A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF ROBERTSON PARK · Reasearched by Chris Hair M.Urb.Des., B.Arch.(Hons), Dip.Vis.Arts, on behalf of the Friends of Robertson Park. (friendsofrobertsonpark.com.au)

A PICTORIAL HISTORY

OF ROBERTSON PARK

Researched by Chris Hair for the Friends of Robertson Park

Boojoormelup in 1864

A PICTORIAL HISTORY

OF ROBERTSON PARK

Reasearched by Chris Hair M.Urb.Des., B.Arch.(Hons), Dip.Vis.Arts, on behalf of the Friends of Robertson Park.(friendsofrobertsonpark.com.au) for all those interested in the past and future of their park.

Chris has been a neighbour of Robertson Park since 1997.

Edition 1. February 2019. Copyright: Chris Hair unless otherwise acknowledged by italics note.

The park is also known as:

• Boojoormelup, from time immemorial by the WyadjukNyoongar nation

• Lake Henderson or Henderson’s Lake, from 1829 by colonizers

1829

A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF ROBERTSON PARK

Department of Planning , Capital City Planning Framework, 2013

Boorjoormelup and colonization

Boojoormelup(Lake Henderson -east)

1838

Goongarnalayarreenup(Lake Henderson - west)

First surveyed map of Perth - 1838

N


Battye Library collection


Boundary of the future Robertson Park.

future Randell St

futu

re F

itzg

eral

d S

t

future Stuart St

Boojoormelup

(Lake Henderson - east)

Palmerston St surveyed by 1858, but still unmade.

N



1864

Indigenous landscape

Boojoormelup (Lake Henderson) in January 1864 Photo: Alfred Hawes Stone: 1801-1873Battye PH00/PH00370A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF ROBERTSON PARK


1864


Photo taken in January 1864

West Australian, 23 November 1928, p22

Battye 3451B/1

1864

Photo: Alfred Hawes Stone: 1801-1873Boojoormelup (Lake Henderson) in JanuaryA PICTORIAL HISTORY OF ROBERTSON PARK



Battye 3451B/1

Photo: Alfred Hawes Stone: 1801-1873

Boojoormelup in January (Lake Henderson) with Nyoongar owners

1864


Photo taken in January 1864

West Australian, 23 November 1928, p22



1874Boojoormelup

(Lake Henderson)

N

A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF ROBERTSON PARK Drainage of Perth’s lake system, built from 1830s to 1890s

connected via the existing lake drains to Claisebrook

Drainage and subdivisionDrain built through Boojoormelup by convict labour

The original section of

Palmerston Villa

(sometimes also called

Palmerston House) built by

Edward Keane from 1882.

The house was built from white-

washed, sun-dried bricks and

had wide verandas and deep-set

windows. Several additions were made to it over the years.

1882


Palmerston Villa, City of Perth PH04/PH04186

Edward Keane’s personal milestones included:

1879 A successful tender for sections of the Guildford-York railway1882 A further successful tender for the railway line to Bunbury-Boyanup1885 Founding Vice President of the WACA1886 Appointed contractor for the Geraldton-to-Perth railway1886-1889 MLC for Geraldton1889-1890 MLC for Perth1890-1891 MLA for Geraldton1895 Manager of Midland Railway Company1896-98 Chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works1897 Bankrupted (both personally and his business) while building the Perth-to-

Geraldton railway line1901–92 Mayor of the City of Perth1904 MLC for East Province1904 Died 9 July 1904

Drainage and subdivision

Edward Keane The Possum ,

Saturday 22 October 1887 p7

1884N

Edward Keane’s Palmerston Villa/House (1882)

Lot resumed to build drain (1872)

Lot resumed to build drain (1872)

Convict-built drains,to drain Lake Henderson (1874)

Market gardens in drained lake bed (1870s)

residents residentslot owners

The lake is subdivided into 1.2 acre (0.5ha) lots with a drainage reserve down their rear boundaries (1860s)


Ownership/residency key for all maps


1885


From 1885 there was regular subdivision of the orininal 0.5 ha lots around the perimeter of Henderson’s Lake into smaller suburban lots, on which new homes were slowly built.

