1830 - Perth Cemetery

1830

The East Perth Cemetaries were set aside as the main burial ground for the capital of the Swan River Colony soon after its foundation in 1829, and were not only associated with the early pioneering period, but for virtually the entire colonial period which lasted until to the end of the nineteenth century.

They are quite correctly called cemeteries as even though the site appears as one today, it originally incorporated seven individual denominational cemeteries which came into existence progressively through the latter half of nineteenth century until the time when the site was closed in 1899. Each cemetery was fenced off and in most cases was separated from the others by a public roadway.

The cemetery complex also houses St. Bartholomew's Church which served as a burial chapel and a parish church for nearby residents.

The photograph above depicts some early settlers' graves around 1850.

1859 - The Deanery

1859

An unusual example of convict architecture, the Deanery was built in 1859; this photograph was taken shortly afterward in the 1860s. The site of the Deanery was formerly the site of the old Perth Gaol, but the land was exchanged with the Crown in July 1858 so that The Deanery could be close to the Cathedral.

There was some controversy regarding the exchange as the Gaol had been used to house Aboriginal prisoners, and it is claimed that Yagan's father, Midgegooroo, who was captured in May 1833, was executed on site. It has also been claimed that "the Town Stocks once stood in the grounds of the Deanery."

Even with this history, the eastern end of St. George's Terrace and Adelaide Terrace was a fashionable residential area. A regulation promulgated in 1833 required owners of lots in this
area to build homes costing at least £200. At a cost of £900, The Deanery was in keeping with the nearby homes of affluent colonists.

Twelve white mulberry trees, planted by Wittenoom and known as the twelve apostles, grew in front of the Cathedral and The Deanery. A large garden with trellises of grapes and other fruit linked The Deanery with the Cathedral.

1860s - St George's Tce

1860s

St Georges Terrace, as shown above in 1860 and 1862, was named for St George's Cathedral. Originally, houses occupied by clergy of the cathedral and lay clerks of the cathedral choir constituted a substantial portion of the Terrace. Some of these houses such as the Deanery remain, however the majority of these were demolished in the 1960s.

The original St George's Cathedral, depicted above in 1864, was built by Frederick Irwin in December 1829 a few months after the city was founded, but replaced in 1888 by a larger structure which still exists today.

The Central Government Offices, shown as they originally appeared around 1863, were rebuilt in 1874 along St George's Tce.

1860s - The Causeway

1860s


The Causeway is the name of two bridges which span the Swan River at the eastern end of Perth Water. They link the City of Perth and Town of Victoria Park. The two bridges are joined at Heirisson Island, which is approximately midway across the river, to make a continuous crossing.

Initially, a dam was constructed across the mud flats in 1839, only 10 years after the establishment of the Swan River Colony.
The first pile of the original Causeway bridge was driven across the river flats in November 2, 1840. It was originally known as the Perth Bridge. In June 1862, the river flooded badly and the bridge was between seven and eight feet under water.

Built by convict labour, a second Causeway bridge was opened in November 12, 1867 by Governor John Hampton. A young onloooker called out after the official opening speeches were completed: "And I, John Stephen Maley, do hereby declare that I will be the first to cross this Perth Bridge and Causeway!". The Governor's party proceeded across the Causeway after the young man had crossed.

The pictures above picture the first Causeway circa 1862.

1850s

1850s

Not long after settlement Perth was struggling to maintain its population due to numerous problems experienced by the settlers. In fact, numbers had reached only 5886, with only 1400 around the Perth area. Thus, in 1850 the colony was compelled to accept convict labour from Britain, whereby a number of important public buildings and infrastructure were thus completed.

In 1856 Perth was proclaimed a City by Queen Victoria.

The photographs above depict Barrack Street in the 1850s, and a view of Perth from Mount Eliza in 1856.

1847

1847

Horace Samson was the draftsman for the Lands Department, and this picture by him is dated 1847.

