Kings Park, Perth Western Australia

At this time of year the temperature is unusually mild although before long in fact any day now it will be boiling hot by comparison.

It's a great time to chill out and what better place to do it than KINGS PARK. I drove 500 metres up Mount Street from Mountway and parked the car. A few metres more and you are in one the Most beautiful and tranquil parks in the world.

I carried my camera with me and took a few shots. Looking into the facts surrounding Kings Park and it history and purpose was an enlightening experience. I have jotted down some notes which I am sure all prospective guests at Mountway Holiday Apartments will find interesting. There is nothing like the real thing so come on over to KINGS PARK!

Kings Park

In 1831, most of Mount Eliza and surrounding bushland was given to the people for public purposes by Lieutenant Governor James Stirling and Surveyor General John Septimus Roe.

In 1872 Governor Frederick Weld and Surveyor General Malcolm Fraser formally gazetted 432 acres of the 1831 reserve as a Public Park. An additional area of land surrounding Mount Eliza was added to the public space in 1890.

Development of the park commenced in 1892. The area was fenced with gates at either end of a newly constructed Perth Park Road. Sections of the road have since been renamed Fraser Avenue, Forrest Drive and Poole Avenue.

The area was named ‘Perth Park' in 1895 but was changed to 'Kings Park' in 1901 to mark the accession of King Edward VII to the British throne.

Each year Kings Park and the Botanic Garden are visited by several million people. The park is the most popular visitor destination in Western Australia.

Kings Park and the Botanic Gardens are situated adjacent to the City of Perth and the Swan River. From several very good vantage points you can see all the way over the river and city to the Darling Scarp.

The park is popular for picnics, garden and bush walks, cultural and ceremonial events such as weddings, Anzac Day 25th April each year.   Two thirds of the Park is natural bush containing over 300 species of native plants and almost 90 bird species.   The State War Memorial was erected in 1929 and there are special memorials throughout the Park dedicated to those who died during service to Australia.

About 3,000 of Western Australia's extensive species of plants are displayed, with major gardens concentrating on regional floras.There are many things to do in Kings Park apart from taking in the fantastic views of the river and Perth. Fine dining for luncheon or dinner is available at Frasers Restaurant.

Opened in 1965, the Western Australian Botanic Garden is unique for its focus on the local diverse selection or fauna and wildflowers of Western Australia.

Memorials

John Forrest: The statue honours the first Premier of Western Australia and the first President of the Kings Park Board.

ANZAC Bluff Commemorative Plaque: This plaque is dedicated to the 2500 men of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps known as ANZAC, who lost their lives in the Gallipoli campaign of 1915.

South African War Memorial: The first war memorial erected in the Park. It honours Western Australian soldiers killed in the Boer War (1899-1902). The Krupp field gun was captured at Bothaville and presented to the State by the British Government in 1906.

Leake Memorial Fountain: Erected as a memorial to George Leake who became Premier of Western Australia in 1901.   2/16th Battalion Memoria: Honours the men of this battalion who fought in Syria, New Guinea and Borneo in WWII.

State War Memorial Precinct

Court of Contemplation: Commemorates the conflicts in which Western Australians have fallen. The walls feature the names of major battlefields. The Flame of Remembrance within the Pool of Reflection burns continuously.

Cenotaph: An 18 metre granite obelisk commemorates all Western Australians who gave their lives in the service of their country. The internal walls of the under-croft list the names of more than 7000 members of the services killed in action or who died of wounds or illness in WWI. Bronze plaques on the outside walls of the under-croft list the names of nearly 4000 Australians who lost their lives in WWII. Names of the fallen from subsequent conflicts are included here.

10th Light Horse Memorial: The 10th Light Horse Regiment is one of the country's oldest and best known. It was formed in 1900 and was trained in Western Australia. The Memorial honours 301 men from this regiment who fell in WW1.

Queen Victoria Statue: Presented to the people of Western Australia by Mr A. Stoneham in 1902, the two guns dated 1843 may have been used in the Crimean War. Those dated 1813 and 1814 may have been used by Wellington's army at Waterloo.

Kokoda Memorial Plaque: Commemorates all units who served on the Kokoda Track in WWII.

Jewish War Memorial: Erected in 1920 to honour soldiers of the Jewish faith who died in WWI. A plaque was added in 1953 to commemorate those who died in WWII.

The Queens Tree: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth planted this tree on her visit to WA in 1954.

Bali Memorial: The Bali Memorial is dedicated to Western Australians who died, or were injured, in the Bali terrorist attacks on 12 October 2002 and honours the courage and support provided by many individual volunteers and organisations following the incident. It was officially dedicated on 12 October 2003.