About Bold Park
At 442 hectares, Bold Park is recognized as the largest bushland remnant in the urban area of the Swan Coastal Plain. Bold Park stretches from the ocean at the southern end of City Beach, across a series of large, ancient sand dunes to the forested and swampy areas alongside Perry Lakes Reserve. The steep, high sand dunes sit on top of older dunes that have cemented to form limestone. These limestone-rich soils, and their associated plant life, are now threatened as many have been cleared to make way for urban development.
Bold Park is an important remnant of several other threatened vegetation communities. Banksia woodlands cover the majority of the park, with Firewood Banksia (Banksia menziesii), Candlestick Banksia (Banksia attenuata) and Acorn Banksia (Banksia prionotes) the most common species. Tuart trees (Eucalyptus gomphocephala) are the most common large tree, growing well in the shallow limestone soils where other large trees are unable to survive. Along the eastern edge of the park, where the soils are deeper, woodlands of Marri (Corymbia calophylla) and Jarrah (Eucalytpus marginata) are dominant.
Bold Park is visited by over 90 bird species due to the park’s large size and its variety of terrain and vegetation communities. Some species, like the colourful Rainbow Bee-eater, are annual migrants but most species are resident throughout the year. The most common species include White-cheeked Honeyeaters, Western Gerygones, Silvereyes and Australian Magpies. Red Tailed Black Cockatoos and the endangered Carnaby's Cockatoos can often be seen feeding in the trees while at night, Barn Owls and Tawny Frogmouths are commonly spotted hunting in the bushland. Bold Park is also one of the best places in Perth to see the elusive Painted Button-quail.
A total of 29 reptile species and three amphibians inhabit Bold Park. The largest reptile found is the Gould’s monitor, while geckoes, legless lizards and Jan’s banded snakes are amongst the smallest.
Bold Park is managed by the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, which is part of the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions. Designed to enhance visitors’ enjoyment of the natural experience, development within the park includes the Reabold Hill lookout with excellent views of the surrounding area and 15 kilometres of walk trails throughout the bushland.
Bold Park is also home to several local environmental and conservation groups, including the WA branch of Birdlife Australia and the Wildflower Society of Western Australia. The WA Ecology Centre is an office for BGPA staff as well as housing meeting facilities that can be hired by community groups for meetings and events. Immediately adjacent to the bushland area of the park is the Quarry Amphitheatre, managed by the Town of Cambridge, which hosts several theatre, dance, and musical performances throughout the year.