Subdivision around the lake


Two lake-edge subdivisions from 1885

slwa_b4557696_2 slwa_b5142116_2

1902

Lee Hop’s Cottage (1903)

Stables - originally built by Edward Keane for Palmerston Villa

Perth Pneumatic Malting Coy opens (1902)

All market gardeners now have Chinese names

Tennis court and fountain at Palmerston Villa

Carrack St (later Stuart St) surveyed, but not built (1901)


Housing, and Chinese gardens built around the former lake

NDrainage and subdivision

1913


1913: Decision made by City of Perth (at William Bold’s suggestion) to acquire the former Lake Henderson for a future park.

1917: About 15 August, the City of Perth name the park “Robertson Park” after a WWI English General, probably Major-General Sir Philip Rynd Robertson.

The creation of Robertson Park

Fitzgerald St looking toward Perth from the corner of Vincent St, ~1914. The Chinese gardens of Lake Henderson are on the left of the distant horses in the middle of the street.

SLWA BA1104/161 ; photo by Louis E Shapcott

Park conceived and named

http://encore.slwa.wa.gov.au/iii/encore/RecordDisplayPage,searchBrowseResultBibFullComponent.recordDetailComponent.callNoBrowseDirectLinkComponent.sdirect?lang=eng&sp=Sb1919222&suite=def

The former Palmerston Villa first becomes Ormiston College, and then several years

later in 1915 becomes the first campus of Presbyterian Ladies College.

shown here overshadowed by Edward Keane’s three Moreton Bay fig trees to its rear.

1915


City of Perth PH04/PH04186 1914

Palmerston Villa/House becomes P.L.C.


1917

electrical sub-station, owned by the Perth City Council.

larger houses built on Palmerston St (1910 to 1917)

City of Perth buys 10.5 acres of “Chinese gardens” for future recreational purposes (1914)

Perth and Fremantle Bottle Exchange begins operation (after 1902)

N


Carrack St built some time after 1909.

Perth Jewish Association buys a lot and starts to operate a “Hebrew School”. (1917)

Palmerston Villa becomes Ormiston College, and then Ormiston College becomes Presbyterian Ladies’ College (1915)

City of Perth and institutions buy land around the former lake


1917

New street with 12 residential lots on the east side, to be sold by council.

Cowle St to be extended through to Palmerston St


by H.Kelly, Assistant City Engineer

First plan for developing Robertson Park


Cowele Street extension“The park and children's

playground to be laid out with

avenues, flower beds and

lawns, and the playground to

be provided with footpaths,

wading pool, gravel, square

for playing ground, and a half

timber-work shelter with tiled

roof.”

new

str

eet

Daily News, 1 November

1917, page 7

The new Robertson Park of about 6 acres (2.4ha)

There are no immediate plans to build the park, but rather the City intends to take any opportunity that arises to undertake a step-by-step implementation.

1918


The building of the Synagogue is begun by the Perth Jewish Association


A 1926 photo of the rear of the Synagogue (the Little Shule) built on Palmerston St. No photo of the front of the Little Shule has come to hand as yet.

City of Perth PH00/PH00398 ~1926

Chinese market gardens from Fitzgerald St, just before being reclaimed by the Perth

City Council to create Robertson Park. City of Perth PH00/PH00397 ~1925

Edward Keane’s figsthe Little Shule rear of houses on Palmerston StRandell St

Convict-built drain

1925



The filling of the Chinese gardens to make the park

http://photosau.com.au/vincent/scripts/Navigate.asp?mode=half&start=6&pDocs=30&pSrch=1

1926


Dairy Farmers Cooperative Ltd. milk depot and butter factory, Stuart St, 1926. SLWA BA533/159

“W. C. ANGWIN, M.L.A., laying the

foundation stone of the milk depot and

butter factory which is being erected for

the Dairy Farmers' Co-operative Co., Ltd.,

in Stuart-street, North Perth. The

ceremony was performed on November

20.”Sunday Times, Sunday

29 November 1925,

page 5.

