Kings Park tops public wish list
Nov 3rd 2003, 12:40 am
#1
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Kings Park tops public wish list
FROM city to surf, bush to belltower, West Australians love their State.
And the choices of what best represents WA made by readers of The West Australian, have got the State Government's icons project off to a flying start.
Premier Geoff Gallop will tomorrow outline the State's move to put WA's most endearing features on an official pedestal when he launches the WA Heritage Icons 2004 project.
The project, to be administered through the National Trust, will feature an inaugural list of WA icons which will be named next year during the State's 175th birthday celebrations.
The West Australian kickstarts the project today after collecting the thoughts of what West Australians love best about their State.
Our readers suggested a staggering 781 different icons, with Kings Park coming out an overwhelming winner.
First gazetted in 1872, it was declared an A-class reserve in 1900 and remains the people's park with botanic gardens, spectacular wildflowers, native bush, the State War Memorial and extensive city and river views.
The majestic Swan River was clearly the second pick ahead of Rottnest Island, which received separate votes for its lighthouse, quokkas and annual swimming race.
Under the State Government plan, people are not eligible to be icons, but former premier Sir Charles Court was listed in fifth place.
C. Y. O'Connor is also ineligible but finished in eighth place. The engineer's statue and his pipeline also received several votes.
Ningaloo Reef, Wave Rock, Cottesloe Beach, the State's wildflowers, Fremantle and His Majesty's Theatre - which celebrates its centenary next year - rounded out the list of favourites.
Other features just outside the top 10 included WA's beaches, the belltower, the Bungle Bungles, Monkey Mia, and Perth Town Hall.
Several country cities and towns joined Fremantle as popular picks.
Voters cited the Fremantle prison, harbour, the sea breeze (the "Doctor"), the Dockers, the cappuccino strip and the markets as icons.
Broome and its beaches, Busselton and its jetty, Albany and its Whale World and windfarm, Kalgoorlie and its two-up, Golden Mile and even Paddy Hannan and Margaret River and its vineyards, surf and wineries all stirred the passions of our readers.
One-vote wonders included the Perth Zoo elephant Trish, the 28 parrot, middies of beer, WA band The Waifs, Aboriginal warrior Yagan, Perth Glory soccer star Bobby Despotovski, Fat Cat, Police Commissioner Barry Matthews, the South-West's Gnomesville, The West Australian's cartoonist Dean Alston and even the great Australian dunny.
Six voters thought MPs were State icons - four more than Parliament House where they serve. There were also tributes for WA's laid-back and friendly people, smiles from shopkeepers and willingness to help and a thank-you to a bus driver. The State's cleanliness and clean drinking water also were mentioned.
Presumably the vote for Karen Jeanie national park was meant to join 13 others for Karijini National Park.
And who could forget the pleasures of Swan Gold beer and a late-night hamburger at Bernie's on Mounts Bay Road - both listed, and sadly lamented.
The West Australian will pass its voting tally to the National Trust for consideration in the project, which will begin with a public nomination process.
And the choices of what best represents WA made by readers of The West Australian, have got the State Government's icons project off to a flying start.
Premier Geoff Gallop will tomorrow outline the State's move to put WA's most endearing features on an official pedestal when he launches the WA Heritage Icons 2004 project.
The project, to be administered through the National Trust, will feature an inaugural list of WA icons which will be named next year during the State's 175th birthday celebrations.
The West Australian kickstarts the project today after collecting the thoughts of what West Australians love best about their State.
Our readers suggested a staggering 781 different icons, with Kings Park coming out an overwhelming winner.
First gazetted in 1872, it was declared an A-class reserve in 1900 and remains the people's park with botanic gardens, spectacular wildflowers, native bush, the State War Memorial and extensive city and river views.
The majestic Swan River was clearly the second pick ahead of Rottnest Island, which received separate votes for its lighthouse, quokkas and annual swimming race.
Under the State Government plan, people are not eligible to be icons, but former premier Sir Charles Court was listed in fifth place.
C. Y. O'Connor is also ineligible but finished in eighth place. The engineer's statue and his pipeline also received several votes.
Ningaloo Reef, Wave Rock, Cottesloe Beach, the State's wildflowers, Fremantle and His Majesty's Theatre - which celebrates its centenary next year - rounded out the list of favourites.
Other features just outside the top 10 included WA's beaches, the belltower, the Bungle Bungles, Monkey Mia, and Perth Town Hall.
Several country cities and towns joined Fremantle as popular picks.
Voters cited the Fremantle prison, harbour, the sea breeze (the "Doctor"), the Dockers, the cappuccino strip and the markets as icons.
Broome and its beaches, Busselton and its jetty, Albany and its Whale World and windfarm, Kalgoorlie and its two-up, Golden Mile and even Paddy Hannan and Margaret River and its vineyards, surf and wineries all stirred the passions of our readers.
One-vote wonders included the Perth Zoo elephant Trish, the 28 parrot, middies of beer, WA band The Waifs, Aboriginal warrior Yagan, Perth Glory soccer star Bobby Despotovski, Fat Cat, Police Commissioner Barry Matthews, the South-West's Gnomesville, The West Australian's cartoonist Dean Alston and even the great Australian dunny.
Six voters thought MPs were State icons - four more than Parliament House where they serve. There were also tributes for WA's laid-back and friendly people, smiles from shopkeepers and willingness to help and a thank-you to a bus driver. The State's cleanliness and clean drinking water also were mentioned.
Presumably the vote for Karen Jeanie national park was meant to join 13 others for Karijini National Park.
And who could forget the pleasures of Swan Gold beer and a late-night hamburger at Bernie's on Mounts Bay Road - both listed, and sadly lamented.
The West Australian will pass its voting tally to the National Trust for consideration in the project, which will begin with a public nomination process.
Nov 3rd 2003, 12:45 am
#2
Good to be back in UK
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Back in UK
Posts: 750
Oops! just noticed Chris hadn't logged out.
I hope you don't mind the cut and paste but I thought this article highlighted some of the key spots in Wa and I also found it very amusing.
Hope you do too
I hope you don't mind the cut and paste but I thought this article highlighted some of the key spots in Wa and I also found it very amusing.
Hope you do too
Nov 3rd 2003, 1:07 pm
#3
Dutch expat/Aus citizen
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: South East, Perth (was Holland)
Posts: 5,789
Yes, it is very amusing!
Thanks!
lol at Karen Jeannie, Fat Cat and 'the doctor'!
Thanks!
lol at Karen Jeannie, Fat Cat and 'the doctor'!
