Rotunda and Locke Park

Child Places

• 19220 Rotunda and Lockes Park

Statement of Significance

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Rotunda and Locke Park is a small grassed park with formal plantings and a timber and iron roofed rotunda. It has historic and aesthetic value for its contribution to Woodside's high concentration of middle class mainly federation period houses and associated buildings. It is one of the earliest examples of the community’s efforts to cater for leisure in the Town. The place contributes to the local community’s sense of place. The place has considerable heritage value for its intrinsic aesthetic value as a small formal park and a Federation Filigree rotunda. The place retains a moderate to high degree of authenticity and a high degree of integrity. AESTHETIC SIGNIFICANCE Rotunda and Locke Park has exceptional aesthetic value as a park and Federation Filigree rotunda. It retains most of its significant features. HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE Rotunda and Locke Park has exceptional historic value. It was part of the suburban residential development associated with the expansion of East Fremantle and the subdivision of W. D. Moore’s Woodside Estate from 1912. It represents an early community effort to achieve community facilities and a war memorial. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE N/A SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE Rotunda and Locke Park has considerable social value. It is associated with a significant area of middle class federation and inter-war period development which contributes to community's sense of place. It provides an important community amenity. RARITY Rotunda and Locke Park is rare in the context of East Fremantle. Woodside has rarity value as a cohesive middle class suburb.

Physical Description

Federation Federation Carpenter Filigree Locke Park is located on the corner of Fletcher and Moss Street. The place is laid out geometrically with a centrally located timber gazebo, four Washingtonia Palms, and a number of mature and senescing Peppermint trees. The timber framed gazebo is elevated above the park. Concrete steps lead from the path up to the rotunda. Timber posts support a faceted corrugated iron roof. A vertical timber balustrade spans between the posts. There is a hedge replacing the original Victorian Ti Tree hedge. Bitumen paths provide a circulation system. The plantings reflect a long-standing park design and structure. The place retains its basic form and details. The place is unique in the building pattern in the Precinct. The place plays an important role in the pattern of development of a middle class suburb.

History

Historic Theme Community Efforts Sub-Theme Parks & Recreation Woodside is a relatively cohesive precinct where most of the places were constructed following the subdivision of W.D. Moore’s estate commencing in 1912. Most of the lots were sold between 1912 and 1929 and the majority of buildings were completed in this time. Residences were substantial and of various Federation period styles distinguishing the area from the small workers cottages of Plympton. The Interwar Californian Bungalow Style residence is also represented in Woodside. The Woodside Precinct remains largely intact in terms of original housing, with little infill subdivision or replacement housing. In 1903 East Fremantle Municipal Council received land grants amounting to 15 acres for the creation of a recreation reserve. A number of the present uses were established quite soon after the acquisition. These uses include a bowling green, bandstand (Locke Park originally named East Fremantle Gardens and renamed in 1939), croquet lawn, tennis courts and a cricket pitch. £3,579 was expended over a three-year period to effect these improvements. The football ground, bowling club, and pavilion were completed in 1906. They were opened by Sir Frederick Bedford GCB, GCVO on 2 June 1906. Bedford was state governor from 1903 until 1909. It was reported in the Western Mail that, ‘The ground has been laid out in good taste, and with a view to the requirements of the public’. In 1947 Locke Park was noted as a memorial to those who died in War and was surrounded by a Victorian Ti Tree hedge, rose bushes and a bed on the corner with the words Lest We Forget in trimmed rosemary. The four palms were mature by then.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High Authenticity: Moderate - High

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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