Cricket on Wellington Square East Perth, 1962 (State Library of Western Australia)
Wellington Square was traditionally a Noongar meeting place between the springs and lagoons around Claise Brook/Goongoongup (Aboriginal Site #37452).
Originally one of Perth's many swamps, the area was drained and established as a public reserve in the 1830s and used for many kinds of sport and recreation.
From the 1940s and ‘50s, it became a popular meeting place for rural and metropolitan Aboriginal people coming in to the city for services at nearby Royal Perth Hospital, or the Native Welfare Department on Wellington Street. Aboriginal people also went to the shops around the park including Della Bona’s grocery and variety shop across from the park at 144 Bennett Street.
Today Wellington Square is dual named Moort-ak Waadiny.
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Doreen Yarran Kickett Creed
Gordon Cole
John Pell
Lindsay Calyun
Gallery
Della Bona's shop at 144 Bennett Street in the 1950s and the 1980s (Images courtesy of Annna and Anthony Battaglia).
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