The neighborhood evolves

City of Perth PH00/PH00398 ~1926

Former market gardens being reclaimed by the Perth City Council to create Robertson Park

The Little ShuleRandell St homes

1926original paperbark trees from Boojoormelupshoreline


The filling of the Chinese gardens to make the park


West Australian , Friday 23 November 1928, page 22

1928



“A pavilion (81ft. x 28ft.), containing ladies’ and gents’ dressing rooms, kitchen, showers,

lavatories, and pumping station has been erected at a cost of 1,198 pounds.”

City of Perth Municipal Year Book 1930

Tennis pavilion in the course of construction

City of Perth PH00/PH00371

1929 Westralian Farmers’ dairy on Stuart St

Edward Keane’s figs on Palmerston St


1929: the temporary court layout, aligned with the drain


1930: The final court layout, aligned with the streets Battye 012402d


1929


The creation of Robertson ParkCity of Perth publish a design for the new park

Centerlines of the main design elements

It is designed in the “City Beautiful” style, with the key elements of the design arranged around two north-south axes.

The plan included extensive play and sports facilities for girls and boys from “infants” to “seniors”.

Plan drawn in 1929 at the “City Engineering Office”, and published in the “City of Perth Municipal year Book 1930”.

Reconstruction of the

design actually built

1929


Children’s playground amid a cathedral of trees. (Box trees on the

inside rows, Port Jackson figs on the outside rows)

park entrance


Comparing the published and actually built designs, it’s clear the two central axis remained at the centre of the built design, but the infrastructure being provided was greatly simplified.

Centerlines of the main design elements

1929

Westralian Farmers’ dairy (1926)

Temporary tennis courts, laid out parallel to convict

drain (~ 1927)

synagogue widely known as “the Little Schule” (begun 1918)

City of Perth buys stables to extend park (early 1920s)

City of Perth resumes more land for park (1927)

First entrance to new tennis courts (1925)

City of Perth fills lake bed with various materials (begun 1922)

Timber tennis pavilion (1928)

N


P.L.C. moves to Peppermint Grove (1918)

Tennis opens


“Seventeen new tennis courts, laid down by

the City Council on Robertson Park, North

Perth, were opened last Saturday by Mr. J.

MacCallum Smith, M.L.A. The park was

originally a swamp known as Henderson

Lake, and later the site of Chinese

gardens.”

FROM SWAMP TO TENNIS COURTS:

Western Mail , Thursday 21

February 1929, page 26

1929

The opening ceremony for the tennis courts, with Fitzgerald St in the background


The creation of Robertson ParkTennis opens

Plans from the contract to build the playground “pavilion”, dated 19 Jan 1931

1931



SLWA

Contract signed by: William Lathlain, Lord Mayor; & William Bold, Town Clerk.

Building the playground

“HUNDREDS OF DELIGHTED

KIDDIES WILL MAKE

ROBERTSON PARK THEIR

RENDEZVOUS IN FUTURE.

This afternoon the official opening of the

children's playground took place, Cr. T.

W. Langley performing the ceremony.

Top left: A round-about.

Top right: On the bars. Bottom left: In the

concrete paddling pool. Bottom right:

The rocker for the tiny ones. The park is

in Fitzgerald-street, North Perth.”

Daily News, Saturday 7

November 1931, page 6

1931

Children playing at the opening of the Robertson Park children’s playground A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF ROBERTSON PARK

The creation of Robertson ParkBuilding the playground

“CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUNDS

AT ROBERTSON PARK

The principal development work

in the city reserves during the

past year has been at Robertson

Park, where few years ago there

was a wilderness. The south-

western section has been laid

out as children's playgrounds,

on the lines of the Glover

playgrounds at Adelaide.”

West Australian, Friday 15

January 1932, page 20

1932


Playground in use

The park in use

“Brilliant sunshine attracts

more and more kiddies to the

public playgrounds in these

days, which give promise of

early spring. A happy scene

today caught by a staff

photographer of a group of

merry youngsters at

Robertson Park, West Perth.”

