Forrest Place
Forrest Place is a pedestrianised square located within the CBD of Perth, Western Australia. The street was created in 1923, and has a history of being a focal point for significant political meetings and demonstrations.
History
Named after Sir John Forrest, the first Premier of Western Australia, Forrest Place was for most of its history a roadway between the Perth railway station and Murray Street.
It was originally a plot of land issued to Patrick Farmer 1840. Prior to Forrest Place's construction, an arcade between Wellington and Murray Streets existed on the site known as Central Arcade. It was considered an "unhealthy" establishment, which led to its demolition. The construction of Forrest Place deemed to have "changed the face of Perth".[1]
Prior to the building of Forrest Chase complex (containing Myer and numerous other retail stores), the central building on the eastern side of Forrest Place was the Padbury Buildings (built in 1925[3] and demolished in 1986-1987). While the buildings on the east side have changed a number of times in the street's 82-year history, the General Post Office (completed in 1923[4]) and the Commonwealth Bank building (completed 1933[2]), both designed by John Smith Murdoch in the Interwar Beaux-Arts style and faced with Donnybrook sandstone, have endured significant change around them.
Parades, meetings and rallying place
In the 1940s returned soldiers marched through Forrest Place.[5]
It was a meeting place and focal point for political meetings in the 1950' s through to the 1980s [6] considerable use was made of the steps of the Post Office being above the roadway level. There were clashes with police during the battle of Forrest Place on 11 June 1966.
The attempt to defuse the political nature of the space and ban meetings in Forrest Place was carried out by Charles Court, on 18 November 1975, when his government used Section 54B of the Western Australia Police Act to ban meetings. Considerable numbers of demonstrations resulted from this ban. This was later repealed by the Public Meetings and Processions Act of 1984.
Forrest Place became a large paved area with the closing of the roadway in the late 1987[7] It still links Wellington Street and Perth railway station with the Murray Street Mall, but the addition of steps to the northern end prevents vehicle thoroughfare.
Uses
Forrest Place is used in many ways throughout the year, including cultural displays, children's activities and parades, and contains the City of Perth visitors centre.[8]
References
- ^ a b c "Postal palace - the new G.P.O. ready at last" (JPG). The West Australian (Perth, Western Australia). 26 September 1923. Archived from the original on 31 July 2008. Retrieved 18 July 2008.
- ^ a b "Commonwealth Bank Building". Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 31 July 2006.
- ^ "Padbury Buildings". Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 31 July 2006.
- ^ "General Post Office". Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 31 July 2006.
- ^ Edmonds, Jack (editor) (1976) Swan River colony : life in Western Australia since the early colonial settlement, illustrated by pictures from an exhibition mounted by West Australian Newspapers Ltd. as a contribution to celebrations for the state's 150th year Perth : West Australian Newspapers, 1979.ISBN 0909699208 - page 79 - Ninth Division troops 24 March 1943
- ^ Edmonds, Jack (editor) (1976) Swan River colony : life in Western Australia since the early colonial settlement, illustrated by pictures from an exhibition mounted by West Australian Newspapers Ltd. as a contribution to celebrations for the state's 150th year Perth : West Australian Newspapers, 1979.ISBN 0909699208 - page 95 - Gough Whitlam - 1974,
- ^ Photo WA Library collect 1987 demolition
- ^ "Forrest Place". City of Perth. Retrieved 31 July 2006.
Original title and later map of site
- Mason, John. Title of Perth town lot V 17, 1840 Issued in his name, 3 Nov. 1840. (Mason, John—Archives - Battye Library)
- Australia. Dept. of the Interior.(1911) Perth new G.P.O. site: Plan of existing buildings. Plan Nos. D663 and D664.(Signed by Hillton Beasley, Chief Architect). (Australian Archives)
Further reading
- Conole, Peter.(2002) Protect & serve : a history of policing in Western Australia Scarborough, W.A. : Western Australian Police Historical Society. ISBN 0-9579535-2-6 - see specially pp. 343–348 regarding the problems of 54B for the police service.
- Gregory, Jenny. (2003) City of light: a history of Perth since the 1950s Perth, W.A.: City of Perth ISBN 0-9594632-4-0 - see specially pp. 124–130 concerning the political history of the space.
