King's Park is spread over an area of 4 square kilometres on the western tip of the Perth. The park covers an area of grassy plains, a botanical garden and natural bushland on Mount Eliza. It's home to over 300 species of plants and home to 80 species of birds. The mountain offers panoramic views of the Swan River and the Darling Range.
In 1872, King's Park became Australia's first park designed for public use. It is the world's largest park located within the city limits, and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Western Australia. Each year it is visited by up to 5 million every year! King's Park is even larger than Central Park in New York City.
Among the attractions of the of the park is the War Memorial, dedicated to all the men and women of Western Australia, who died in the First and Second World Wars. It includes the Monument to the Unknown Soldier, the Court of Reflection, the Eternal Flame and the Reflection Pond.
Every year in September, King's Park hosts Australia's largest flower show. During the festival, the park hosts musical performances, workshops, guided tours tours and family festivals. Up to half a million people attend the massive event!
At the at the foot of Mount Eliza flows the freshwater Kennedy Spring, a year-round water supply for the local flora and fauna. The spring was discovered by the first Europeans in 1697. The availability of fresh water was the reason why Perth was founded Perth was founded here. Already at the end of the 19th century, a public campaign was launched to protect to protect the future parkland, which proved to be very successful. On the 10th of August 1895 the park was opened. The park was originally called Perth Park, and in 1901 it was renamed King's Park in honour of King Edward VII of England, who ascended to the the throne.
The West Australian Botanic Gardens occupies 18 hectares of land in the Park, which houses a collection of nearly 12,000 plants. The Botanic Garden Research Centre is world renowned for its research on the protection and reproduction of native species and ecosystems.
An attraction of the park is also a 15-metre tower built in 1966 in the shape of a DNA molecule.
Twice a day, park volunteers lead guided tours of the park, introducing visitors to monuments and memorials, plant displays in the Botanical Garden and the indigenous heritage of the area.
