SELF-GUIDED HERITAGE TOUR 1 WELCOME TO CATHEDRAL SQUARE – THE HISTORIC HEART OF PERTH. The precinct you find yourself in has been intertwined with the story of the Perth City since inception. Bordered by St Georges Terrace, Barrack Street, Hay Street and Pier Street – this historic site has become a meeting place for the old and new, hosting the former government buildings (now known as The State Buildings), Perth Town Hall, St George’s Cathedral, The Deanery, the State Administrative Tribunal Building, the Public Trustee, the City of Perth Library and the David Malcolm Justice Centre. Here, within the Square, years of human creativity and ingenuity continue to flourish. The 21st century has seen the space reborn as a destination for those seeking experiences within arts & culture, culinary, wellness, performance, and heritage. Image above: Barrack Street, Perth, looking north from St. George’s Terrace, 1933. Sourced from the State Library of Western Australia (b2233340). First image on the left: The Opening of Post and Telegraphs Office, St Georges Terrace, 27 August 1890. Sourced from State Library of Western Australia (b2239209). Second image on the left: The Department of Lands and Surveys and the Titles Office, 1920s. Sourced from the City of Perth Cultural Collections. 2 ASCALON ASCALON A MYTHICAL LEGEND, REIMAGINED Standing sentinel on the grounds of undulating white sail inspired by the St George’s Cathedral is Ascalon – a knight’s lance, cloak and steed. The black striking, billowing sculpture crafted in base, pierced by the lance, represents the 2011 by WA-trained artists Marcus Canning body of the defeated dragon – evoking a and Christian de Vietri. sense of righteous power and victory over a force of darkness and oppression. The artwork is an abstract interpretation of the medieval legend of St George and the Dragon, with the angled pole and 3 POINT ZERO POINT ZERO WHERE ALL ROADS LEAD Point Zero marks the true heart of the city; In 1975, an understated plaque was the centre point from which all distances officially laid to identify the patch of to and from Perth are measured. Situated ground. It still instructs all modern maps, south of the Old Treasury Building, on the quietly guiding the state as city workers corner of Cathedral Avenue and St Georges and visitors amble by unaware. Terrace, the significance of the spot was noted during the building’s first life as the State’s Post Office. 4 STATE BUILDINGS STATE STATE BUILDINGS A PLACE WITH MANY PASTS A site known formally as the Lands During the last half of the 20th century, Department and Titles Building and by various government departments left locals as The State Buildings. Over its 140- the building for new accommodation, year history, this property has undertaken leaving the site vacant for nearly two multiple uses, from public offices, a decades. A myriad of proposals for its police court and cell block, to stints as redevelopment were put forward over the the treasury, survey department, GPO, years but it finally found a new lease of immigration offices, and office of both the life housing a variety of upmarket bars, Premier and Cabinet. cafés and retail spaces, including the luxury COMO The Treasury Hotel. 5 ICONIC & ONWARD! ONWARD! ICONIC & ONWARD! ICONIC & ONWARD! ONWARD! SYMBOLS OF REFLECTION Visiting the David Malcolm Justice Centre, nods to the geographical and historical you will encounter an elegant metal significance of this site, inviting visitors to structure known as Iconic. This artwork reflect on both what was and what will be. by celebrated Australian artist Matthew Harding was commissioned in 2015 and Cast your eyes to the floor where Artist is symbolic of the tree that was felled Marcus Canning, showcases his works at this site in 1829 to commemorate the titled Onward! Onward! The artwork Foundation of Perth. The sculpture is encourages visitors to engage with characterised by the interwoven stainless- Western Australia’s Indigenous history steel tubes which rise lineally, overlayed in a way they might not have ever by the engraved grain detail, to create a experienced before – etching 256 granite contemporary expression of an ancient pavers with English and Noongar words tree form. The trifurcated sculpture and phrases, for Cathedral Square visitors to experience and reflect. 