The land comprising the suburb was granted to Archibald Butler in 1830 and was acquired by the Scotsman, Sir Alexander Percival Matheson in 1896. Matheson is believed to have named Attadale after a small town in Scotland situated in to eastern shores of Lock Carron, not far from Applecross.

Attadale sits on the Swan River, between Applecross and Bicton. It is a quiet residential suburb comprising mostly of family housing on large blocks. There is a wide range of house prices from multi-million dollar mansions on the waterfront, to modest older properties that are ripe for conversion/re-build.

One of the biggest attractions of the suburb is that it is adjacent to the Point Walter reserve, with cycle/walkways along Blackwall Reach, to Fremantle. The city centre can also be reached by bike along cycleways and designated quiet roads in Applecross. The suburb is well served by two groups of local shops/restaurants as well as those along Canning Highway and a large area of shops/warehouses (such as Bunnings) are only a few minutes away between Leach Highway and Marmion. Fremantle is a short distance and can be reached by road along the riverside without passing through any traffic lights.

Schools include Attadale Primary school, Santa Maria Ladies College, Mel Maria and Pignatellis. Sporting facilities include tennis club, Melville Squash Centre, Melville Sports Centre, Point Walter Golf Course and Troy Park Oval.

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