Kings Park, Western Australia

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Location of Kings Park by Perth City

Kings Park is a 4 km² park located on the western edge of Perth, Western Australia central business district. The park is a mixture of grassed parkland, botanical gardens and natural bushland on Mount Eliza.

Besides tourist facilities Kings Park contains the State War Memorial, the Royal Kings Park Tennis club and a reservoir. The streets are tree lined with individual plaques dedicated by family members to Western Australian Service men and women who died in World War I and World War II.

1 History
2 Memorials
3 Botanic Garden
4 Facilities
- 4.1 Guided walks
5 Photo gallery
6 References
7 Further reading
8 External links

Officially opened on 10th August 1895,^[1] the park was originally called Perth Park and was renamed in 1901 to mark the ascension of King Edward VII and the visit to Perth of George, the Duke of Cornwall and Princess Mary. One of the major roads through the park, May Drive is named in the Princess's honour.

Kings Park War Memorial and Eternal Flame

Kings View from South Perth

It occupies 4.06 km² of the crest of Mount Eliza which overlooks the City and Perth Water on the Swan River. Two-thirds of the park is native bushland. The park is larger than New York's Central Park which is 3.41 km². It was also the first park to be designated for public use in Australia (in 1872). During September-October of each year Kings Park hosts Australia's largest wildflower show and exhibition.

Prior to European settlement and exploration Mount Eliza was known as Mooro Katta^[1] and Kaarta Gar-up^[2] by the Nyoongar inhabitants. At the base of the southern face is a freshwater spring, known as Kennedy spring (Goonininup), this is a fresh water spring providing year round water for the Yellagonga clan. The availability for fresh water also attracted the Swan Brewery to the site and original buildings of the Old Swan Brewery still remain and have been converted to restaurants, art gallery and residential accommodation.

The Colony's first Surveyor General John Septimus Roe recognised the qualities of the area and tried to protect it, by identifying the land to set aside for public purposes. By 1835 Roe's protection was overturned and the first shipment of five tonnes of Jarrah was cut on Mt Eliza. Logging in the area continued until 1871 when Roe's successor Malcolm Fraser persuaded the then Governor Weld to set aside 175 hectares as public reserve. In 1890 this was enlarged to its current size by Sir John Forrest.^[1]

Since 1999, Kings Park has been administered by the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, who also administer Bold Park, and does not come under any Local Government authority. The park's administration building contains all the administrative offices where visitors may book guided walking tours, get information, or reserve one of the facilities.

Sugar gums on Lovekin drive (one of the Honour Avenues) with plaques in front

The State War Memorial is located in Kings Park and has the name of all service men and women from Western Australia to serve in the Boer War, World War I, World War II, Korean War or Vietnam. Distributed through out the park are more specific memorials to various Battles, Units, POWs and other groups.

The roads through King Park have been planted with eucalypt trees and in front of each one is a plaque honouring those service men who died during action or as a result of wounds received, there are over 1100 of these plaques.^[1] Originally proposed by Mr Arthur Lovekin, owner of the Daily News. His idea was based on the Avenue of Honour in Ballarat, Victoria. Originally families were required to pay 10 shilling to cover the cost of the plantings, exservicemen provided the necessary labour to plant the trees. In 1920 Mr Lovekin and Board member Sir William Loton, each donated 500 pounds to clear and plant Forrest avenue with Sugar Gums. After Mr Arthur Lovekin died the Kings Park board renamed Forrest avenue to Lovekin Drive.^[3]

From the northern entrance the Lemon Scented Gum trees lining the road are to honour the dignitories and members of the Centenary Committee who on the 29th September 1929 planted the trees.

An excellent view of Fraser Avenue in 1899 from the Perth Observatory shows the original state of the entrance and drive in the Weekend News Flashback Series 3542b 124 held in the Battye Library Photographic collection.

See also: 2002 Bali bombings

This memorial is dedicated to the 16 Western Australian victims, the injured and those who helped the survivors of the terrorist bombings on October 12, 2002 in the resort town of Kuta on the Indonesian island of Bali, where 202 people were killed and 209 injured. The majority of the dead were foreign tourists, including 88 Australians.

Main article: Edith Dircksey Cowan Memorial

The Edith Dircksey Cowan Memorial, formerly known as the Edith Cowan Memorial Clock, is the clock tower at the main entrance Kings Park. It was built in 1934 as a memorial to Edith Cowan, the first female member of any Australian parliament. It is believed to be the first civic monument erected in Australia to honour an Australian woman.

The botanic garden in an 18 Ha site within the park. Currently known as the Western Australian Botanic Garden it has a collection of 2000 species of Western Australian flora on display. The garden was opened to the public in 1965.

Twice daily the Kings Park Volunteer Guides provide guided walking tours of the monuments and memorials, bushland paths and the Botanic Garden. The guides cover all aspects of the park including the local Noongar names and traditions. Walks are varied according to the Noongar season Djilba-Kambarang (July-October) for the wildflower season; the Mukuru for May and June, and the Birak-Djeran for November - April.

Lemon-scented gums along Fraser Avenue	A view of Kings Park from South Perth, overlooking the Narrows Bridge	Botanic Garden plaque	Bali Memorial at night
The tree lined avenues of Kings Park are illuminated at night	Perth city skyline from Kings Park	View from the top of the DNA Tower towards Subiaco	View of the city from the DNA Tower
View of South Perth from the DNA Tower