Stirling Gardens

Parent Place or Precinct

01947 Supreme Court Buildings and Gardens, Old Court House, Stirling Gardens

Statement of Significance

The place makes a vital contribution to the community’s sense of place and sense of identity for the roles and functions it has fulfilled in the cultural, educational, scientific, recreational and social life of the people of Perth and of Western Australia, including its importance to the community as a publicly accessible green space offering respite and connection to country in the city centre. The place demonstrates the resilience of the Whadjuk Nyoongar who retain their strong connection to country, culture and people through the cultural process of ‘caring for country’ that has continued for thousands of years. The significance of the place is demonstrated through the stories of Fanny Balbuk, who was a descendent of Yellagonga, the traditional owner at the time of colonisation; and the relationship of the place and its surrounding waterways as the host for the Waugal that is time immemorial. The place was central to the colonial government operations, housing the governor’s camp for Captain James Stirling, his wife Ellen and their children from August 1829, followed by a temporary government house building and a parade ground in 1832, before being proclaimed as part of the Public Garden in Stirling Square in June 1845. In conjunction with the adjacent Council House Gardens, it remains an integral component of the historic civic precinct in the centre of Perth, that also includes Government House, Government House Gardens, Old Courthouse, Supreme Court, Supreme Court Gardens, Weld Club, the State Buildings and St George’s Cathedral, which along with Council House surrounds Stirling Gardens. The clearing of Stirling Square in 1839 by Aboriginal people under the direction of a police constable is an early example of the colonial government’s use of Aboriginal labour for the construction of public works in Western Australia. It demonstrates the role of Aboriginal people in building the colony’s infrastructure, predominately through forced labour, before the introduction of imported convict labour into the colony. It is the western half of Stirling Square, which once housed the nucleus of government scientific institutions, including meteorological, zoological and botanical functions, until the establishment of the Perth Observatory in 1897, Perth Zoo in 1898 and the Kings Park Botanic Gardens in 1965, respectively. Meteorological readings were continued in the gardens well into the twentieth century. It is the remaining half of the first public garden in Perth, which was amongst the earliest in Australia. Its aspirations, which closely followed the opening of public gardens elsewhere in the world, were never fully realised due to a persistent lack of funding and the erosion of its land area and outlook over time. Nevertheless, it has survived gracefully into the twenty first century with its original purpose of offering an attractive garden for public respite intact and many of its historical plantings still extant. It has been the focus of public fundraising activities to ensure its survival both through the provision of musical and artistic entertainment and philanthropic donations, the most notable being those of Henry Trigg, S. Browning and Charles McNess. The tangible evidence of these activities is no longer readily apparent as the bandstands, the 1860s Norfolk Island Pine trees, the Browning Fountain and the McNess Memorial have all been removed from the gardens over time. While the perimeter fencing, flower beds, associated garden structures and the geometric layout dating from the nineteenth century is no longer extant, the central path remains and the eclectic collection of mature plantings set as individual elements amongst open lawns ensures that the gardenesque style remains the dominant design intent. It retains variations of the later interventions, influenced by the picturesque style, intended to soften the design intent through curved paths and more densely planted garden beds, as well as many of the paradise style plantings which were distinctive to public gardens in Western Australia in the early twentieth century.

Physical Description

A mature public garden, with a diverse collection of trees, shrubs, large areas of lawn bordered by banks of shrubs and flower beds. A 'paradise' of botanic garden from 19th Century of considerable aesthetic quality which enjoys great popularity and provides a garden setting for several of the City's oldest (original Court House, Supreme Court) and significant buildings.

History

Stirling Gardens was first used as an acclimatisation garden by the colonial government in the 1830's. It was gazetted for public recreation as Stirling Square in 1845 becoming the city's first Botanic Garden and public park. Oldest Public garden in Perth.

Integrity/Authenticity

High level of integrity. Medium level of authenticity.

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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