St Johns Wood Boulevard - A new park being planned for the area

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This park is now complete.

The new park at the undeveloped public open space (POS) west of the old Swanbourne Hospital on St Johns Wood Boulevard has been completed.

Draft playground concept plans (nature-based and modular) have been developed (see document library).

These designs take into consideration the outcomes of the previous engagement feedback which was undertaken for the development of the park.

The City has sought multiple playground designs and is presenting two designs for your feedback based on the following criteria:


  • delivery within the approved budget of $136,000 with best value for money
  • best incorporated suggestions and ideas received from residents through the previous feedback
  • compliance with playground safety standards
  • appropriateness to the existing constructed play area
  • provision of inter-generational interaction
  • demonstrate a point of difference to playgrounds in close proximity.

How can you get involved, find out more or provide feedback?

If not a registered member, please register using the Register to get Involved tab above. Registering will enable you to receive ongoing updates on the project. The information and the two proposed designs are available for viewing in the document library.

Opportunities to provide feedback has now closed, however you can still ask us a question and follow the project as follows:

  • Ask us a question by using the Ask Us a Question tab and we will respond
  • Reading the project updates on the newsfeeds
  • Contact a member of the Project Design Team (see Who's Listening on this page)

The new park at the undeveloped public open space (POS) west of the old Swanbourne Hospital on St Johns Wood Boulevard has been completed.

Draft playground concept plans (nature-based and modular) have been developed (see document library).

These designs take into consideration the outcomes of the previous engagement feedback which was undertaken for the development of the park.

The City has sought multiple playground designs and is presenting two designs for your feedback based on the following criteria:


  • delivery within the approved budget of $136,000 with best value for money
  • best incorporated suggestions and ideas received from residents through the previous feedback
  • compliance with playground safety standards
  • appropriateness to the existing constructed play area
  • provision of inter-generational interaction
  • demonstrate a point of difference to playgrounds in close proximity.

How can you get involved, find out more or provide feedback?

If not a registered member, please register using the Register to get Involved tab above. Registering will enable you to receive ongoing updates on the project. The information and the two proposed designs are available for viewing in the document library.

Opportunities to provide feedback has now closed, however you can still ask us a question and follow the project as follows:

  • Ask us a question by using the Ask Us a Question tab and we will respond
  • Reading the project updates on the newsfeeds
  • Contact a member of the Project Design Team (see Who's Listening on this page)

This park is now complete.

Category Parks and Reserves   Show all

  • City currently engaging contractors to deliver new playground

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    The City is currently engaging its contractors to deliver the new playground on St Johns Wood Boulevard in accordance with the community’s preferred option. The City hopes to have a schedule and commencement date for delivery of the new playground in the near future.


  • Engagement period now closed

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    The opportunity to provide your comments on the proposed playground has now closed. The City is currently reviewing the responses and will provide an update shortly.

    Thank you to everyone who participated in this project and provided feedback.

  • Want to know more? Attend the upcoming information session!

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    Would you like to talk to a member of the project team regarding the draft concept plans?

    A Community Information Session is being held at the site on Wednesday, 31 July 2019 from 3-5pm. Council officers will be in attendance to discuss the proposed designs and the benefits/negatives on each of the designs.

    Alternatively, you can complete the survey or provide us with feedback via online, mail, email or by visiting the Administration Centre.


  • Landscaping nearly completed

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    The conversion of the previously undeveloped parcel of public open space at St Johns Wood Boulevard to a new neighbourhood park is nearly completed. The landscaping has been completed and a new playground is about to progress.

    The next steps will be community engagement on a new playground which will commence in the coming months. The comments received during the previous engagement will also inform the design of the playground. We look forward to the finalising this new park for the residents.

  • Park name chosen - Annie Dorrington Park

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    The Council at its meeting on 23 April 2019 resolved to instruct Administration to apply to the State Government's Geographic Names Committee to name the reserve Annie Dorrington Park.

    Annie Dorrington is a person who has a significant historical connection to the site. Apart from her winning entry in the Flag Competition of 1901, her legacy to us is the one hundred and twenty-four exquisite wildflower paintings held by the Art Gallery of WA, four of which are currently displayed in the WA section of the Gallery.

    Annie's highlights and contributions to Western Australia:

    • Annie is a highly-regarded painter of watercolours of local wildflowers, and her works were exhibited at many international exhibitions.
    • Was born in 1866, the daughter of Richard and Sarah Whistler of Berkshire, England. After her father died Annie emigrated to Melbourne in 1890 with her mother and eight siblings.
    • Married Charles Dorrington in 1892 St Albans Church in Armadale, Victoria. They moved across to the West in 1895, where Charles was initially manager of the Swan River Shipping Company and later shire clerk at Mundijong. Annie found great beauty in her new environment - especially its wildflowers.
    • By 1901, Annie was exhibiting widely, with watercolours in the Western Australian pavilion at the 1900 Paris International Exhibition, the 1901 Glasgow International Exhibition, the 1904 St. Louis International Exposition, and the 1908 Franco-British Exhibition, London
    • In 1901, Annie Dorrington entered the competition for the design of a new Australian flag, and was named one of five winners who had all submitted similar designs (nearly 1% of the population at the time entered the competition)
    • Annie taught private painting classes at home from 1902 to 1906, advertising them in the local newspaper.
    • She suffered depression, had treatments at Claremont Mental Hospital in 1908 and again in 1918
    • The Art Gallery of Western Australia purchased a collection of 128 of her water colours in 1936
    • Her unmarked grave at Karrakatta Cemetery was discovered by the Australian National Flag Association (WA) Inc. who erected a monument in 1999.
    • The restored Montgomery House has recognised her art contribution and displays several of her paintings.
    • Annie is recognised in the Karrakatta Historical Walk Trail No. 21


    To view the resolution, please visit the City's website (Council Meetings) (TS08.19, Page 26 of the PDF).

    Further updates will be provided following a response from the Geographic Names Committee.

  • Naming of Reserve - Council Committee Meeting: 9 April 2019

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    The Council Committee meeting held on Tuesday, 9 April 2019 recommended that Council instruct Administration to apply to the Geographic Names Committee to have the reserve named 'Abbey Park'.

    To view the minutes, please visit the City's Website (Agendas, Minutes & Reports)

  • Council approves plans to progress development

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    The Council at its meeting on 26 February 2019 approved the plans and preferred tenderer to commence the conversion of this land into a park.

    Work will be commencing on 25 March 2019 which will see the contractors, Phase 3 Landscape Construction Pty Ltd undertake:

    • Site establishment inclusive of temporary fencing for security
    • Bulk earthworks and weed eradication
    • Installation of a new irrigation system
    • Construction of new paths, garden kerbs and walls
    • Installation of new park furniture including seating, drinking fountain, BBQ facilities and bollards
    • Installation of new landscaping including turf, garden beds, mulch and trees.

    The above works are estimated to take approximately six-weeks to complete.

    The works will be undertaken throughout the week Monday - Friday, between the hours of 7am and 5pm.

    There will be some minor and temporary inconvenience at times to footpaths and local traffic in and around the site during the works.

    To read the Council minutes, report and final design (Item 13.2) on the project, please visit the City's website.

    Following this stage, the City will be progressing with:

    • Installation of a playground. This process will include further community engagement.
    • Installation of a piece of public art.
    • Park naming and signage.
    Further updates will be provided on this page as the project progresses.