The Esplanade (Perth)

The Esplanade Reserve in Perth, Western Australia was a heritage listed public space between Perth Water and the Perth central business district. It formed part of and was, on occasions, also incorrectly referred to as the Perth foreshore, or the Perth waterfront. The public space was resumed by the WA state government in April 2012 as part of the Elizabeth Quay redevelopment of the Perth waterfront area.

The road along the northern boundary of that space is called The Esplanade.

The reserve was established in 1880 on land reclaimed from the Perth Water northern shore between the William Street and Barrack Street jetties.

Adjacent hotels, railway stations and other features have used the term Esplanade to show their link to the space.

The Perth Water northern edge from Mount Eliza in Kings Park to The Causeway has been extensively modified by landfill along the original pre-European river shore. Many projects and constructions on the Esplanade area and adjacent areas have significantly reflected the changing identity of Perth.

The Esplanade was developed in the 1870s to provide a site of active recreation for the inhabitants of the city. The idea of a site closer to the administrative and residential heart of the city had been a matter of concern since at least 1864, when a fund for the establishment of a new recreation ground was established. (A recreation ground, now Wellington Square, was included in the original town plan but was considered too far for most people to walk to and was largely undeveloped). Stones were placed in the river to mark out the edge of the reclamation, around 1867 -1868, but little other work was undertaken until 1870. Between 1870 and 1878 reclamation was undertaken using mud dredged up from the river bottom (dredging was used to provide crushed oyster shell for marking out roads and pathways) and street sweepings.

It was handed to the City of Perth in 1880 as a Crown Grant in Trust "for the inhabitants of Perth for recreation purposes forever".

Since its handover to the City of Perth, it has been the site of many celebrations, protests and national commemorations.

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