Daily News, Saturday 13

August 1932, page 15

1932

Children playing, with the tennis courts and Randell St in the backgroundA PICTORIAL HISTORY OF ROBERTSON PARK

The park in usePlayground in use

“MOTHERS' MINDS AT REST

Mrs. C. Bredahl, who has been appointed playground leader at

Robertson Park, West Perth, is shown directing her charges in

their various games. Left: Sailing miniature boats in the wading

pool. Right: Mrs. Bredahl and one of her tiny playmates.”

1932 Daily News, Saturday

28 May 1932, page 15

1932



A group of children on swings and climbing equipment in the playgroundPH00/PH00366 1933

Tennis courts

Edward Keane’s figs

1933

Rear of Palmerston St houses

Recently planted Port Jackson figs

Women’s playing field




The playground from the roof of Lee Hop’s cottage City of Perth PH00/PH00367

Port Jackson figs

Women’s playing field


1934The park in use

The final tennis court layout and pavilion, with Fitzgerald Street in the background

1935



SLWA ~1935

Lake St Kindergarten (1915)

WestfarmersHoneypoolbuilding (1925).

1935

Union Maltings, (various dates)

Bottle yard (various dates)

Lot resumed by City of Perth for extending the park (1927)

A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF ROBERTSON PARK SLWA : 019501PD

Industry expandsGoode, Durrantand Co., clothing manufacturers (from 1908)

Aerial view, with Union Maltings in the centre


“SEEN THROUGH A PIPE.— This picture was taken from the

inside of one of the sewerage pipes

ready to be laid at Robertson Park,

North Perth. The park is also a

playground for children.”

A regional sewer connecting Claisebrook to Subiaco waste-water plant being laid across the Robertson Park. Playground equipment and Fitzgerald St are in the background

1935

Daily News, Thursday

11 July 1935, page 13


Regional sewerage taken across the park.

The park in use

1936

“IN A HOLE.A 2½ -ton motor roller which

sank through the surface of a

tennis court at Robertson Park,

North Perth, yesterday. The

courts are laid down on a

reclaimed swamp and the roller

was in a slight depression when

the mishap occurred.”

West Australian, Thursday

9 July 1936, page 3


The park fill continues to settle

The park in use

Looking west across the Women’s field. The side of the playground pavilion is behind the hockey players, with houses on Fitzgerald St visible in the background.

“Leaders in Women's HockeyIncidents at Robertson Park on a

recent Sunday morning during the

training of two teams of aspirants

for inclusion in the State team of the

Western Australian Women's

Hockey Association.

May Pearce flicking the ball past

the goalkeeper, U. Glauert while the

forwards and backs look on.”

1936

Western Mail, Thursday

16 July 1936, page 3


Women’s sport arrives

The park in use

“The 1937 season at the women’s hockey association was opened on Saturday 17 April with a carnival at Robertson Park. (left) “Boans” team competing in the march past down Stuart Street with the dairy in the background. (right) Miss May Pearce, an international player, in the dribbling competition.”

West Australian, Monday 19 April 1937, page 18

1937

Marching down Stuart

St, with Westralian

Farmers’ dairy and

maltings’ roof vents behind


Women’s sport arrives

The park in use

Robertson Park about 1937

1937

Newcastle St

Stuart St

Randell St


“Sunday Times NEWS REELWEST PERTH:

Despite the heat, these kiddies

found sufficient energy to enjoy a

swing at Robertson Park.”

Sunday Times, Sunday 3

January 1937, page 5

1937


Playground in the news

The park in use

“Sunday Times

NEWS REEL

ROBERTSON PARK:

An amateur gymnast shows her

ability to a critical audience.”

1937 Sunday Times, Sunday

24 January 1937, page 5

1937


Playground in the news

The park in use

“’ A DREAM come true’ aptly describes the

children's library which, day by day, is

coming nearer to completion in the little

cream and green cottage on the corner of

Fitzgerald and Stuart streets.

From each room and the wide verandahs

which surround them on two sides, it is

possible to catch glimpses of the remainder

of the building and the wide expanse of

ground to one side of the library which the

council has leased to the league for a

peppercorn rental.”1939 West Australian, Tuesday

25 July 1939, page 5The Children’s Library from Fitzgerald St.

Western Mail Thursday 18 February 1943, page 4

1939

The Children's Library of Remembrance and Craft Centre, opens.


