Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

Installation progresses on Fremantle’s Kings Square playspace

Installation progresses on Fremantle’s Kings Square playspace
April 26, 2021

Inspired by Fremantle’s industrial history and close links with nature, the Kings Square playspace installation is moving forward with features to include cranes, bridges, train tracks and shipping containers. It will also incorporate natural features like water and trees, as well as bold lighting treatments and tactile nature play elements.

The play space has been partly funded through a $342,000 grant from Lotterywest. In addition to matching the $342,000 funding for the play space, the City of Fremantle is also currently investing over $2.5 million to upgrade the public spaces around Kings Square.

Around 170 Fremantle children and their parents were asked to help with the design of the playspace through surveys and a series of workshops at local schools.

WA-based landscape architecture firm Seedesign Studio were selected via a competitive tender process to develop a concept based on the feedback from the children.

A focal point for the play space will be the new Moreton Bay fig tree that was spectacularly lifted into place last September.

After more than a year of planning and preparation, the massive specimen weighing around 16 tonnes was transported through the streets of Fremantle on the back of a semi-trailer to its new home, where it was carefully lifted into position by crane.

The new Moreton Bay fig tree replaces the much-loved ‘Christmas Fig’, which had to be removed from Kings Square for safety reasons due to its deteriorating condition.

The play space is part of the $270 million Kings Square Renewal project, which the City of Fremantle is undertaking in partnership with Sirona Capital.

Fremantle Deputy Mayor Andrew Sullivan said the new playspace would help to make Kings Square a more vibrant, attractive and family-friendly place and noted “we want Kings Square to be a space that dispenses with formalities and invites everyone in to have some fun, to linger longer, to soak up the layers of culture and the juxtaposition of new and old architecture.

“The concept is for the playspace to have zones which will appeal to a broad age range from toddlers through to primary school children, as well as being accessible for children with disabilities.

“It will be directly opposite the café and restaurant space in the new Walyalup Civic Centre, so in future mums and dads will be able to relax with a coffee while still keeping an eye on the kids.

“Programmable lighting elements will also highlight the play space features at night, creating a whole new look and feel after dark and making it a feature of the broader public space in Kings Square.”

In addition to the play space, the City of Fremantle is also constructing the new Walyalup Civic Centre and library and rejuvenating the public spaces around the square.

Sirona Capital’s contribution to the project includes the redevelopment of the old Myer and Queensgate sites to create offices for state government departments and the revolutionary FOMO food, art and retail concept.

Last year more than 1700 staff from the Department of Communities and Department of Transport relocated to their new headquarters in Kings Square, providing a substantial boost to the local economy.

For more information on the Kings Square Renewal Project visit the Kings Square Fremantle website.

Related Articles

4th August 2017 - Construction to begin on Fremantle’s $270 million Kings Square civic and cultural precinct

19th May 2017 - Expressions of Interest Sought: Children’s play space, Fremantle

18th February 2021 - Fresh turf installed for redeveloped Fremantle Public Golf Course

15th January 2021 - Fremantle-based architects appointed to complete Cockburn’s Aboriginal and Cultural Centre

5th January 2021 - Fremantle Leisure Centre celebrates its 50th anniversary

19th December 2020 - Fremantle Leisure Centre secures Gold Waterwise Status

15th October 2020 - Fremantle Park Sport and Community Centre officially opens

24th August 2020 - Fremantle’s Port Beach to be protected from coastal erosion

16th August 2020 - Fremantle Public Golf Course upgrades get underway

7th July 2020 - New Fremantle play space engages children of all ages

26th June 2019 - Revitalised Fremantle netball hub gets official opening

13th April 2019 - Fremantle Arts Centre celebrates Western Australia’s Aboriginal artists

25th March 2021 - Auckland Council delivers upgrades to basketball courts and playspaces

18th March 2021 - Hills Shire commits to providing more accessible playspaces

1st March 2021 - Wollongong plans for its first inclusive playspace

2nd December 2020 - Penrith Council upgrades Ironbark Reserve Playspace 

29th November 2020 - Penrith Council delivers more contemporary and inclusive playspace at The Carriageway

15th August 2020 - Construction starts on new playspaces in Campbelltown

25th June 2020 - Everyone Can Play Grant helps fund Penrith’s playspace upgrades

28th May 2018 - Cairns Nature Play recognised as Queensland’s top playspace

8th February 2018 - Innovative playspace refurbishment more than doubles visits at Melbourne’s Brimbank Park

20th December 2017 - Melbourne Airport launches challenging new children’s playspace


Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

Momentus Technologies

About: Momentus Technologies is a global provider of industry-leading venue and event management solutions that empower organizations to create extraordinary moments. With over 50,000 users in more…

read more

Entertainment / Events / Hospitality / Technology / Venues

 
 

GREENEDESK

Track. Engage. Retain GreeneDesk is a suite of cloud based software solutions helping health clubs, leisure centres and swim schools to effectively track progression, improve customer engagement and…

read more

Aquatics / Billing / Education / Fitness / Technology

 
 

COMMERCIAL AQUATICS AUSTRALIA

Commercial Aquatics Australia provides aquatic solutions nationwide and is one of the largest and most experienced companies specialising in the design, construction, renovation, service, maintenance…

read more

Aquatics / Design / Play / Waterparks

 
 

LIFE FLOOR (Aus & NZ)

Our team believes floors should be beautiful, comfortable, and engineered for safety, even when wet. Life Floor tiles meet six unique performance based standards: slip-resistance, impact absorption,…

read more

Aquatics / Play / Recreation / Safety / Surfaces

 
 

ICP

ICP is an Australian-based company focused on indoor climbing. ICP will manage your project from initial design to completion and beyond, whether you're building an international-level climbing…

read more

Attractions / Fitness / Recreation

 
 

Ticketworx Pty Ltd

Ticketworx (formerly House of Tickets) is Australia and New Zealand’s foremost ticket specialist servicing some 2,700 clients and producing in excess of 30 million per tickets per annum.…

read more

Entertainment / Events / Technology / Ticketing / Venues

 
 
 

Elite Pool Covers

Since 1989 Elite Pool Covers have designed and manufactured an extensive range of high quality affordable manual,semi-automatic and fully-automatic pool cover systems for the harsh Australian…

read more

Aquatics / Environment / Technology / Venues

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business