Come and immerse yourself in this heartfelt outdoor exhibit and enjoy some stories during the 2010 Kings Park Festival.
For many Western Australians, Kings Park holds a special place in their heart and mind. To highlight this, Kings Park has embarked on a project to collect and showcase the rich social history that has been generated by people visiting the park over the years, aptly titled Kings Park at Heart.
What has emerged are stories of love, tragedy, dedication, humour and more. Visit the outdoor exhibit and enjoy some of the stories gathered to date that are on display at Forrest Lawn for all to read and share as part of this year’s Kings Park Festival.
Bullcreek resident Don Feakes was one of many keen to share his recollections. An extract from Don’s submission is below:
"My earliest memory of Kings Park is of my grandfather who has a Model T Ford and was an exciting man. He used to take me shooting rabbits in the Park after six o’clock when the gates closed. One morning I went with my grandfather up to near the War Memorial and we found a lady that shot herself.
She turned out to be a raffia worker. I think it was early Depression days and people were having troubles. I used to sleep out on the back enclosed verandah after that and I would never go to sleep until my grandmother sat next to me with a pearl studded revolver, which was the revolver that the lady shot herself with. The police gave it to my grandfather. I was always comfortable in the presence of my grandparents."
Don Feakes, born 1925, grandson of John Heath, superintendent of Kings Park from 1913 to 1938.
All members of the public are invited to contribute to this project, by submitting their own stories about Kings Park – the soul of the city.
Stories can be emailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with the completed story form that you can download below or pick up a story form from the Visitor Information Centre in Kings Park.
Download Social History application form 3.13 MB