The park in use

1940

1968 PH01/PH01318

Little Citizens’ League’s outdoor theatre, located between the children’s library and the caretaker cottage. The stage building was home to the Perth City Band from 1940 when it was built, until their permanent park home in Halvorsen Hall was opened in 1970.


The park in use.Theatre opens next to Children's Library

1950 SLWA BA2811/87 Stage interior The theatre


Sunday Times, Sunday 18 August 1940, page 6

“Cecilia Reveals Grace.Miss Cecilia Tomney (Economic

Stores Patriotic Queen) in a

graceful pose yesterday when she

threw a goal for the Economic in

the basketball game against

Scotties at Robertson Park.

Economic won by 11 goals.”

1940

A new basketball court with the fence of the bottle yard behindA PICTORIAL HISTORY OF ROBERTSON PARK

Women’s basketball established in the park

The park in use

Western Mail, Thursday 31 July 1941, page 6

A struggle for possession of the ball

in the A grade basketball match

between Coles and Smilers which

was played at Robertson Park on

July 26. Coles have won the A grade

Premiership for three years in

succession.”

“SPORTS SHOTS

1941

A new basketball court, with the rear of a Palmerston St house behindA PICTORIAL HISTORY OF ROBERTSON PARK

Women’s basketball established in the park

The park in use

1946

Children’s playground (1931)

Final tennis court layout

Lee Hop Cottage becomes park caretaker’s cottage (~1930)

City of Perth purchase extra lot for park (1934)

New lot used to build women’s basketball courts (~1940)

Children’s Library (1939)

Playground pavilion (~1931)

Children’s Theater (1940)


The park in useThe original design of Robertson Park matures

Boys’ Tennis Teams at Robertson Park. Stuart St. and the dairy are behind.

1950

City of Perth PH01/PH01601a 1950s


The park in useTennis thrives


1953


The park in useTennis thrives

Dep. Lands 1953

West Australian, Monday 31 May 1954, page 15

“IT TAKES MUCH PRACTICE

TO BE A GOOD BANDSMANBandsmen do not achieve success

without practice. Wet weather was no

deterrent yesterday morning when

musicians from several metropolitan

bands went to Robertson Park, North

Perth, for their weekly practice together.

They hope that by playing with members

of other bands they will be able to

improve the standard in this State.”

1955


City of Perth Band with competition trophies at the western end of the theatre in Robertson Park, 1955. The band regularly paraded around Robertson Park on Sundays from 1940 to 1999.SLWA BA2811/27

The park in useCultural diversity grows

1954Sub-tenants showed reporters one room in which they said 7 children slept

together in 3 single beds and a baby's cot. There was practically no free space.

The children belonged to 2 families who claimed to be paying, between them,

£7/10/ a week for 3 closely adjacent rooms. One paid £4, another £3/10/.

Another family with 3 children paid £4 a week for one room containing broken

furniture. The whole family of 5 slept, ate and prepared food in this room.

Others paid similar rentals. The establishment provides, in a community

kitchen, a battery of 8 gas stoves served by slot meters. The kitchen is equipped

with a sink and one small table.”

“This is a filthy story. It is a story of what The Sunday

Times reporters saw at premises situated at 123

Palmerston Street, Perth, this week.

Nearly 40 people are living there in circumstances which

are a menace to their health and the health of the

community.

Here is the evidence. - The place is a large dilapidated

lodging house about a mile from the Town Hall.Sunday Times Sunday 28 February 1954, page 3

Slums at former Palmerston Villa/House


1968


Gianfranco Merizzi places a time capsule in the foundation of additions to the W.A. Italian Club, 18 September 1967

A mural by G. Volpato installed in the new ballroom at the W.A. Italian Club, July 1968

Major Italian Club building opens opposite Robertson Park

The neighborhood evolvesCultural diversity grows

Robertson Park tennis pavilion, with the Edward Keane planted figs behind.City of Perth 1968 PH01/PH01319

1968


The park settles into maturity

The park in use


City of Perth 1968

PH01/PH01317

1968

The former Children's Library of Remembrance and Craft Centre, on the corner of Fitzgerald St and Stuart St in 1968. The building was built as a house about 1910, and the lot acquired by the City of Perth in 1932 to extend the park. In 1939 the house was modernized and refurbished by the City of Perth for lease to the Little Citizens’ League to operate as a children’s library. The library closed in the mid-1950s and the building demolished by 1970.


