Queens Gardens, Perth

Queens Gardens in Perth is a sizable 8.2-acre park located in the city's downtown area, built on what used to be a brick factory and a clay excavation site. This area was originally communal land used for various activities like horse racing, but it eventually became a site for digging clay and making bricks. From 1860 to 1890, the site produced bricks that were used in constructing several of Perth's key buildings at the time, such as the Town Hall and The Cloisters. It was known back then as the East Perth Clayfields Reserve. In response to protests from 1880-1890, Perth filled some clay pits to create ponds, intending to transform the land into a botanical garden.

The park was opened to everyone on October 9, 1898, and got its official name, Queens Gardens, the following year by Perth's Mayor Alexander Forrest. Before World War I, the Mayor of Perth used it for hosting garden parties. Nowadays, it's a favored spot for outdoor weddings and taking wedding photos.

Ownership of the park was officially given to the Perth City Council on January 21, 1902. In 1906, a caretaker's house was built within the park, and by 1914, new entrance gates and eight bridges had replaced the older ones. With the introduction of electric lighting in 1924, people began visiting the gardens in the evening. In 1927, the park saw the installation of new gates at the intersection of Hay and Plain streets, which replaced the original entrance on Hay Street.