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Questions
- What is the size of Kings Park and Botanic Garden?
- When was Kings Park established?
- Why is it called 'Kings Park'?
- When is the Botanic Garden open?
- Can I drive my car and park in Kings Park?
- How do I get to the Walkway?
- Does the Botanic Garden have only rare plants growing there?
- Where are the plants used in Kings Park and Botanic Garden propagated?
- When are the Guided Walks?
- How can I organise a walk for a social group?
- Where can I see the wildflowers?
- What are the dates for the Wildflower Festival?
- Where is the Kings Park Festival held?
- Is it possible for an elderly person with limited mobility to enjoy the Festival?
- Where can I see a Jarrah tree?
- Do you have any native Christmas trees (Nuytsia floribunda) in the Park?
- Are there any Karri trees (Eucalyptus diversicolor) growing in the Park?
- Where is the tree with the huge cones?
- Which tree did Lord Forrest plant?
- Where are the trees that Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh planted when they visited Perth in 1954?
- Where is the Whispering Wall and how does it work?
- Where is the Wishing Well?
- Where are the old guns?
- Where is Jacob's Ladder?
- Where is the lookout tower?
- Where is the spring - Kennedy Fountain?
- Where is Fraser's Restaurant and when is it open?
- Where else can I buy food and drink in Kings Park and Botanic Garden?
- Is there a taxi rank or a taxi phone in the Park?
- Where do I catch the bus back to Perth?
- Where are bins located in Kings Park?
- Which is the best way to walk into Perth?
- Where can I buy books on the Western Australian flora?
- When is Aspects of Kings Park open?
- Are the Honour Avenue trees native to the Park?
- Who looks after the memorials and trees?
- Can I scatter my, or my relatives’, ashes in Kings Park and Botanic Garden?
- Where is the Vietnam Memorial?
- Where is the Airforce Memorial?
- Where is the memorial to the army nurses who died on Banka Island?
- Where can I take children to play?
- Where is Synergy Parkland?
- Where is the cycle track for young children?
- Can I hire a bike?
- I have lost something. Where do I report it?
- Is there a first aid post in the park?
- Where are the barbecues in the park?
- I would like to know the name of a plant.
- I am interested in helping on a voluntary basis with work in Kings Park and Botanic Garden. Who do I contact?
- How many staff are employed by the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority?
- I am interested in gaining employment with the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority. How do I go about applying?
- How many bird species do you have in Kings Park and Botanic Garden?
- What other native animals still exist in the Park?
- How many native plant species are there in the bushland?
- Are freesias a native of the bushland?
- May I pick the flowers from plants that a Kings Park Volunteer Guide said are weeds in the bushland?
- May I bring my dog into the park?
- Can I arrange a ceremony in Kings Park and Botanic Garden?
- Do you have to pay for wedding photography within the Park?
- If I have a gathering in Kings Park and Botanic Garden for around 40 people do I need to book and does a fee apply?
Answers
1. What is the size of Kings Park and Botanic Garden?
- 1,000 acres or 400.6 ha in total.
- 346 hectares of natural bushland (including roads and paths).
- 37 hectares of developed parkland.
- 17 hectares of botanic garden.
2. When was Kings Park established?
Some 400 acres or 175 hectares were gazetted as a public park in 1872, and this was extended to virtually its present size in 1890. The first board of management was established by Sir John Forrest in 1895.
3. Why is it called 'Kings Park'?
The name was changed from Perth Park to Kings Park in 1901 to mark the accession of King Edward VII, and the visit to Perth of his son the Duke of Cornwall and Princess May (later King George and Queen Mary).
4. When is the Botanic Garden open?
Every day of the year.
5. Can I drive my car and park in Kings Park?
Kings Park and Botanic Garden is an A class reserve and has its own Act and Regulations to protect the park and its users.
- Speed is restricted to between 20-40 kilometres per hour.
- Learner drivers are not permitted to drive vehicles in the park.