The park in use



City of Perth 1968

PH01/PH01316

Robertson Park caretaker's (Lee Hop's) cottage. Various City Of Perth park caretakers occupied the house from 1928 to 1992 , when the position of Robertson Park caretaker was eliminated. It then remained unoccupied until restoration began in 2001.

1968


The park in use



The opening of Halvorsen Hall, on 28 November 1970, with the City of Perth Band in front. Following the dismantling of the City of Perth in 1994, the band left Robertson Park in 1999 for Queens Gardens so it could continue its association with the City of Perth

1970

A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF ROBERTSON PARK slwa_b4792673_1

‘Modernisation’ of the park The City of Perth Band gets a new home

1973


Dep. Lands 1973

‘Modernisation’ of the park

A new tennis pavilion was opened in 1982. It was built further north than the original 1928 pavilion, which was demolished upon the new building’s completion. The original timber mid-court shelters were also replaced by brick and weatherboard shelters.

1982



1930s 1995

New tennis pavilion and shelters

1983

Halverson Hall, built for City of Perth Band (1970)

Palmerston Villa purchased by City of Perth (1965) & demolished soon after.

The Little Shule purchased by City of Perth (1973) & demolished soon after.

Original tennis pavilion demolished and

replaced by a new brick pavilion (1982)

Children’s library and theatre demolished (~1970)

Town house groups replace early 20C homes (1980-1982)

Bottle yard closes (~1980)

Basketball court paving is enlarged and converted to a carpark (~1970)

Playground and its pavilion demolished, and

a carpark built in at its northern end (~1970)



N

1986


City of Perth Junior

Brass Band at

Halvorsen Hall.slwa_b4792684_1


1989

A group of 4 grass tennis courts are converted to hard surface and lit for night-time use.A PICTORIAL HISTORY

OF ROBERTSON PARK

SLWA 270461PD


1989

Guardian Express June 13,1989- page 5

The vacant bottle yard property was purchased in 1987 by the City of Perth to complete Robertson Park. The property was then included as part of the park, but remained undeveloped.

The yard quickly became derelict, so the buildings were demolished in 1989.



Part of the undeveloped bottle yard section of the Robertson Park, with the Union Maltings behind, corner of Stuart and Palmerston Sts.

1995


The park left unresolved and neglected

The bottle yard section is undeveloped

Robertson Park’s Stuart St fence. A leftover from a previous industrial use.

1995

Robertson Park Fitzgerald St fence, with tennis courts up to the park boundary.



Infrastructure in disrepair

The centre of Robertson Park, looking towards Palmerston St, where the double path is now located. The central carpark, which was built about 1970, holds over 100 bays but is rarely used. The park had no paths or gardens beds.

1995



The park has no paths or gardens beds

The caretaker’s (Lee Hop’s ) cottage awaiting demolition to allow the

widening of Fitzgerald St by Main Roads WA.

The house’s yard is being used to store heavy earth-moving vehicles.

1995



Lee Hop’s cottage is derelict

1995Eucalyptus trees planted (1990)

Vacant bottle yard purchased for park extension (1987)

Bottle yard buildings demolished (1989)

N


Caretaker’s (Lee Hop’s) cottage

vacated to await demolition (1992)

Corner tennis court removed, allowing link between northern and southern sections of the park (1990)


Town’s poverty hits Robertson Park.

The Town’s Proposition

As a result, in 1995 the Town of Vincent:

• passes a resolution to put out for sale by tender Robertson Park’s bottle yard corner.The sale requires a Business Plan to be put out for community comment.

• puts Robertson Park’s tennis courts out for “expressions of interest” from any body that might like to lease the tennis centre.

1995

In response, the local community is happy about the tennis court lease, but unites in opposition to the Town’s plan to complicate further the park’s unresolved shape, while mining it for cash.The Hyde Park Precinct Group takes the lead in coordinating community response


The Community’s Response

Following the City of Perth being broken up into 4 separate local governments in 1994, a period of financial stringency was endured by the City of Vincent.

