The name originally proposed for this suburb by the Shire of Wanneroo was ‘Hester’ after one of the first land owners in the vicinity. This was approved in 1980, but the name was opposed by Australia Post on account of duplication. Because of this the Shire of Wanneroo proposed the name Merriwa (an Aboriginal word for ‘a good place’). The name was approved in 1980.
Merriwa is a coastal, northern suburb of Perth and is part of the City of Wanneroo. It is predominantly a residential suburb containing two RAAF retirement villages, a small shopping centre called the Merriwa Plaza and six large parks scattered throughout Merriwa. The suburb contains one primary school, Merriwa Primary School. Located on the same campus is Merriwa Education Support Centre, specialising in education for intellectually disabled children.
KEY FACTS
| Distance to Perth (km) | 36 |
| Postcode | 6030 |
| Local Government | Wanneroo |
| Primary schools | Merriwa Education Support Centre, Merriwa Primary School, Quinns Baptist College, Clarkson Primary School, Alkimos Baptist College, Peter Moyes Anglican Community School, Quinns Rocks Primary School, St Francis Of Assisi Catholic Primary School, Mindarie Primary School, St Andrew’s Catholic Primary School |
| Secondary schools | Quinns Baptist College, Alkimos Baptist College, Peter Moyes Anglican Community School, Mindarie Senior College, Clarkson Community High School, Irene Mccormack Catholic College, Butler College, Comet Care School, Alkimos College, Kinross College |
| Shops | Clarkson Shopping Centre |
| Train stations | Clarkson |
| Bus services | Bus service to Clarkson Train Station |
| 2016 CENSUS SUMMARY | MERRIWA | PERTH |
|---|---|---|
| Population – usually resident | 5,489 | 1,943,858 |
| Median age of residents (years) | 37 | 36 |
| Average household size (persons) | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Number of occupied dwellings * | 1,940 | 690,280 |
| Number of unoccupied dwellings | 256 | 85,730 |
| Median weekly household income | $1,121 | $1,643 |
| Median monthly mortgage repayment | $1,733 | $2,000 |
| Total private dwellings | 2,203 | 776,015 |
| Area (sqkm) | 2 | 6,416 |
