Point Walter
Point Walter (
Point Walter is a site of
Since 1912 Point Walter has been run by Melville City Council, and today is contained in the Point Walter Reserve. The reserve and the sandbar serve as important sites for flora and fauna, particularly bird-life. It is popularly used for a variety of recreational activities, and currently hosts the annual Point Walter concert.
History
Indigenous history
Before European settlement, the Point Walter area was inhabited by
Aboriginals would often practise controlled burning at the site, keeping the understory low, and flushing out game. During summer months, the site was a source of food and resources through its large variety of flora and fauna. Fishing was common, and fishing traps were used extensively.[2] Usage of the local flora included making string from the native wisteria (Hardenbergia comptoniana) and gum from the marri (Corymbia calophylla).[1]
Early history
During his survey along the Swan River of suitable spots for settlement,
The site became popular after the cutting of the canal, The canal at Point Walter continuously silted up, and the difficulty of upkeep led to the Caporns departing the site. After the Caporns had left the area, the local authorities did not engage in upkeep, and the canal fell into further disrepair. Steamers on the Swan River stopped using the sandbar's narrow and shallow canal, instead travelling the full distance around it. By the 1860s the canal was unused.
In January 1923, to secure funding for the Point Walter memorial avenue, a three day carnival was held at Point Walter.[17][18] By this time, the Melville Roads Board was receiving £100 a year for grounds maintenance, which was proving inadequate to keep the grounds in order.[19] A further decline in use was due to the increased use of ocean beaches by the public; as a result, control of the site was passed to the Parks and Gardens Board in 1929.[9] In 1914, a tramway was constructed between Canning Road and Point Walter, which was not considered a success as it rarely ran at a profit outside the summer months.[7][9] Despite this, the line was not closed down until 1939.[20][21] Further troubles came from the Depression of the 1930s, during which another drop in recreational use was experienced. World War II further decreased patronage, and Point Walter fell into a state of disrepair.[9]
In 1941, the Melville Army Camp was constructed on the land and was used for training soldiers for waterborne warfare. Post-1972, the facilities were used by the Decline
World War II to modern day
Geography
Point Walter is contained within the Point Walter Reserve, which mainly consists of the Point Walter bushland. This consists primarily of three habitats:
- A limestone ridge that outcrops on the lower slopes
- Deep yellow sand over the ridge
- Woodland higher up consisting of jarrah and marri[1]
Flora and fauna
Within the Point Walter bushland, different habitats contain different populations of flora. The deep yellow sand supports the rare acorn banksia (Banksia prionotes) and tree smokebush (Conospermum triplinervium) species. In the higher areas are jarrah and marri woodland that is less disturbed, and there are several orchid species, including a group of rare albino fairy orchids Caladenia latifolia as well as several red spider orchid Caladenia areicola populations.[1] The Point Walter area also supports a population of swamp sheoak (Casuarina obesa). At the base of the escarpment, out of the bushland, the most dominant features are the planted Morton Bay figs (Ficus macrophy) and the tall Norfolk pines (Arauccaria heterophylla). Poplars are also prominent, although these are considered a weed.[7]
In terms of botanical history, the Point Walter bushland is significant, as it was at this location early botanists first collected couch honeypot (Dryandra lindleyana) and cottonheads (Conostylis candicans). In 1839, the Cryptandra glabrata was collected at Point Walter, a species which has not been seen there since.[1]
Birdlife
In the Point Walter bushland, hollows are used for nesting by
The sandbar is the nesting grounds of several bird species. They include the pied oystercatcher, the red-capped plover, the black swan and the fairy tern. The local government has made a conservation effort with the campaign "Don't buzz that bird", telling people not to get too close to them.[26]
Erosion
In February 2012 the environmental consulting company Natural Area Management was contracted by the City of Melville to reverse the erosion that had occurred over the previous ten years due to the loss of beaches and grassed areas, factors aided by the undercutting of tree roots. Work began in March 2012, initial works were finished in 2013, and the project was completed in early 2014.[27][28]
Sandbar
Point Walter is notable for the
Dreamtime relevance
The sandbar is prevalent in the
Public use