The sale of the bottle yard corner

1995 N

100% of bottle yard section of the park to be sold

the remaining park is to have no

improvements


1st Council design:Town of Vincent

central carpark to stay


The Business Plan is titled “Robertson

Park Surplus Land”.

Town formulates a Business Plan to sell the bottle yard section of the park.

Bulldozers begin to hard pave and illuminate eight grass courts following Veterans Tennis WA’s

takeover of the park’s tennis centre the same year. A further four grass courts were hard paved and

lit by the association in 2008

1997


Veterans' Tennis Association take over the tennis courts


Community protest action coordinated by the Hyde Park Precinct Group.

Forums: Local newspapers and Council meetings.

Primary requests:• Moratorium on land sale;• Any land sale to be only within a new overall

strategy for the park.

1997

A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF ROBERTSON PARK Sunday Times, 23 November 1997 , p 12


The community gets organised

1997


1st community design: 1 July 1997: C.H. on behalf of the H.P.P.G.

Paths with entrances at three street corners

Up to 25% of bottle yard for land sale

Enlarged lawn area

smaller expansion of carpark

N


Design with unity landscaping theme.

1997


Removal of 3 tennis courts

Continue with 100% sale of bottle yard

Establish paths to 2 corners of the park.

quadruple the size of the car tennis park

Remove central carpark

2nd Council design:Town of Vincent

N


Council’s reaction is to develop a plan for the park while maintaining full sale.

Lee Hop cottage demolished

1997


Demonstration of how the lakes and parks of the Claisebrook Valley could be connected to create a greenway through the heart of the town

importance of the Stuart St-Palmerston St corner for linking parks

A Vincent GreenwayC.H. on behalf of the H.P.P.G.

Robertson Park

N


“Rooms” landscaping theme that allows for park unity, while expressing the patchwork quilt of historic uses.

1997


Boojoormelup seasonal wetland


2nd community design 10 Sept 1997: C.H. on behalf of the H.P.P.G.

Carpark not to be expanded

Restoration of “cathedral of trees” planting

concept

Restoration of women’s playing field

Finger park to allow 4th

street corner entrance

Paths with entrances at all four street corners

N


Lee Hop’s cottage restored

4 mini

85% of bottle yard to be sold with an “access-way” passage to the 4th corner

1999


City of Vincent July 1999

3rd Council design:Town of Vincent

N


Adoption of “Rooms” theme

Lee Hop’s cottage retained

4 mini wetlands

Fitzgerald St finger park

1999


.


3rd community design 27 June 1999: C.H. on behalf of the H.P.P.G.

Carpark not to be expanded

N


“Rooms” theme refined + extra land sale

Council votes to approve:

• subdivision for sale of 40% the bottle yard corner, and to be located only on the Palmerston St frontage (after approval of a Business Plan)

• funding of $200,000 for a park refurbishment, to be sourced from the sale of the 40% of the bottle yard corner

• setting up a “Robertson Park Working Group” that is to include two community representatives, to finalise a design for the refurbishment

• Working Group to investigate the feasibility to create a wetland on the rest of the site

2000


The community and Council come to a mutual agreement

The submissions from the community on the Business plan overwhelmingly supports the proposed subdivision.

Town of Vincent The Community

2000


Developing and implementing a park design

A group of artist granted a lease of the vacant Halverson Hall. The studio becomes goes on to

become a key part of the park.

Interior of Halverson Hall

Halverson Hall become an artists’ studio

https://www.robparkart.info/2000robpark1cat.html

2001, Perth Voice, 2 June 2001

2001


External funding gained for:• both designing and building of the wetland• restoring Lee Hop’s cottage• other items

The Community and Council work in partnership to develop the design and gain further funding

Developing and implementing a park design

2001

Bottle yard cleared of bitumen, to allow archeological digs and geotechnical study begun.

Guardian Express, March 27, 2001


Archeological findings include;• uncovering of thousands of both intact

and broken bottles, used as material to fill the original wetland

• material from indigenous settlement• material and technologies from use of

land by early market gardeners

News of the historic bottle find gets out, setting off an invasion of bottle hunters.

