Kings Square, Fremantle

A rally at the Kings Square

Kings Square, also known as King's Square, is a town square in Fremantle, Western Australia. It is bounded by Queen, Newman, William, and Adelaide Streets. Though the square was originally a public reserve, it has been the site of Saint John's Church of England since 1843, and the Fremantle Town Hall since 1887. High Street was extended through and beyond the square in the 1880s, but the portion through the square was closed off in the 1960s. Today Kings Square functions as a civic and cultural centre of Fremantle, with modern events taking place adjacent to the historic buildings.

History

A Murray Views postcard, No 15, showing Fremantle's High Street, Central Buildings and the Town Hall; taken from near St John's Anglican Church. This section of High Street was later closed to traffic and incorporated into Kings Square.

The square began as an open space[1][2][3] on John Septimus Roe's original town plan of Fremantle, drawn in 1833.[1] In 1839, property owners around the square petitioned the State Governor for a church to be built in the square.[2] This was approved in 1840,[2] and construction works began with the foundation stone being laid on 6 April 1842.[3][4] Saint John's Church of England opened on 4 August 1843,[5][6] and was consecrated on 16 November 1848.[6]

In 1876, the church applied to the Fremantle City Council for a strip of land, adjacent to the church wall, to be granted to the Church of England, for the purpose of building a new church on the site and to improve the amenity of Kings Square.[7] In this application, all of the land in Kings Square was claimed to have been previously granted to the Church of England,[7] though in later years this was seen to be controversial.[2][3][8] This application was refused, as the strip was used for storing and preparing stone (for use in road works), and some councillors believed the church had enough land already.[7] One year later, the church made a second proposal, offering the council the south-western corner of the square, and a right of way for the extension of High Street through the square, in return for the strip of land and 500 pounds.[9] The council accepted, subject to minor modification.[9]

The new church was constructed and consecrated in 1882.[10] It was funded in part by sale of the south-western corner to the Fremantle Council, and the sale of south-eastern portion, which was divided into lots.[8][10] The council constructed the Fremantle Town Hall on the site it had purchased, between 1885[11] and 1887,[12][13] whilst private enterprises constructed buildings in the south east of the square during the 1880s.[8] These building were later demolished in 1929 to make room for an extension to the town hall.[8] In 1881, High Street was extended along the right of way through Kings Square.[14]

In the 1960s, Kings Square was reinstated as a town square with the closure of High Street, between Queen Street, at the eastern edge of the square, and Market Street, 100 metres (330 ft)[15] west of the square.[2] This was carried out as part of a traffic management plan for Fremantle, which included turning the streets around the square into a one way rotary.[2]

Current usage

People playing ping-pong at Kings Square

Kings Square is now a paved and landscaped civic centre of Fremantle.[16] As well as the church and town hall, the square also features a giant chess board, various public artworks, and facilities such as toilets,[17] seating, and children's play equipment.[16] Cultural events take place in the square, including movie, music, and arts festivals,[18][19][20][21][22][23] as well as group activities such as yoga[24] and drum circles.[25]

Public artworks and statues on display in Kings Square include:[26]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Statement of Significance". King's Square. State Heritage Office. Government of Western Australia. 23 December 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ewers, John K. (1971). The Western Gateway: A History of Fremantle (2nd ed.). Nedlands, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press for the Fremantle City Council. pp. 30, 184. ISBN 085564 050 2.
  3. 1 2 3 "OLD FREMANTLE.". Western Mail (Perth: National Library of Australia). 21 April 1927. p. 29. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  4. ↑ "HISTORY OF FREMANTLE.". The West Australian (Perth: National Library of Australia). 4 June 1929. p. 18. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  5. ↑ "OPENING OF THE CHURCH AT FREMANTLE.". The Inquirer (Perth: National Library of Australia). 9 August 1843. p. 3. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  6. 1 2 "NEWS AND NOTES.". The West Australian (Perth: National Library of Australia). 18 November 1913. p. 6. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  7. 1 2 3 "PREMANTLE—PORT COUNCIL.". The Western Australian Times (Perth: National Library of Australia). 4 August 1876. p. 2. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "AN HISTORIC SITE.". The West Australian (Perth: National Library of Australia). 24 May 1929. p. 18. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  9. 1 2 "MUNICIPAL MEETING.". The Western Australian Times (Perth: National Library of Australia). 19 June 1877. p. 2. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  10. 1 2 "ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, FREMANTLE.". Western Mail (Perth: National Library of Australia). 27 March 1914. p. 33. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  11. ↑ "NEWS OF THE WEEK.". The West Australian (Perth: National Library of Australia). 27 June 1885. p. 6. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  12. ↑ "General News.". The Inquirer & Commercial News (Perth, WA : 1855–1901) (Perth: National Library of Australia). 16 March 1887. p. 3. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  13. ↑ "JUBILEE DAY.". The Inquirer & Commercial News (Perth, WA : 1855–1901) (Perth: National Library of Australia). 29 June 1887. p. 2. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  14. ↑ "High St. marches with history.". The Sunday Times (Perth: National Library of Australia). 21 March 1954. p. 19 Section: FIRST SECTION. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  15. ↑ Google (17 November 2012). "Walking directions Market Street to Adelaide Street" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  16. 1 2 "Physical Description". King's Square. State Heritage Office. Government of Western Australia. 23 December 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  17. ↑ "Kings Square gets its own flushing meadows". City of Fremantle. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  18. ↑ "Family Movies in the Square". City of Fremantle. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  19. ↑ "Summer Movies in the Square". City of Fremantle. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  20. ↑ "‘Kings Square Sounds’ to welcome CHOGM youth delegates to Fremantle". City of fremantle. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  21. ↑ "King's Square Sounds". City of Fremantle. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  22. ↑ "CYF Delegates arrive in Fremantle". Australian Government. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  23. ↑ "City of Fremantle presents INCUBATE". City of Fremantle presents. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  24. ↑ "Yoga in the square". City of Fremantle. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  25. ↑ "Community Drum Circles". City of Fremantle. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  26. ↑ "Art & Culture Trail" (PDF). Fremantle Trails. Fremantle Visitor Centre. Retrieved 26 November 2012.

Coordinates: 32°03′14″S 115°44′54″E / 32.0539°S 115.7483°E / -32.0539; 115.7483

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