Perth’s Wellington Square Masterplan receives Landscape award

The City of Perth’s transformational Wellington Square Masterplan has received the Landscape Planning category award at the 2019 Western Australian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) Awards.

This award category focuses on strategic projects, including strategic design and guiding policy documents for urban development, residential and planned communities.

In early 2020, the Wellington Square Masterplan will see the development of basketball courts, formal sports areas, a Stolen Generation place of reflection and beautiful meeting spaces for the community to enjoy.

Native planting will provide habitat for wildlife and provide homage to the history of the site as a former wetland.

Other facilities include an intergenerational playground, a pedestrian priority zone on Wittenoom Street and lighting upgrades.

As a major green space on the doorstep of the city, Wellington Square holds significant cultural value, as both an area of significance for the Aboriginal community as well as an historic sporting destination.

The AILA WA Landscape Architecture Awards process is an opportunity for public and peer recognition and demonstrates the positive impact planning and design has on the wider community.

City of Perth Chair Commissioner Eric Lumsden - who has recently stepped down due to poor health shortly after giving the green light to this sweeping new strategy - noted "the plan will ensure Wellington Square transitions from a large field into a contemporary city park that can be enjoyed by the whole community. 

“It is pleasing to hear that the City of Perth’s Wellington Square Masterplan has been recognised at state level.

“The team behind the masterplan has been working with community stakeholders to develop a strategic and long-term plan to revitalise Wellington Square.

“The award recognises the contribution of everyone who was involved in shaping the vision for Wellington Square.”

The masterplan will now be considered for a national AILA award which will be announced in Melbourne in October 2019.