Ties to WA’s rich history

While a new development, the land on which Mahala sits has had many different uses throughout its life.

Before Mahala was even a glimmer in our eye, the space was used as agricultural land for WA’s primary industries, and fenced by rich bush on all sides. The development site itself is one of the last remaining tracts of urban land in the district, with the surrounding land being given important environmental protection status. You can explore these areas, and we encourage you to; most notably the exceptional Forrestdale Lake Nature Reserve, that sits just 250m south of your front door.

This rich bushland and the surrounding area has traditionally been an important area for the local Noongar people, particularly for food gathering. The cooler Autumn months saw turtle hunting take place in what’s now the Forrestdale Lake.

Further afield, the surrounding suburb of Forrestdale takes a leaf from WA’s history books. It’s one of many places you’ll find named after Lord John Forrest, who together with his wife Margaret collected and recorded Western Australian native botanical specimens, and had a big hand in shaping our State’s exploration future.

Mahala is a word used in many cultures that means ‘neighbourhood’ or ‘to settle’. 

And that’s exactly what we’re aiming for. Mahala speaks to our community’s sense of safety, warmth, and hospitality. It’s a place to find yourself among friends and family, a place to put down roots, and a place to grow.

Mahala is a diverse neighbourhood that’s welcoming to everyone, so we chose a name that reflected that.