- Parking is prohibited while the person in charge of the vehicle is not physically in Kings Park.
6. How do I get to the Walkway?
The Lotterywest Federation Walkway starts opposite Lord Forrest Statue roundabout on Fraser Avenue and leads down through the Botanic Garden. It is a combination of footpaths, elevated walkway and a glass and steel arched bridge. Closest parking is Forrest car park.
7. Does the Botanic Garden have only rare plants growing there?
No, it displays a selection of WA flora, as well as plants from Eastern Australia and other Mediterranean climates.
8. Where are the plants used in Kings Park and Botanic Garden propagated?
Mainly within Kings Park Nursery. Plants required for mass plantings are purchased from accredited nurseries because of lack of space within the Park nursery.
9. When are the Guided Walks?
Free Guided Walks are at 10.00 am and 2.00 pm daily starting from the Aspects Gift Shop on Fraser Ave. A daily 12.00 pm walk is also available between 1 November to 30 June.
10. How can I organise a walk for a social group?
Refer to the Bookings Section for relevant information and contact the Bookings Officer with any questions.
11. Where can I see the wildflowers?
There are plants flowering in Kings Park and Botanic Garden throughout the year. The best time to see flowers is during the wildflower season from August to October in the Botanic Garden and along the Bushland Nature Trail.
12. What are the dates for the Wildflower Festival?
Now called the Kings Park Festival, it is held through the entire month of September.
13. Where is the Kings Park Festival held?
Activities take place around the whole Park, the floral displays are focused around the Western Australian Botanic Garden.
14. Is it possible for an elderly person with limited mobility to enjoy the Festival?
Yes, there is a set-down area at the entrance, seats scattered throughout the displays and toilets for people with disabilities. A wheelchair is available for loan from the Visitor Information Centre, please contact them to check availability.
15. Where can I see a Jarrah tree?
There is a labelled Jarrah tree (Eucalyptus marginata) just to the right of the entrance to the War Memorial Concourse, next to the Queen's tree.
16. Do you have any native Christmas trees (Nuytsia floribunda) in the Park?
Yes. If one walks down the Acacia Steps in the Botanic Garden, there is a small labelled specimen 5 metres to the left of the bottom step which can be closely examined.
17. Are there any Karri trees (Eucalyptus diversicolor) growing in the Park?
Yes. There are a number in the Botanic Garden near the Water Garden Pavilion. They will not grow to maximum size given the soil type and limited rainfall of the metropolitan area.
18. Where is the tree with the huge cones?
The Bunya Pine (Araucaria bidwillii) was near the Old Tea Pavilion on Fraser Avenue. Unfortunately it had to be removed after severe storms in Perth in 2007.
19. Which tree did Lord Forrest plant?
The Norfolk Island Pine (Auracaria heterophylla) he planted in 1895, at the official opening of the Park, died in 1946. It was replaced by a tree of the same species planted in 1947 by a great nephew of Lord Forrest on the centenary of Forrest's birth in 1947. This tree, with plaque, is to the right of the War Memorial Concourse.
20. Where are the trees that Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh planted when they visited Perth in 1954?
The Queen's tree, is to the right of the entry to the War Memorial Concourse: to the left is a tree planted by the Duke in 1962 to replace the original River Redgum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), which blew down in a storm.
21. Where is the Whispering Wall and how does it work?
The curved walls are at the entrance to the War Memorial Precinct in the Court of Contemplation along the Ceremonial Walk. One sits at one end of the seat incorporated in the walls and quiet comments made close to the walls are audible to a person sitting at the other end. Refer to Fraser Avenue map.
22. Where is the Wishing Well?
The Rotary Wishing Well opened on 2 October 1949 and is across the road from Fraser's Restaurant on Fraser Avenue. The wishing well from the Arthur Fairall Playground / former Lakeside Picnic Area has been moved to near the entrance to Stickybeaks Cafe in the Lotterywest Family Area.
