The total area of the park is 400.6 hectares and features both cultivated gardens and untamed bushland. The area known as Kings Park and Botanic Garden has been a part of aboriginal history since earliest dreamtime. For thousands of years Kaarta (hill/head) Gar-up (water-place of) has been one of the many names Nyoongar people used for the land at the top of the escarpment now known as Mount Eliza. Kaarta Gar-up and adjacent areas were places of ceremony and shelter, places of food - whether hunting the kangaroo or searching for the succulent roots and fruits of 'bush tucker' - and places for tool making and teaching.
With great foresight, part of the area was 'set aside' for public purposes in 1831. In 1872, 175 hectares were gazetted as recreation and park land, and this was increased to 400 ha in 1890. The area was named Perth Park in 1895 and re-named to Kings Park in 1901 to mark the accession of Edward VII to the British throne.
The 17 hectare Botanic Garden was opened in 1965 with the main focus being the stunning diversity of Western Australian flora.
This stunning park overlooks the city and the blue waters of the Swan River.
Here is the front of the Swan Brewery that I saw from the river cruise yesterday.
Boab trees are found in the north of Western Australia in an area known as the Kimberley, and several were transported to Kings Park to celebrate the unique Kimberley area flora. This particular boab tree is estimated to be 750 years old and it travelled 3200 kms to be re-planted here in Kings Park in 2008. This was the longest land journey of a tree of this size in history - and the good news is it continues to grow well in its new home!
Federation Walk includes a walkway above the tree tops, where the birds' eye view is truly captivating.
The State War Memorial complex dominates Mount Eliza, providing a dramatic setting for ceremonies held throughout the year.
Now - if you remember I told you I'm staying in a suburb called Scarborough while I'm here in Perth ... but I don't think I mentioned that Scarborough is actually a suburb located right on the ocean (I told you it wasn't at all like the Scarborough in Toronto!). And if you've given it any thought at all, you might have thought that since Perth is on the west coast perhaps there are some wonderful sunsets to be seen... well I did give that some thought and decided to check it out. So off to the beach I went. Scarborough Beach is a very popular place in the late afternoons for windsurfing and kite boarding,
and a pretty lovely sunset to end the day!
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