History of Bold Park
Bold Park has been used and cared for by people in many different ways throughout its history.
Archaeological evidence shows that Aboriginal people have been living on what is now called the Swan Coastal Plain for over 40 000 years. Present-day Bold Park made up part of the lands of the Mooro clan of the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation. While there is little written history of Aboriginal usage of the Bold Park bushland, the plants and animals would have provided food, water, shelter, and other important resources. Reabold Hill, the highest point on the entire coastal plain was originally known in the colony as One Tree Hill. One can only imagine that people must have used this as a lookout for millennia given its location and size. The name "One Tree Hill" has been used elsewhere in Australia to denote “bald” hilltops, probably kept free of trees by regular burning by Aboriginal people for hunting game. Nowadays, Reabold Hill is home to several trees but the vegetation is mantained by the BGPA to preserve the views of the city and ocean.
At the time of European colonisation and the establishment of the Swan River Colony the Mooro clan was led by Yellangonga. Colonisation meant the effective exclusion of Aboriginal people from their hunting grounds and gathering places. Killings followed by reprisals on both sides started quite early around Perth, a pattern repeated again and again as the settlement moved outwards from the original colony. Within a decade, many of the leaders and warriors were either killed or imprisoned in the new Rottnest Island prison. The local aboriginal people were forbidden to enter the city, only allowed to live in one of the few campsites dotted around Perth until the 1960s. There are reminiscences of life in the camps written on display boards on the boardwalk around the eastern side of Perry Lakes Reserve.
One of these campsites is marked today by an exotic fig tree, near the corner of Stephenson Avenue and Rochdale Road. This is a registered heritage site, as is a shield tree not far from the Ecology Centre, a mature tuart tree with an area of bark removed that marks an important landmark or boundary.
The colonial history is reasonably well documented, including the ownership and usage of the lands that now make up Bold Park. The establishment of the Swan River colony in 1829 required the allocation of land to be taken up by the pioneer settlers. The surveyor-general, John Septimus Roe, himself took three land tracts that would now encompass an area bounded by Herdsman Lake, Floreat Park and Reabold Hill. In 1839, Henry Trigg bought this land and established a lime burning business on the slopes of Reabold Hill. The limestone quarry, remnants of a limekiln, and evidence of the horse-drawn railway can be seen to this day. In the 1840s, the Limekilns Estate was bought by prominent businessman and philanthropist Walter Padbury. He established a stockyard, abbatoir, and tannery business which continued for decades. In 1879, Joseph Perry bought the business to support his extensive cattle and horse-dealing business. Other 19th century events included the use of Camel lake as a staging post for Ernest Giles' camel train after one of his epic journeys across Southern Australia, and the subsequent use of the same area as a camel quarantine station during the gold rush era.
In the early 20th century, the City of Perth Council was considering expansion westwards. The "City Beautiful" concept was in vogue and was championed by their energetic town clerk, Mr William Bold. The plans for Floreat Park, City Beach, and Oceanic Drive included a 1000 acre park to be set aside in perpetuity for the people of Perth to enjoy the natural setting. The land was purchased in 1917, the concept plan was developed in 1925, the 1000 acre park was set aside forever in 1936, and the park was renamed Bold Park in 1944. Perry House, currently the home of the Friends of Bold Park Bushland and the Wildflower Society of WA, was built to house the new park’s caretaker. This building used materials from an original building built by Mr Perry.
The later history saw some erosion of the original vision with excisions of land for various developments. The last straw occurred when the University of Western Australia sold its adjacent endowment lands to the Bond Corporation, who planned a major housing development along the present southern edge of the park. Community concern led to the formation of a volunteer community action group, the “Friends of Bold Park”, who led a concerted and ultimately successful campaign supported by such luminaries as Vince Serventy, Bob Brown, and David Attenborough. The state government eventually bought back the disputed lands and in 1998 incorporated Bold Park as an A Class reserve to be managed by the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority. The Friends of Bold Park Bushland remain an active voluntary group who continue to work closely with the BGPA to assist with bush restoration and public education through a guided walk program.
