McCallum Park

Statement of Significance

McCallum Park has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:

• The place has social value as a gathering place for the local and broader Western Australian
community; and
• The place has historic value for its association with Alexander McCallum, who was the Minister responsible for much of the reclamation of the river foreshore during the 1920s.

Physical Description

McCallum Park is located on the Swan River adjacent to the Causeway. The park is bounded by the Swan River to the west, the Causeway to the north, Canning Highway to the east and Taylor Street to the south.

McCallum Park includes manicured lawns, children’s play equipment and a number of mature trees including Pepper Trees and Moreton Bay Figs. There is a skate bowl and basketball court share to the north east of the site.

History

McCallum Park was named after the Honourable Alexander McCallum, Member of Parliament in 1921.

Alexander McCallum was born on 28 October 1877 in Adelaide South Australia. He was apprenticed to a bookbinder at the age of 14. In 1898 McCallum left for Perth where he worked in the Government Printing Office. At the age of 28, after being a member of the Bookbinders and Paper Rulers' Industrial Union, he became President of the Coast Trades and Labour Council. His political career grew with an executive role in the Western Australian Branch of the Australian Labour Party which led to eight years on the Federal ALP Executive.

In 1921 McCallum was elected to represent South Fremantle as a Member of the Legislative Assembly. His 14 years in Parliament saw him become a Minister for Works, Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage, and Labour and Training Concerns. Leadership roles included a five year stint as the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party from 1930 to 1935.

McCallum Park is undoubtedly named to commemorate Alexander's vital contribution to the construction of Canning Dam and reclamation of the Swan River Foreshore during his time as Minister. McCallum left Parliament on his resignation in 1935. He died in July 1937 and was buried at the Fremantle Cemetery.

McCallum Park has been a traditional venue for the Circus which has attracted many visitors to the park over the years. It is frequented by rollerbladers, joggers and bike riders, and has been the scene of the finishing line for a number of marathons.

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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.