Western Australian Sites
Kings Park and Botanic Gardens, Perth
>> return to Kings Park page
Kings Park is a large urban parkland designed in the picturesque tradition. Located on Mt Eliza, adjacent to the Swan River this area was used by the local aboriginal people (Nyoongar) for at least 40,000 years.
The park is regarded as significant for
-
Its aboriginal cultural values – Mt Eliza was a meeting place for the Nyoongar.
-
It contains a large area of urban bushland (approx. 346 ha). This area is composed of a mixed heath on shallow escarpment soils as well as Eucalyptus/Allocasuarina/Banksia communities on deeper soils.
-
It displays examples of late (19th and early (20th designed landscapes
In the 1870s, 175 hectares were set aside as a recreation reserve with more land added in 1890. The park today is around 400 hectares (1000 acres) and offers spectacular views to the city, river and the Darling Range.
The large size of the park and close proximity to the CBD has led to it including a wide variety of features and functions. Over many years the park has developed a range of attractions set within bushland. These include:
-
Scenic drives and honour avenues (lined with majestic native trees)
-
City monuments including memorials, such as statues, cenotaphs, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander War Memorial, Vietnam Memorial and the Pioneer Women’s Memorial Fountain (link)
-
Picnic areas and children’s playgrounds
-
-
-
Recent developments within the park include the Western Power Parklands. Landscape Architects, Plan E, co-ordinated the design of this contemporary playground. The success of the project was recognised with a National Design Award from AILA in 2004
REFERENCES
Aitken & Looker Oxford companion to Australian gardens
Goldswain, Philip (2003) “A walk in Kings Park”
>> return to Kings Park page
>> picture essay
photos: paul costigan 2003 & 2005
