Fred Jacoby Park

Author

Shire of Mundaring

Place Number

04373

Enlarge Map

Show Property Street View

There no heritage location found in the Google fusion table.

Location

Mundaring Weir Rd Mundaring

Location Details

includes English Oak Tree

Other Name(s)

Portagabra

Local Government

Mundaring

Region

Metropolitan

Construction Date

Constructed from 1870

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type	Status	Date	Documents	More information
Heritage List	YES	08 Mar 2016

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type	Status	Date	Documents
RHP - Assessed - Below Threshold	Current	24 Jun 2005

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type	Status	Date	Grading/Management		More information
Type	Status	Date	Category	Description	More information
Municipal Inventory	Adopted	22 Apr 1997	1 - Exceptional significance	1 - Exceptional significance Rare or outstanding example; essential to the heritage of the locality Expectations: The place should be retained and conserved. Any alterations or extensions should reinforce the significance of the place and be in accordance with a Conservation Plan if one is in place.
Classified by the National Trust	Classified {Trees}				Heritage Council

Statement of Significance

the English Oak Tree in Fred Jacoby Park has very high aesthetic, historic and scientific significance for the region and the Shire of Mundaring, for it's rarity and associations with Jacoby and the early settlement of the district.

Physical Description

The very large English oak tree is located towards the southern end of Fred Jacoby park. It is surrounded by by an elevated board walk to protect the surrounding ground and root base from compacting. The size if the tree makes it a rare example of an exotic species that provides a seasonal focus for the park and a link with one of the early settlers of the district.

History

A plaque erected in 1989, and located near the large oak tree in what is now Fred Jacoby Park reads, "Quercus robur planted c.1870, height 29 metres, spread 30 metres, girth 4.95 metres". The oak and nearby Mulberry stand on what was part of the 'Portagabra' vineyard and orchard, itself an amalgamation if separate lots developed from 1882, by Walter Jeck and John Allpike. Jecks, from the Rose and Crown Hotel in Guildford, owned the area of land now known as Fred Jacoby Park. In c.1898, the Jacoby brothers Fred and Mathieson, purchased both the Jecks and Allpike properties and renamed the area 'Portagabra'. In 1956, after Fred's daughter (Agnes) Elfreda Devenish inherited the property, she transferred approximately 28 acres (12ha), including the oak and mulberrry tree and the old Portagabra homestead to the Conservator of the Forests Department.
Between 1957 and 1958, plants from Canberra and locally from Hamel and Dryandra Nurseries were planted int he park. A plant nursery, to replace the one of the Weir Wall, operated from near the oak and the old house for about 6 years, During the 1960's. a nine hole golf course operated in the park, using the old house as club rooms. In c. 1969, the golf course was relocated to the outskirts of Mundaring, near the Recreation Ground. As a result of vandalism, the old house was demolished int he early 1970's. Today the park is an important recreation area for both locals and the wider Perth community.

Condition

Very Good

References

Ref ID No	Ref Name	Ref Source	Ref Date
	MHHS File; "Karda-Mordo".
	I Elliot; ibid pp. 136, 142, 144
	JL Butts; "Mundaring Division: A brief history". pp.32-*6		1993

State Heritage Office library entries

Library Id	Title	Medium	Year Of Publication
9806	Mundaring Weir water Supply interpretation precinct design.	Book	2010
6607	Register of significant trees as at June 1988.	Report	1988

Place Type

Tree

Uses

Epoch	General	Specific
Present Use	PARK\RESERVE	Park\Reserve
Original Use	PARK\RESERVE	Park\Reserve

Historic Themes

General	Specific
OCCUPATIONS	Rural industry & market gardening
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES	Sport, recreation & entertainment
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES	Cultural activities

Creation Date

21 Aug 1995

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

10 Feb 2017

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.