Point Walter is the site of various cultural monuments, including a war memorial avenue. It also hosts the free annual Point Walter concert, which started in 1996 and features Perth bands, and on occasion notable individuals such as James Morrison.[31][32] Previously this event was called "YAC it up" because it was organised by Melville's Youth Advisory Council and featured acts such as Birds of Tokyo and Bob Evans.[33]
Point Walter is used by the general public for a variety of activities, including
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Blackwall Reach and Point Walter Bushland Management Plan" (PDF). Bushland Perth. July 2004. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "Point Walter / Blackwall Reach". Parks and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
- ^ Zimmerman, Josh (8 March 2016). "Journey through rivers' history". Melville Times. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Local Government Inventory: BN06". City of Melville. 2014. Archived from the original on 23 May 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
- ^ a b "City of Melville Local Government Inventory 2014". City of Melville. 2014. Archived from the original on 23 May 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
- ^ "Fire at Point Walter". The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal. 9 March 1833. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Precinct 5 - South Melville Water Point Walter to Canning Bridge" (PDF). Parks and Wildlife Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ^ Hitchcock, J. K. (21 April 1927). "Old Fremantle 1829 to 1849". Western Mail. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Point Walter Reserve, Point Walter Golf Course and Blackwall Reach Reserve". Heritage Council - State Heritage Office.
- ^ "Caporn Family". Western Australian Museum. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
- ^ "Testimonials to the character of Samuel Caporn". State Library of Western Australia. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ^ "AU WA A423 - Melville Roads Board". State Records Office of WA. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
- ^ "City of Melville Turns 50". City of Melville. 15 May 2018. Archived from the original on 25 May 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
- ^ Hutchison, D.; Davidson, Dianne (1978). The Convict-Built 'Fence' in the Canning River (PDF). Western Australia: Records of the Western Australian Museum. p. 151.
- ^ Kalyptus, Hugh (20 April 1917). "Point Walter Canal". The Western Mail. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
- ^ "Our history". Public Transport Authority. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
- ^ "Memorial Avenue Point Walter". The Mirror. 20 January 1923. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
- ^ "Point Walter Carnival". The Australian. 22 December 1922. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
- ^ "Point Walter". The West Australian. 25 December 1923. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
- ISBN 0957825706.
- ^ "Pt. Walter Had Tram Service". The Daily News. 19 March 1941. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ^ a b "BN07 Point Walter fmr Army Camp Site". City of Melville. 2014. Archived from the original on 23 May 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
- ^ "Point Walter Former Army Camp Site (whole site including watch house)". Heritage Council - State Heritage Office. 17 June 2014. Archived from the original on 25 May 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ^ "Point Walter Migrants". The West Australian. 26 May 1950. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
- ^ a b "Point Walter Recreation and Conference Centre Client Information Pack" (PDF). Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
- ^ "Don't buzz that bird" (PDF). River Guardians. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
- ^ a b "Foreshore Restoration at Point Walter Reserve, Bicton". Natural Area - Consulting Management Services. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
- ^ "Case Study: Point Walter Foreshore Restoration" (PDF). Natural Area - Consulting Management. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
- ^ "City of Melville - Point Walter". Conservation Volunteers. Archived from the original on 23 May 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
- ^ "Charnok Woman" (PDF). City of Joondalup. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 May 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
- ^ "City of Melville Point Walter Concert 2016". YouTube. 26 July 2016. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
- ^ "Point Walter Concert". City of Melville. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
- ^ Romaro, Ashryn (26 March 2007). "YAC it up Point Walter Reserve Bicton". Faster Louder. Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
- ^ a b "Point Walter Reserve". City of Melville. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
Further reading
- Turner, Ric (1986) Point Walter : A history from corroboree to cup for Western Australian Government, Department for Sport and Recreation. Floreat Park [W.A.]