{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}} {{Use Australian English|date=March 2014}} {{Infobox Australian place | type = suburb | name = Karrakatta | city = Perth | state = wa | image = Karrakatta cem gnangarra.jpg | caption = Main entrance to Karrakatta Cemetery | lga = City of Nedlands | map_type = nomap | local_map = yes | zoom = 13 | coordinates = {{coord|31.968|S|115.801|E|display=inline,title}} | postcode = 6010 | stategov = Nedlands | fedgov = Curtin | near-nw = Mount Claremont | near-n = Shenton Park | near-ne = Shenton Park | near-w = Mount Claremont | near-e = Nedlands | near-sw = Claremont | near-s = Nedlands | near-se = Nedlands | dist1 = 8 | dir1 = WSW | location1= Perth CBD }} '''Karrakatta''' is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Nedlands and 7 km west of the central business district. Its postcode is 6010.
Karrakatta is composed of two distinct areas, due to the Fremantle railway line passing through the suburb. On the south side is Karrakatta Cemetery,<ref>{{Citation | author1=Coleman, Shalom | author2=Western Australia. Karrakatta Cemetery Board | title=A short history of the Karrakatta cemetery | year=1979 | publication-date=1979 | publisher=Karrakatta Cemetery Board of Trustees | edition=PBK | isbn=978-0-9595203-0-9 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | author1=Western Australia. Metropolitan Cemeteries Board | title=Karrakatta Cemetery : historical walk trail | publication-date=1998 | publisher=Metropolitan Cemeteries Board | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/9287404 | accessdate=13 March 2013 }}</ref> which began service in 1899,<ref>{{Citation | author1=Liveris, Leonie B. (Leonie Beth) | author2=Western Australia. Metropolitan Cemeteries Board | title=Memories eternal : the first 100 years of Karrakatta | year=1999 | publication-date=1999 | publisher=Metropolitan Cemeteries Board | isbn=978-0-646-37207-5 }}</ref> with a small industrial area occupied by monument builders, associated companies and the depot for City of Nedlands.
The other area north of the railway line and Karrakatta railway station is occupied by the Australian Defence Force's Irwin Army Barracks.
==Etymology== The meaning of the name ''Karrakatta'' is disputed. Historical records from the founding of the Karrakatta Club, the oldest women's club in Australia, indicate the name was chosen based on the belief that it was an Aboriginal word meaning "hill of fire".<ref>{{cite news |last=Wynne |first=Emma |date=2014-10-07 |title=The intellectual pursuits of Australia's oldest women's club |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-07/perth-karrakatta-club-australia-oldest-womens-club/5796074 |work=ABC News |access-date=2026-04-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Karrakatta Club (Inc.) |date=2022-04-14 |title=Karrakatta Club Hisotry |url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5912db0abebafb40ee624be1/t/628ef9dad1fd8a11dd586874/1653537325049/A+Brief+History%3A+The+Karrakatta+Club.pdf |location=Perth, WA |publisher=Karrakatta Club |page=3 |access-date=2026-04-09}}</ref>
However, linguistic research into Noongar placenames suggests alternative derivations. Forster notes that the name more likely originates from words for "spider" (''kara'') or "crab" (''karri''), combined with ''katta'' (meaning "head" or "hill"). This yields possible meanings of "hill of the spiders" or "hill of crabs", aligning with the area's topography and fauna.<ref>{{cite web |last=Forster |first=Pat |date=2020-04-17 |title=Noongar Placenames with Connections to Water |url=https://patforsterblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/noongar-placenames-with-connections-to-water-april-17.pdf |website=Pat Forster Blog |page=8-9 |access-date=2026-04-09}}</ref>
==Transport==
===Bus=== *{{legend2|#00337B}} 25 Claremont Station to Shenton Park Station – serves Smyth Road<ref>{{Cite Transperth bus|25}}</ref> *{{legend2|#00337B}} 27 Claremont Station to East Perth – serves Brockway Road<ref>{{Cite Transperth bus|27}}</ref>
===Rail=== *{{legend2|#00337B}}{{legend2|#00C8B5}} Fremantle/Airport Line ** Karrakatta Station ** Loch Street Station
==See also== * Karrakatta Club
==Notes== {{reflist}}
{{Perth western suburbs}}
Category:Karrakatta, Western Australia Category:Suburbs of Perth, Western Australia Category:Suburbs in the City of Nedlands
{{PerthAU-geo-stub}}