Bateman Reserve

Statement of Significance

Bateman Reserve is a significant element of the Bull Creek Wetland system and Bull Creek, important as a natural environment, for the initial association with indigenous Aboriginal people, and later the pioneer settlers.

SIGNIFICANT ITEMS:

The ‘Grasmere’ boat ramp and remnant jetty and the entire bushland and Bull Creek.

Physical Description

Bateman Reserve incorporates part of Bull Creek, Bateman Park and the original ‘Grasmere’ boat landing and jetty remnants.

The Reserve forms part of the Bull Creek Wetland, a chain of several damp-land and wetland reserves linked by Bull Creek which runs through Bateman Reserve to the Canning River.

The wetland has a rich assortment of local native animals, birds, amphibians and reptiles. The wetland flora is important as representative bushland incorporating dry Banksia woodlands (Banksia), grasstrees (Xanthorrhoea), jarrah (Eucalyptus
marginata), marri (Corymbia callophylla), Flooded gum (Eucalyptus rudis) and paperbark (Melaleuca).

History

Prior to European settlement, the Beeliar Nyoongars used the Bull Creek Wetland as a source of food and freshwater in summer, for a period of at least 38,000 years.

The Bull Creek Wetland, of which Bateman Reserve is part, was owned by a succession of early European pioneer settlers such as Henry Bull and Thomas Middleton. Clearing of the land was carried out for farming. The Jetty built by Bull and John Adams survives as a site, a boat ramp, off Spinaway Crescent. Access to the land at that time was solely by water through Bull Creek.

Suburban development occurred in the 1960s and 1970s and the Bull Creek Wetlands were identified for conservation, named after Councillors and pioneers in that area – Richard Lewis, Reg Bourke, Henry Bull and the Bateman family at ‘Grasmere’.

Condition

Sound, undergoing rejuvenation and removal of invasive weeds.

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.