Queens Square, Fremantle facts for kids
Queens Square, also known as Queen's Square, is a special open space in Fremantle, Western Australia. It's right where two main streets, High Street and Parry Street, cross each other. Long ago, it was one big area. But in 1886, the streets were extended, cutting the square into four parts. Today, Queens Square is still a fun place for people in Fremantle to visit and relax.
How Queens Square Started
The idea for Queens Square came from John Septimus Roe's first plan for Fremantle in 1883. It was meant to be an open area for everyone.
Changes Over Time
In 1866, the Fremantle City Council (which is like the city's government) decided to build High Street right through Queens Square. Later, by 1886, Parry Street was also extended through it. This is how the square got divided into four sections.
In February 1896, the council wanted to put fences around Queens Square. They planned to use part of it as a tree nursery to grow young trees. They asked for bids to build the fences, but all the ideas were for fences that were too tall. When the fences were finally put up, some people didn't like them. They said the fences looked old and not pretty.
In March 1903, the council decided to add a children's playground in one corner of the square. Then, in May 1906, they added drinking fountains. In January 1916, the council decided to leave the gates open so everyone could easily go into the square. But just three months later, some plants were damaged. So, signs were put up to warn people not to steal or harm the flowers.
By 1927, many people in Fremantle didn't even know about Queens Square. They only found out about it when a music concert was held there. In August 1931, it was suggested that the fences around Queens Square should be removed because they were old and broken. It would cost too much money to fix them.
The council finally decided to remove the fences in October 1932. They replaced them with a low concrete wall, about 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) high. The children's playground area kept its own fence. This work was finished in February 1933.
What It's Like Today
Queens Square is still a public open space for everyone to enjoy. It has grassy areas and trees, with paths for walking and places to sit and rest.
