The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage has finalised the addition of Perth’s Barrack Square and Jetties to the State Register of Heritage Places.
Minister for Heritage, David Templeman said the area had been the location of the City’s river port since 1905.
“Barrack Square played a key role in Perth life during the State’s gold rush when river transport and recreation was booming due to significant population growth,” Mr Templeman said.
“Through many changes and new developments over more than a century, Barrack Square and Jetties remain strongly associated with Perth’s river transport to this day as a departure and return point for travel, recreation and commercial ferry services.”
He said the creation of Barrack Square was part of a major work of land reclamation along the Swan River foreshore to improve transport facilities and provide a fringe of parkland in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
“The original square was constructed by building banks of shell sealed with bitumen to create an enclosed area, with a 152-metre timber wharf running the full length of the southern side and four jetties projecting into the river,” Mr Templeman said.
“Today, Barrack Square and Jetties include the instantly recognisable Bell Tower with a sail-like structure inspired by the historical context of Barrack Square as a place where boat building was a prominent activity.”
He said the finalisation of its entry in the State Heritage Register would ensure the heritage of the precinct was protected as a landmark feature along Perth’s foreshore for many years to come.
