Perth Oval to be given heritage listing

13/6/98

The historic home of the East Perth Football Club for nearly 90 years is to be heritage listed, Heritage Minister Graham Kierath said.

Perth Oval has played an important role in the sporting and cultural life of the inner city area since it was established as Loton Park in 1910.

Mr Kierath said many other sporting, social and cultural groups had also called Perth Oval home over the years.

"From outdoor picture shows to celebrations marking the end of World War II, Perth Oval has been an important part of the social life of the East Perth area," he said.

"It is synonymous with the development of Aussie Rules football in this State and highly valued by the local community."

Mr Kierath said Aussie Rules first blossomed in Western Australia in the 1880s, much to the chagrin of the Governor and other senior gentry, who regarded cricket as better suited to developing the vales of an 'ordered society'.

The influx of Victorians coming to WA during the gold boom of the 1890s also increased the popularity of the sport.

By the turn of the century, the game was firmly established in Perth and parks and grounds were needed for the growing popularity of football and other sports.

To fill the need, Perth City Council bought a paddock in East Perth owned by the former Lord Mayor of Perth William Loton. For the first few years it was known as Loton Park, until it was changed to Perth Oval in 1910.

Mr Kierath said the East Perth Football Club originated in 1902 when workers from the Union Soap Factory joined with those of the nearby Excelsior Confectionary Factory to form the Union Football Club.

"The club initially played in the Third Rate Association juniors and won the premiership in their debut season," he said.

"After winning the flag again the following year, the club was promoted to the First Rate Association in 1904 and they again won the premiership.

"Although the club lost the grand final to the Midland Locos in 1905, their form over the previous years was enough to win them entry to the Western Australian Football Association (WAFA) as East Perth.

"Their home ground was Wellington Square until the club moved to Perth Oval in 1910.

"With the advantage of a better ground and training facilities, East Perth played in their first WAFA premiership, although they lost to East Fremantle."

Mr Kierath said that other sporting bodies that have called Perth Oval home over the years include the North Perth Cricket Club, Perth and West Perth Football Clubs, Loton Park Tennis Club and a lawn bowls club.

Other users of the oval included charitable and benevolent organisations, societies, social clubs, schools, bands and sporting groups. From 1911 to 1921 East Perth screened outdoor movies at the oval.

The distinctive north-west entry gates, built in the Inter-War Mediterranean style, date from about 1930.

Perth Oval was taken over by the Commonwealth for use as a military depot for a few months in 1943. Two years later, the oval was the scene of victory celebrations when World War II ended.

After the Melbourne Olympics in Melbourne in 1956, Perth City Council intended to hold numerous sporting fixtures at Perth Oval.

As a result, a new grandstand was opened on June 9, 1956 which also happened to be the jubilee year of East Perth's occupation of Perth Oval. In the game following the official opening, East Perth beat South Fremantle by a point.

Mr Kierath said the original timber grandstand was removed and rebuilt at Bayswater Oval, headquarters of the WA Soccer Football Association.

"Perth Oval remains the home of East Perth Football Club," he said.

"It has played an important part in the social life of the area since the turn of the century and is a highly prized asset in the East Perth area.

"As such, it deserves the protection of the State's heritage laws."

Media contact: Steve Manchee 9481 2133