Perth Water facts for kids
Perth Water is a beautiful part of the Swan River in Perth, Western Australia. It sits right next to the city center. This wide, shallow section of the river stretches from the Causeway in the east to the Narrows Bridge in the west. It's also the northern edge of the suburb South Perth. Many people see Perth Water as a key landmark of the City of Perth.
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History of Perth Water
Perth Water used to be much bigger than it is today. Over time, its edges have changed a lot. People have filled in large areas of the river on both sides. For example, in 1879, land was filled in to create The Esplanade. This helped make more space for the growing city.
Building the Narrows Bridge
When the Narrows Bridge was built, a lot of the river's north-west side was filled in. This created new land for the bridge and its roads. The old river bank in that area is now where Mounts Bay Road runs. Even the Convention Centre now stands on land that was once part of the river.
Exciting Events at Perth Water
Perth Water is a popular spot for big events. In 2006, it hosted the Red Bull Air Race World Series. This was the first time Australia held this exciting air race. The planes flew right over the water!
Every year, Perth Water is also the main location for the Australia Day fireworks. Huge crowds gather along the riverbanks to watch the show. Kings Park offers an amazing view because it's high up. Postcards and photos from many years show the stunning view from the park, looking across Perth Water to the city lights.
How Perth Water is Used Today
Since Perth was first settled, there have always been jetties at Barrack Square. Today, the Transperth ferry service regularly travels between Perth and the Mends Street Jetty in South Perth. Other companies also use these jetties for trips. You can catch a ferry to Rottnest Island via Fremantle, or enjoy a relaxing cruise along the Swan River.
Ferry companies work hard to keep Perth Water clean. They have improved how they refuel their boats to stop oil from polluting the water.
For larger boats, there's a special channel in Perth Water. It runs from the Narrows Bridge to Barrack Street Jetty. Then, it follows the north shore, next to Riverside Drive. This channel has been dredged (deepened) since 1908 to keep it clear for ferries. Keeping it clear is an ongoing job.
Indigenous Names for Perth Water
The local Noongar people have their own names for places around Perth Water. In 1989, a book shared some of these names from a 1909 map:
- Perth Water was known as Buneenboro.
- Mends Street Jetty was called Goorgoogoo.
- Sir James Mitchell Park (the South Perth foreshore) was Gabudjulup.
- Riverside Drive (which was once shallow water) was Gabbee darbul.
- Point Belches (near the Narrows Bridge) was Gareenup.
This body of water is also known as Derbarl Yerrigan. This name is now used for the entire Swan River. In the Noongar language, Derbarl means "estuary water" and Yerrigan means "rising up."
Images for kids
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An early map of Perth Water from 1838
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Mounts Bay Road and Perth Water in 1947, viewed from Kings Park
