City of Perth Reece Harley City of Perth Reece Harley

Stone Circle

Image source Eugene Scrivener (Museum of Perth)

Artist: Toogarr (Jerry) Morrison

Asset Type: Sculpture, Plaque

Year of Work: 1996

Location: Western end of Victoria Gardens, East Perth

Provenance: City of Perth

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City of Perth Reece Harley City of Perth Reece Harley

Henry Saw Roasted Coffee Plaque

Image source Eugene Scrivener (Museum of Perth)

Artist: Adrian Jones

Asset Type: Mosaic, Plaque

Year of Work: 1996

Location: Hay Street Mall, Northern side, Entrance to Plaza Arcade

Provenance: City of Perth

Description: Plaque reads: HENRY SAW Roasted COFFEE here - first time in the Colony 1852

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City of Perth Reece Harley City of Perth Reece Harley

Going Home

Image source Eugene Scrivener (Museum of Perth)

Artist: Anne Neil

Asset Type: Sculpture, Metalwork

Year of Work: 1996

Location: Traffic island at intersection of St Georges Terrace and Mount Street, Perth

Provenance: City of Perth

Description: These seven kangaroo silhouettes are captured in mid-flight, carrying briefcases. The concept of the artwork is derived from people working on the Terrace and returning home. The kangaroos, once abundant in the area, are seen racing back to King’s Park after a hard day at work. The briefcases draw attention to contemporary life on the Terrace and brings a touch of humour to Perth’s premier business avenue.

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City of Perth Reece Harley City of Perth Reece Harley

Unidentified Photographer

Image source Eugene Scrivener (Museum of Perth)

Artist: Anne Neil

Asset Type: Sculpture, Metalwork

Year of Work: 1996

Location: Traffic island at intersection of St Georges Terrace, Elder Street and Malcolm Street, Perth

Provenance: City of Perth

Description: A life-size bronze figure looks back through time at an image of the Barracks before it was demolished to make way for the new freeway extension. Holding a Box Brownie camera and a handful of photographic plates, the Unidentified Photographer beckons the public to look inside his camera. Inside the Gladstone bag are bronze models of various trade tools of the professionals who once worked on the Terrace.

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City of Perth Reece Harley City of Perth Reece Harley

Regeneration

Image source Eugene Scrivener (Museum of Perth)

Artist: Joanna Lefroy Capelle

Asset Type: Mural

Year of Work: 1996

Location: Niches under Northern edge of Victoria Gardens, on Southern pier of Inlet to Claisebrook Cove

Provenance: City of Perth

Description: Twenty meters long by five meters high, the Niche Wall Mural by Joanna Lefroy Capelle is a narrative of East Perth history.  

According to the plaque it traces the “evolution of this area from its origins in the Bibbulmun nation to the arrival of Europeans, industrial and horticultural growth, the phase of dormancy and finally renewal as a place of community and harmony for the human spirit”. In the absence of other more detailed information about East Perth’s history, the mural simplifies this story.  Regardless of intentions, the artwork implies Darwinist “evolution” of the suburb. Aboriginal connections to the area are relegated to a “bygone” past. Some have claimed that the representation is “grotesque” and offensive.

The placement of the mural on a limestone wall (built to disguise the sewage pipes behind it), along with the abandoned blankets which regularly appear in front of the mural, suggest the harmony mentioned in the plaque is, in fact, a façade.

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City of Perth Reece Harley City of Perth Reece Harley

Charnock Woman

Image source Eugene Scrivener (Museum of Perth)

Artist: Sandra Hill, Miv Egan, Jenny Dawson

Asset Type: Mosaic

Year of Work: 1996

Location: Eastern Observatory, Victoria Gardens, East Perth

Provenance: City of Perth

The East Perth foreshore was a meeting and camping place for the Noongar people. This colourful ceramic mosaic tells the Noongar Dreaming Story of a giant evilspirit woman, known as the Charnock woman, who stole children. The story can be read on the accompanying wall plaque.

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Yoondoorup Boorna

Artist: Alma Toomath

Asset Type: Plaque, Prose

Year of Work: 1996

Location: Swan River Foreshore, North Eastern corner of Victoria Gardens, East Perth

Provenance: City of Perth

Description: This old river gum, removed as part of the redevelopment of the East Perth area, was treated and returned to the site at the request of the Noongar people. Its burnt and split trunk was used as a hiding place for goods and messages by those who once camped here. In 2014 the tree saddle was destroyed by fire leaving only the log and plaque. 

Inscription:
YOONDOORUP BOORNA
Claisebrook Tree

This tree has been used in many ways
by the Bibbulmun people at this location
on the border of the Derbal Yaragan
Swan River it is hereby recognised
for harmony and friendship.

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Kangaroos (Phase 1)

Image source Eugene Scrivener (Museum of Perth)

Artist: Joan Walsh-Smith & Charles Smith

Asset Type: Sculpture, Metalwork

Year of Work: 1996

Location: St Georges Terrace, Southern side, near Stirling Gardens

Provenance: City of Perth

Description: These life size bronze kangaroos are a realistic representation of how kangaroos might behave in the bush. You can imagine the mob being startled from its quiet feeding by the sound of traffic and bounding away, led by the large male. The sight of the kangaroos bounding at full speed along the pavement of St George’s Terrace makes a surprising contrast to the backdrop of the CBD.

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