23. Where are the old guns?
There is a Krupps gun captured in the Boer War at the South African Memorial and guns used at Waterloo and the Crimea at the Queen Victoria statue on Fraser Avenue.
24. Where is Jacob's Ladder?
It is not actually in Kings Park and Botanic Garden, but at the end of Cliff Street, which marks the park's boundary. There are 242 steps over a height of 43 metres.
25. Where is the lookout tower?
The DNA Tower is in Forrest Drive opposite the Botanic Garden.
26. Where is the spring - Kennedy Fountain?
It is on Mounts Bay Road at the bottom of the Scarp, and further west than the War Memorial.
27. Where is Fraser's Restaurant and when is it open?
On Fraser Avenue in the Restaurant precinct, north-west of the State War Memorial. Read more about Fraser's Restaurant...
28. Where else can I buy food and drink in Kings Park and Botanic Garden?
At the Botanical Cafe and kiosk on Fraser Avenue, Stickybeaks Cafe at the Lotterywest Family Area and Zamia Cafe at the Synergy Parkland. Read more about Eating Places...
29. Is there a taxi rank or a taxi phone in the Park?
There is a taxi stand behind Fraser's Restaurant. You will need to ring for a taxi. A public telephone is available next to the kiosk.
30. Where do I catch the bus back to Perth?
From the Bus Stop in the Main Car Park near Fraser's Restaurant - Transperth route number 37 or 39.
31. Where are bins located in Kings Park?
Rubbish bins are located in all barbeque areas and adjacent to food outlets where the majority of rubbish is generated. In Fraser Avenue, rubbish bins are located west of the Pines Picnic area, adjacent to the car park and in the visitor precinct near the Visitor Information Centre, Fraser’s Kiosk and the Botanical Cafe. View the Kings Park Facilities map.
32. Which is the best way to walk into Perth?
Along Fraser Avenue to the park entrance, down Malcolm Street and into St George's Terrace.
33. Where can I buy books on the Western Australian flora?
Aspects of Kings Park sells a wide range of publications.
34. When is Aspects of Kings Park open?
Aspects of Kings Park is open from 9.00 am - 5.00 pm every day of the year (except Christmas Day and Good Friday).
35. Are the Honour Avenue trees native to the Park?
Trees in Lovekin Drive are the South Australian Sugar Gums (Eucalyptus cladocalyx) and trees in May Drive are Bangalays (Eucalyptus botryoides) native to NSW and Victoria.
36. Who looks after the memorials and trees?
The memorials and the plaques on honour trees are cared for by the RSL Highgate sub branch. The actual trees are the responsibility of the Botanic Garden and Parks Authority.
37. Can I scatter my or my relatives ashes in Kings Park and Botanic Garden?
The Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority does not allow the scattering of ashes in Kings Park and Botanic Garden due to its high visitation and the wealth of activities that occur. We suggest that you consider Pinnaroo Valley Memorial Park which provides a similar bushland setting in designated memorial land.
38. Where is the Vietnam Memorial?
At the Synergy Parkland. It is a tile-roofed, ornate, wooden pavilion built around the turn of the century and moved to the park from Karrakatta Cemetery in the late 1980s. The names of the fallen can be seen behind a grille at one end. You may be interested in downloading a Synergy Parkland map.
39. Where is the Airforce Memorial?
There is no separate Airforce Memorial - the airmen's names are listed on the State War Memorial - but there is a memorial (a granite rock with plaque) to the 460 Squadron RAAF near the Lotterywest Family Area.
40. Where is the memorial to the army nurses who died on Banka Island?
It is not in Kings Park, but at Point Walter in Bicton. The names of the WA nurses killed are listed in the State War Memorial in Kings Park among the service women who lost their lives (above the openings on the river side of the State War Memorial).