6 DIRTY DEEDS DIRTY DEEDS CRIMES OF CENTURIES PAST Dirty Deeds is an artwork marking the To shed light on the troubled souls who location of where the police court holding once passed through this space, the artists cells used to stand, and tells the stories of trawled through the archival records of the folk who dwelled there. ‘A miserable the police court to uncover the names and little box,’ was how the cells were once deeds of some of the detainees who were described by a press commentator of the held in the cells. The alleged criminal’s day; ‘shocked at the smallness and want of full name, trade or status, the crime they ventilation and light’ said another. were accused of committing and the date of their court appearance are included The footprint of the original cells can now in the work. be seen etched into the granite outside the restaurant, including the tiny windows and entry doors to the cells. 7 PERTH TOWN HALL PERTH TOWN HALL FROM THE HANDS OF CONVICTS Perth Town Hall is one of 6 capital the project was initially scheduled to town halls in Australia but, unlike the take 12 months to complete. Instead, others, this one was built by the hands of construction lasted three years. convicts. The foundation of the hall was laid on 24 May 1867 by then-Governor When opened to the public on 1 June Hampton, who made the decision to build 1870, the Town Hall was Perth’s tallest a meeting place for the citizens of Perth as building; a sight to behold for the early part of a public works program. European settlers. Designed by the Supervisor of Public Works, Richard Roach Jewell, and overseen by the Clerk of Works and architect for the Fremantle Prison, James Manning, 8 CITY OF PERTH LIBRARY CITY OF PERTH LIBRARY WANDER A WINDING TOWER OF STORIES The purpose-built, seven-storey, state-of- The ground floor overlooks Perth’s largest the-art, circular building is the first major living green wall; while high above, civic building to be constructed since the the ceiling showcases renowned artist Perth Concert Hall built nearly 40 years Andrew Nicholls’ Delight and Hurt Not ago. The City of Perth Library features a — an artwork that re-tells Shakespeare’s dedicated history centre, young adult, and The Tempest from a Western Australian children’s floors complete with a living perspective. tree of knowledge and an outdoor terrace overlooking Cathedral Square. 9 ST GEORGE’S CATHEDRAL ST GEORGE’S CATHEDRAL A CATHEDRAL FIT FOR A NEW CITY Situated in the heart of the city, numerous icons referencing its Gothic St George’s Cathedral is the principal revival design, including beautiful stained- cathedral of the Anglican Province of glass windows, and memorials to Western Western Australia and the metro political Australian pioneers, community leaders Diocese of Perth. Consecrated in 1888, and those who served in the wars of the the Cathedral has stood as a landmark twentieth century. The Cathedral’s peal architectural gem for over 130 years. of bells, founded as a memorial to Queen Victoria, can be heard each Sunday before Built by convicts, it is one of only a few the 10.00AM Choral Eucharist and 5.00PM Cathedrals constructed entirely out of Choral Evensong. These services also handmade bricks and West Australian feature the widely acclaimed Cathedral materials. Within the Cathedral are Choir and Consort. 10 THE CADOGAN SONG SCHOOL THE CADOGAN SONG SCHOOL SINGING IN A NEW ERA Following the restoration works to the February 2016, wrapping up in August the Cathedral, Forecourt, and the Burt Hall, following year. The Right Honourable 8th a permanent home was needed for the Earl Cadogan officially opened the building Cathedral Choir and their extensive music on October 2017. library. Beautifully sculpted with pale concrete As the Very Reverend Dr John Shepherd arches that rise above the ground level, AM, Dean Emeritus (Dean of Perth from the design takes reference from the 1990 until 2014), surveyed the site of the traditional whitewashed colour of the demolished former Dean’s Vestry, he Deanery and the brightly diaphanous conceived the idea of a ‘Song School’ – Ascalon sculpture. The Song School a common feature of many Cathedrals in is partially underground, minimising the United Kingdom. After consultation the building’s footprint to ensure that with Palassis Architects, a plan was existing sight lines are maintained. formed and construction began in CATHEDRALSQUARE.COM.AU For more details visit For more self-guided tours of Art and Architecture in the East End of our City, download the Historic Heart of Perth @CATHEDRALSQUARE or follow us App or visit historicheart.com. Children’s Walking Tour – Download PLAY TRAILS from the App Store to start your family adventure through Cathedral Square. For free interactive family fun, visit natureplaywa.org.au/playtrails.