Narrows Interchange Park

Author

City of Perth

Place Number

03362

Location

Mounts Bay Rd Perth

Location Details

Including David Carr Memorial Park and John Oldham Park

Local Government

Perth

Region

Metropolitan

Construction Date

Constructed from 1960

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents
Heritage List Adopted 19 Sep 2006

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
RHP - Assessed - Consultation (Preliminary) Current 19 Dec 2002

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management
Category
Perth Draft Inventory 99-01 YES 31 Dec 1999
Municipal Inventory Adopted 13 Mar 2001 Category 1
Local Heritage Survey Adopted 28 Mar 2023
Local Heritage Survey Completed\Draft Category 1

Statement of Significance

The place has aesthetic significance as one of the most significant manmade landscapes of the post World War II period in Perth and an important example of the work of prominent landscape architect John Oldham. The place has historic significance for association with the development of the Narrows Bridge and Freeway interchange in the city of Perth.

Physical Description

Landscaped gardens including water gardens and plantings surrounding the Freeway interchange.

History

In 1954 landscape architect John Oldham developed a concept for the unification and continuity of parkland reserved around Perth water and adjacent shores of the Swan River at Burswood Island and Mounts Bay Road. When the Narrows Bridge was built in the late 1950s and Mounts Bay was filled in to carry the Narrows Interchange, there was public outrage at the disaster to the cityscape. According to Oldham's design, the interchange was to be covered in plants, and flyovers were to be constructed on earth banks. It is perhaps the first freeway interchange conceived as a public park. Some fountains and gardens from the original plan did not proceed. The existing plantings and other details including native and exotic plants are executed in the romantic landscape tradition.

Integrity/Authenticity

High level of integrity. Medium level of authenticity.

Condition

Good

Associations

Name Type Year From Year To
John Oldham Architect - -

References

Ref ID No Ref Name Ref Source Ref Date
Draft Municipal Heritage Inventory City of Perth 2001

Other Keywords

Local Heritage List - Normalisation effective from 6 May 2022 upon the gazettal of City Planning Scheme No. 2 Amendment No. 46 and Local Planning Scheme No. 26 (Normalised Redevelopment Areas) Amendment No. 4 (refer to Council Ordinary Meeting held on 31 August 2021).

State Heritage Office library entries

Library Id Title Medium Year Of Publication
8711 From the wastelands. Journal article 2001
11549 Take me to the river: the story of Perth's foreshore Book 2015
9212 Mitchell Freeway Stage 1: National engineering landmark award unveiling ceremony. Brochure 2008

Place Type

Urban Park

Uses

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

Architectural Styles

Style
Other Style

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Other STONE Other Stone

Historic Themes

General Specific
TRANSPORT & COMMUNICATIONS Road transport
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES Sport, recreation & entertainment

Creation Date

11 Jun 1993

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

08 Jul 2024

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.