41. Where can I take children to play?
Lotterywest Family Area offers the Ivey Watson Playground for children under 6 and an open area and play equipment at Hale Oval for older children. The Synergy Parkland is an educational playground based on the dinosaur era and is best suited to children 7 - 14 years and a nature based play area is available at Saw Avenue Picnic Area.
42. Where is Synergy Parkland?
On May Drive - too far for most people to walk from Fraser Avenue. Closest bus stops are at QEII Medical centre. You may be interested in downloading a Synergy Parkland map.
43. Where is the cycle track for young children?
The beginners' cycle track, suitable for children 6 to 10 is at the Lotterywest Family Area, Hale Oval, off Kings Park Road (opposite Outram Street). You may be interested in downloading a brochure.
44. Can I hire a bike?
No, there is no bike hire in Kings Park.
45. I have lost something. Where do I report it?
At the Administration Centre on Fraser Ave or contact the Customer Service Officer.
46. Is there a first aid post in the park?
Park Management Officers are trained in First Aid and can be contacted through the Visitor Information Centre or via the Emergency Contact.
47. Where are the barbecues in the park?
Free electric barbecues are available at the Lotterywest Family Area, Synergy Parkland, Saw Avenue Picnic Area and at the Pines Picnic Area near the Administration building on Fraser Ave.
48. I would like to know the name of a plant.
Contact the Volunteer Master Gardeners Advisory Service. An answering machine will record your problem when the phone is unattended and your call will be returned.
49. I am interested in helping on a voluntary basis with work in Kings Park and Botanic Garden. Who do I contact?
Visit the Support section of this website for all the information and then contact the Volunteer Coordinator with any questions.
50. How many staff are employed by the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority?
There are currently 140 staff employed by the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, including permanent, part-time, casual and contract staff. Many postgraduate students also work in the Science Directorate. The Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority manages Kings Park and Botanic Garden and Bold Park.
51. I am interested in gaining employment with the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority. How do I go about applying?
Watch for an advertisement for staff published in The West Australian and keep an eye on the Positions Vacant posted on this website.
52. How many bird species do you have in Kings Park and Botanic Garden?
Over 70 species, some living in the park permanently, others visiting at different times of the year. You may be interested in downloading a brochure.
53. What other native animals still exist in the Park?
Brushtail Possums, reptiles, including geckoes, bobtail lizards and snakes, plus many invertebrates, e.g trapdoor spiders, scarp snail.
54. How many native plant species are there in the bushland?
There are 324 species of local native plants growing in the bushland, which represents about 15% of the native flora of the Perth Region. There are around 150 species of weeds, including plants native to other parts of WA or Australia. You may be interested in downloading a brochure.
55. Are freesias a native of the bushland?
No, they are being removed whenever possible.
56. May I pick the flowers from plants that a Kings Park Volunteer Guide said are weeds in the bushland?
No, Kings Park and Botanic Garden is an A class Reserve - leave only footprints and take only memories and photographs.
57. May I bring my dog into the park?
Yes, provided it is on a leash and, of course, dog owners are required to clean up any 'deposits'. Excepting Guide Dogs, dogs are not permitted within 10m of any playground area, on the elevated section of the Lotterywest Federation Walkway or inside Rio Tinto Naturescape Kings Park.
58. Can I arrange a ceremony in Kings Park and Botanic Garden?
Yes. However written permission and approval needs to be sought. Please address all requests to the Chief Executive Officer.
59. Do you have to pay for wedding photography within the Park?
Yes. Please contact the Bookings Officer for more information.
60. If I have a gathering in Kings Park and Botanic Garden for around 40 people do I need to book and does a fee apply?
If you are using the grassed area and you have under 50 people, you are not required to book. If you have 50 to 100 people you are required to notify the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority of the gathering, however no fee is required if you are only using grassed areas. If there is over 100 people or you would like to reserve a pavilion, a fee is required.
There are catering and alcohol consumption restrictions that apply to all gatherings, regardless of number. Please contact the Bookings Officer if you have any queries.