Minister outlines improvements for Kings Park

16/3/00
Sixty years after it was first contemplated, the main entrance to Kings Park is to get a major facelift, in keeping with its significance as the State's most important urban park.
Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes said a works program planned for the park included:

• construction of four main entry pillars and associated garden beds and signage at the Fraser Avenue entrance;
• upgrading to the existing heritage building and surrounding garden beds; and -
• construction of smaller 'mirror-image' entry statements at the Saw Avenue and Poole Avenue entrances.

"The project will enable a significant improvement for Kings Park which is in keeping with its overall importance to Western Australia and its status as a park for the people," Mrs Edwardes said.
"But what makes it even more exciting is the history behind this whole project."
Mrs Edwardes said the work plan dates back to 1939 when the Kings Park Board received a ?1000 bequest from a member of the public, Mr F F B Wittenoom, to erect a gate at the Perth entrance to Kings Park.
"That bequest led to a public design competition, with participants offered a cash prize 'not exceeding ?25' for the winning submission, which was won by Harold Boas, H W D Downes, and S A Musto of architectural firm Oldham, Boas and Ednie Brown.
However, Mrs Edwardes said the project never went ahead, and in 1958 relatives of Mr Wittenoom agreed to the bequest money going to installation of the Floral Clock near the restaurant at Kings Park, which was subsequently opened in 1962.
"That was pretty much the end of the plans for a significant entry statement at that time," the Minister said.
"But it is something that has remained in a few hearts and minds over the years, and I am very pleased that it will now finally go ahead."
Mrs Edwardes said the new entry statement would be a contemporary interpretation of the 1940 winning submission, strongly adhering to the original concept. They would also be designed to complement the existing design of the Edith Cowan Memorial Clock adjacent to the site.
Very little was known about Mr Wittenoom and the Minister said she was keen for anyone who could shed some light on his background to contact her office.
"At this stage, we don't even know his first name or his occupation as the Kings Park Board correspondence from that time simply refers to their benefactor as F F B Wittenoom," she said.
The total project cost for design, garden landscaping and construction at the main entrance is approximately $350,000, with another $150,000 for associated works at the Saw and Pool Avenue entrances.
The entry pillars will incorporate feature lighting and Kings Park signage.
The design stage and tender process is currently under way, with construction planned to begin this year.
Media contact: Amanda O'Brien on 9421 7777