 A large Aboriginal base camp, at least 4,500 years old lies under the Tonkin Highway, just to the north of Guildford Road.When Europeans founded the Swan River Colony in 1829, the Swan River was a big focus, and land along the river was divided into narrow strips called ribbon grants, but most of the area remained undeveloped until the 20th century because the land was very poor quality and waterlogged.The only obvious sign of colonisation in the area was a track that goes between Perth and Guildford, which will become the present day Guildford Road.