGA(s)	City of Melville
State electorate(s)	Bicton
Federal Division(s)	Fremantle
Suburbs around Bicton: Swan River Swan River Swan River East Fremantle Bicton Attadale East Fremantle Palmyra Melville

Bicton is a riverside suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) south-west of the central business district. The suburb is mostly residential, and falls within the City of Melville local government area. Bicton borders the Swan River to the north, with the northern third of the suburb taken up by a Class-A reserve at Point Walter.

Originally settled in the 1830s, when a large vineyard was established, Bicton was mainly rural until the subdivision of the former Bicton Racecourse, beginning in 1919. Further subdivisions of the Castle Hill area in 1921 established the suburb as a middle-class area of Fremantle. Bicton underwent further expansion after the conclusion of World War II, and is currently one of the most affluent suburbs south of the river.

Prior to European settlement, the Beeliar subgroup of the indigenous Noongar people obtained food and drinking water from the river edges and open grassy areas. The sandbar at Point Walter was used as one of the few river crossing between the mouth of the river and The Narrows. The area around Point Walter was known as Dyoondalup in the local language, meaning "place of white sand", and featured in local creation myths. The area along the East Fremantle and Bicton foreshores, extending into Blackwall Reach, was called Quaada gabee, meaning "beautiful water", and included a number of freshwater springs.