Of a later lithograph, the Perth gazette, and independent journal of politics and news, 15 October 1852, p.4a describes the print: "We have been favored with a sight of a Lithographic sketch of Perth, taken by Mr Horace Samson, our Colonial Draughtsman, from the top of Mount Eliza, which gives a much more faithful representation of our capital than any attempt we have hitherto seen. We hope that a sufficient number of copies will be issued for the purpose of gratifying parties out of as well as in the colony, for we should be sorry that this work of art should not have a circulation, as alike affording an accurate view of the chief town of our province, and reflecting great credit upon the artist and lithographic printer."

Philatelists will be interested to know that Horace Samson was also responsible for the lithographic design of one of the State's first stamp issues, the 4D 1855 Black Swan, famous for containing the world's first invert error (technically a "frame invert").

1831

1831

This photograph depicts Perth's first four-bedroom house with roof shingles, post, rail fence and chimney at the rear of the building, constructed just two years after Settlement.

The house appears to be situated on the north side of St George's Tce, on a slope which now leads up to Parliament House. However, there is no way of verifying this so it is simply my opinion.

June 1829

1829

On 4 June 1829, newly arriving colonists had their first view of the mainland and Western Australia's Foundation Day has since been recognised by a public holiday on the first Monday in June each year. Captain James Stirling, aboard the Parmelia, said that Perth was "as beautiful as anything of this kind I had ever witnessed." On 12 August that year, Mrs. Helen Dance, wife of the Captain of the second ship Sulphur, cut down a tree to mark the founding of the town.

The name Perth was chosen by James Stirling for the new town. Stirling, a Scot, acted in accordance with the wish of Sir George Murray, Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, that the town be named after Perth, Scotland, which was Murray's birthplace and parliamentary seat in the British House of Commons.

May 1829

1829

In 1826, the Governor of New South Wales, Governor Darling sent Stirling on the ship 'Success' to visit and report on the west coast of Australia.

Stirling was impressed with the land in the vicinity of the Swan River describing it as ideal for establishing a permanent settlement. In particular, he was pleased with the defensive prospects of Mount Eliza (the large hill where King's Park is now), situated as it is near the narrows of the Swan River, which would make defending the colony from gunships easy, with just a few cannons.

On returning to London in 1828, Stirling lobbied officials to enlist support for a settlement to be established in Western Australia. He finally succeeded, and on 9 February 1829 departed Plymouth in the 'Parmelia', arriving at what became known as the Swan River Colony on 31 May. Stirling administered the new colony until December 1838. With the creation of the Western Australian Legislative Council in 1830, Stirling automatically became an official member.

February 1829

1829

WESTERN AUSTRALIA ACT 1829 (UK)

This legislation was the formal act providing temporarily for the government of the Colony of Western Australia.

The Act was introduced into the British Parliament shortly after the first fleet had set out for the new Colony on 9 February 1829. It received the Royal Assent on 14 May 1829. The preamble to the Act stated that these were temporary arrangements until the number of settlers increased and the 'undertaking shall be further matured'.

The Act also made clear that no part of the colonies of New South Wales or Van Diemen's Land would be included within the new Colony. This Act was extended by various other legislation from time to time until it was formally repealed by the Australian Constitutions Act 1850, which dealt with the government of all of the Australian colonies.

1800s

1801

This is the first detailed map of the Swan River drawn by François-Antoine Boniface Heirisson of the Naturaliste from direct observation after his journey by longboat along the Swan River from 17-22 June 1801.

Heirisson has included on the chart soundings along the entire length of his journey, and comments on the singular topography of the mouth of the river (the bar) referring to features seen along its course.

Heirisson Island, traversed and linked to the City by the Causeway, is named after him.

Prior to development, there were actually two islands, surrounded by mudflats. Over the years, dredging and reclamation has created a single island, which is now a landscaped nature reserve, with a two kilometre walking path. In recent years a colony of Western Grey Kangaroos have been introduced onto the island.

The first European to visit the Heirisson Island area was the Flemish explorer Willem de Vlamingh in January 1697. He was exploring the Swan River in long-boats but only got as far as the Heirisson Island(s) because the mud flats impeded any further progress.