Kings Park is a 4.06 square kilometres (1,003 acres) 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.

Besides tourist facilities Kings Park contains the State War Memorial, the Royal Kings Park Tennis club and a reservoir. The streets are tree lined with individual plaques dedicated by family members to Western Australian Service men and women who died in World War I and World War II.

History

Officially opened on 10 August 1895,^[1] the park was originally called Perth Park and was renamed in 1901 to mark the ascension to the British throne of King Edward VII and the visit to Perth of George, the Duke of Cornwall and Princess Mary. One of the major roads through the park, May Drive is named in the Princess's honour.

The Kings Park War Memorial

It occupies 4.06 kmē of the crest of Mount Eliza which overlooks the City and Perth Water on the Swan River. Two-thirds of the park is native bushland. The park is larger than New York's Central Park which is 3.41 kmē. It was also the first park to be designated for public use in Australia (in 1872). During September-October of each year Kings Park hosts Australia's largest wildflower show and exhibition.

Prior to European settlement and exploration Mount Eliza was known as Mooro Katta^[1] and Kaarta Gar-up^[2] by the Nyoongar inhabitants. At the base of the southern face is a freshwater spring, known as Kennedy spring (Goonininup), this is a fresh water spring providing year round water for the Yellagonga clan. The availability for fresh water also attracted the Swan Brewery to the site and original buildings of the Old Swan Brewery still remain and have been converted to restaurants, art gallery and residential accommodation.

The Colony's first Surveyor General John Septimus Roe recognised the qualities of the area and tried to protect it, by identifying the land to set aside for public purposes. By 1835 Roe's protection was overturned and the first shipment of five tonnes of Jarrah was cut on Mt Eliza. Logging in the area continued until 1871 when Roe's successor Malcolm Fraser persuaded the then Governor Weld to set aside 1.75 kmē as public reserve. In 1890 this was enlarged to its current size by Sir John Forrest.^[1]

Since 1999, Kings Park has been administered by the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, who also administer Bold Park, and does not come under any Local Government authority. The park's administration building contains all the administrative offices where visitors may book guided walking tours, get information, or reserve one of the facilities.