Developing and implementing a design

Robertson Park Working Group’s final design for the park’s refurbishment

2003

Robertson Park Improvement Plan (City of Vincent )



Perth Voice , 2nd

September 2003

2003

40% of bottle yard site sold for $2.8m to a developer (who unfortunately sits on the site for 10 years)


Council approves working group

design, and confirms $200,000 funding

Part of a R.P.W.G. design sketch


City of Vincent News,

September 2003

2003

“Students from Central TAFE recently joined the

Town of Vincent to celebrate the conservation work

at Lee Hop’s Cottage in Robertson Park, Perth.

The project was a two-year initiative between the

Town of Vincent and students from the Nyoongar

Kadadjiny Kulark Kart (Aboriginal Programs Centre)

to conserve the cottage for future use by the

community.

Applying their new trade skills , the students gained

hands-on experience in carrying out the conservation

work on the dilapidated cottage , under the

supervision of Architects and TAFE lecturers.”



The West Australian, 28th July 2004

2004

“Old Wetland Comes Full Cycle Digging deep. Residents Anne and Joe Courtney celebrate National Tree day

by planting native trees at a restored wetland at Robertson Park wetland in

Perth.”A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF ROBERTSON PARK


2004

Boojoormelup seasonal stream and wetland soon after its construction and

the community planting


Developing and implementing a designWetland and stream built

2005

The Boojoorrmelup seasonal stream and wetland in June 2005, a year after planting

The refurbished park


Environment improved+ some lawns converted to garden beds+ general park planting of both historic and native species

New seating, lights, paths and garden beds

2005


The refurbished parkNew park infrastructure

Bridge through the Edward Keane planted figs

Sculpture celebrating wetland history

2005



History remembered

+ Wetlands Heritage Trail + Palmerston/Ormiston House footings+ Signage marking park history+ Bottle yard artifacts used in central garden bed

2005

Central area bounded by two rows of ironbarks


New playground

The refurbished parkFocus on new park heart

https://www.robparkart.info

2005

Lee Hop’s CottageA PICTORIAL HISTORY OF ROBERTSON PARK

The refurbished parkHeritage restored

2007


1995: City of Vincent Municipal Heritage Inventory.1998: Evolution of a City Park – Robertson Park. Chris Hair.2000: Report on an ethnographic survey of the proposed development at Robertson Park. Stuart Fisher and Associates.2000: Lee Hop's market garden: archaeological investigations to complement the conservation plan.2000: Conservation plan : Lee Hop's garden (site), Lee Hop's cottage, Halvorsen Hall : Robertson Park, North Perth. Prepared for Town of Vincent by Hocking Planning & Architecture.2000: Report of an Archaeological Survey of Robertson Park. UWA Centre for Archaeology.2001: Archaeological Investigations in the Old Bottle Yard, Robertson Park. UWA Centre for Archaeology.2007: State Register of Heritage Places – Permanent entry.2010: Update of Registered Aboriginal Site 17849, Robertson Park.

Finalisation of heritage studies and listings


The Boojoormelup wetland on 25 June 2011 , after 50mm of rain

2011


The refurbishment matures

Claise Brook Catchment Group volunteers at their regular Saturday morning working bee in the wetland

Wetland nurtured

2017


The refurbishment maturesBottle yard site finally built on, after being held as a weed bed for 15 years by its private owners

https://www.mjastudio.net/the-bottleyard/cehelq1ucpbwlgj944kh4mv7gc3xbw

Architectural award for the new building at the end of the central paths

Under construction 2016

2018

In November 2018 the State Government proposed to relocate the State Tennis Centre to Robertson Park.

Following extended protests by local residents and other park users, the proposal was withdrawn by government mid-way through a community consultation process.

Friends of Roberson Park campaign brochure, January 2019


A new threat emerges

A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF ROBERTSON PARK · Reasearched by Chris Hair M.Urb.Des., B.Arch.(Hons), Dip.Vis.Arts, on behalf of the Friends of Robertson Park. (friendsofrobertsonpark.com.au)

Documents