Curtin University's Bentley Campus is in Bentley; the John Curtin Gallery welcomes all visitors. Cultural points of interest include the John Curtin Gallery and the JCPML Reading Room; local architectural and place history can be seen in other facets of the destination. Chapman Park adds play and sports facilities to the mix. This means there is something to interest visitors in everything from institutional culture and historical topics to specific park facilities.
Culture and planning your visit
All visitors are welcome at the John Curtin Gallery. If you are planning a visit around a public holiday, check the latest visitor information beforehand. The JCPML Reading Room is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm or by appointment; check these details before you travel. Visit planning differs: the gallery welcomes all visitors, while for the reading room you should take note of the stated hours or make an appointment.
There are two bus stops near Curtin University's Kent Street entrance. As stop arrangements can change, it is worth checking the latest stop information before travelling. This gives you a specific reference point for finding your way around campus without committing to a particular route.
Architecture and local history
The South Bentley Child Health Centre has an unusual and distinctive design and is a rare, largely intact example of the Late Twentieth Century Organic architectural style. It was the first purpose-built infant health clinic in South Bentley; the building is currently vacant. Its architecture and former healthcare function are connected: the building is both an example of a particular style and part of the local history of infant healthcare.
Bentley’s Hill also offers a glimpse into the area's history. In the late 19th century, the area was locally known as Bentley’s Hill; it was named after John Bentley, the superintendent of a convict work camp used to improve Albany Road. Another historic milestone followed in 1956: Bentley was home to Western Australia's first drive-in cinema, the Highway Drive-In.
These historical traces tell different stories: the place name refers to 19th-century road construction, the Child Health Centre to the history of infant healthcare, and the drive-in to 20th-century entertainment history. Bentley's history of names, buildings and leisure can therefore be considered in its different aspects.
Cultural interpretation and park facilities
The Living Knowledge Stream Guidelines explain how the stories of Indigenous songlines are conveyed through Curtin's built environment. This draws attention to the connection between storytelling and the built surroundings, offering a different perspective from looking at individual cultural institutions.
Chapman Park in Bentley has a play area, a tennis court and a basketball court. Visitors who want to consider play and sports facilities alongside culture and local history will find a distinct focus here. The facilities make the park a different kind of destination from cultural venues and historic sites.
Discover more destinations: West Swan, Scarborough, Millendon, Midland, Cottesloe, Lesmurdie, Caversham, Ardross
For the broader travel overview: Perth.
