Perth Water
Encyclopedia
Swan River (Western Australia)
The Swan River estuary flows through the city of Perth, in the south west of Western Australia. Its lower reaches are relatively wide and deep, with few constrictions, while the upper reaches are usually quite narrow and shallow....
between the Causeway
The Causeway
The Causeway is the name of the traffic crossing of the Swan River in Western Australia at the eastern end of Perth Water. Made up of two bridges on either side of Heirisson Island, the crossing links the City of Perth and Victoria Park....
to the east, and Narrows Bridge to the west - a large wide but shallow section of river on the southern edge of the City of Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Western Australia, and the northern edge of the suburb South Perth
South Perth, Western Australia
South Perth is a residential suburb 3 kilometres south of the central business district of Perth, the capital of Western Australia, which adjoins the southern shore of Perth Water on the Swan River...
.Swan River Trust - Annual Report, 1998-1999 Retrieved 29 December 2006. It is considered a landmark of the City of Perth
City of Perth
The City of Perth is a local government area and body, within the Perth Metropolitan Area, which is the capital of Western Australia. The local government body is commonly known as Perth City Council. The city covers the Perth central business district and surrounding suburbs...
.
History
Historically it was much larger in size. However, considerable reclamation has taken place on both sides of the river. For example in 1879, landfill of Perth Water was used to create the Esplanade.For the construction of the Narrows Bridge and its approaches, considerable amounts of the north-west section of Perth Water were reclaimed. The former river bank in that area is equivalent to the edge of Mounts Bay Road. The whole new Convention Centre
Perth Convention Exhibition Centre
The Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre is a convention centre located in Perth, Western Australia. It was opened in August 2004.-History:The Centre was built by Multiplex and it opened on the 24th August 2004....
lies on the river side of the former river bank.
Events
Red Bull Air Race World Series
The Red Bull Air Race, established in 2003 and created by Red Bull, is an international series of air races in which competitors have to navigate a challenging obstacle course in the fastest time. Pilots fly individually against the clock and have to complete tight turns through a slalom course...
was the first ever in Australia and was held in Perth, with the competition being centred over Perth Water.
It has been the annual site of Australia Day
Australia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia...
fireworks
Lotterywest Skyworks
The City of Perth Skyworks is a fireworks show that is held over the section of the Swan River in Perth, Western Australia known as Perth Water. It is held every Australia Day on the 26th of January....
, with crowds lining the lawns and open space along the foreshores. A good view for these activities has been from Kings Park
Kings Park, Western Australia
Kings Park is a park located on the western edge of Perth, Western Australia central business district. The park is a mixture of grassed parkland, botanical gardens and natural bushland on Mount Eliza with two thirds of the grounds conserved as native bushland. With panoramic views of the Swan...
due to its elevation and position looking across the Perth water area. Post-cards, calendar images, posters and photographs from most decades of the twentieth century exist, that show the view from the Park looking across Perth Water to the city.
Uses
Barrack Square
Barrack Square is an open public square on the foreshore of Perth Water on the Swan River, located at the southern end of Barrack Street near the central business district of Perth, Western Australia....
at the jetty
Barrack Street Jetty
Barrack Street Jetty, is one of the Transperth jetties, located on the southern edge of the Perth CBD in Western Australia. It is next to the Swan Bells. The Transperth jetty is located at pier 4 of Barrack Square.-Ferry services:...
. It has had the long running Perth South Perth
South Perth, Western Australia
South Perth is a residential suburb 3 kilometres south of the central business district of Perth, the capital of Western Australia, which adjoins the southern shore of Perth Water on the Swan River...
Transperth
Transperth
Transperth is the brand name of the public transport system in Perth, Western Australia. It is operated by the Public Transport Authority.-History:...
ferry service running across to the Mends Street Jetty
Mends Street Jetty
Mends Street Jetty, is one of two Transperth jetties, the other being Coode Street Jetty, located in South Perth in Western Australia. The jetty is on the southern shore of the Swan River in the section known as Perth Water...
which also serves Perth Zoo
Perth Zoo
The Perth Zoo is a zoo that opened in 1898 in South Perth, Western Australia. As of January 2011, it is home to 1258 animals of 164 species and includes an extensive botanical collection....
. Commercial companies also use the jetties for trips to Rottnest
Rottnest Island
Rottnest Island is located off the coast of Western Australia, near Fremantle. It is called Wadjemup by the Noongar people, meaning "place across the water". The island is long, and at its widest point with a total land area of . It is classified as an A Class Reserve and is managed by the...
via Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
and Swan River wine and leisure cruises.
Ferry companies at the terminal have in the past improved re-fuelling techniques in order to reduce the amount of oil pollution in Perth Water.
Historical photos
The most accessible photographs that show the degradation of the space over time is in the collection in The West AustralianThe West Australian
The West Australian is the only locally-edited daily newspaper published in Perth, Western Australia, and is owned by ASX-listed Seven West Media . The West is published in tabloid format, as is the state's other major newspaper, The Sunday Times, a News Limited publication...
book produced for the 150th anniversary of Western Australia in 1979.