october

2009

pioneer park reserve

FINAL ISSUE 29 OCTOBER 2009

DOCUMENT CONTROL

issue number

revision issue date

revision notes

00

20 February 2009

Preliminary draft issue

01

28 September 2009

Final draft issue

02

29 October 2009

Final issue

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

section

page

0

1.00

introduction

7

0

2.00

interpretation planning

9

02.01

defining interpretation

02.02

what is an interpretation plan?

02.03

philosophical approach

0

3.00

background components

1

1

03.01

documentary background

03.02

personnel background

03.03

statements of significance

0

4.00

site analysis

1

7

04.01

SWOT analysis

04.02

archaeology

04.03

aboriginal interpretation

04.04

other locales

0

5.00

audience profile

2

3

05.01

general

05.02

target audience

05.03

multiple attraction

05.04

repeat visitation

05.05

school and education groups

01

0

6.00

themes and stories

2

7

02

06.01

themes

06.02

stories

0

7.00

interpretation policies

2

9

03

background

0

8.00

interpretation strategies

3

1

components

08.01

vision for pioneer park reserve

08.02

strategies overview

04

08.03

interpretation strategies table

0

9.00

implementation

4

3

09.01

general

05

09.02

consultation

09.03

masterplan

09.04

trees & landscaping

09.05

budget

06

09.06

visitor management

09.07

spare parts puppet theatre

09.08

conservation

07

09.09

BCA + DDA

09.10

evaluation

09.11

further research + archaeology

08

09.12

marketing

09.13

kiosk / cafe

09.14

priorities & programming

09

app A

design drawings

app B

preliminary costing

app C

community consultation

app D

consultant brief

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01.00

INTRODUCTION

01

introduction

Mulloway Studio and Paul Kloeden were engaged by the City of Fremantle to prepare this heritage

interpretation plan for Pioneer Park Reserve.

02

According to the brief:

The current project represents a sequential step in planning for the staged implementation of Phillimore

03

Street Precinct Integrated Masterplan. To date the following studies and plans have been completed:

1.

Phillimore Street Precinct Fremantle Conservation Plan (2003) prepared for the City of Fremantle by

Heritage and Conservation Professionals.

04

2.

Phillimore Street Precinct Masterplan (2004) prepared for the City of Fremantle by

Donaldson + Warn.

05

3.

Phillimore Street Precinct Integrated Masterplan, Fremantle (2006) prepared for the City of

Fremantle by Donaldson + Warn.

4.

Phillimore Street Precinct, Fremantle, Western Australia - Archaeological Conservation Plan

06

prepared for the City of Fremantle by Jack McIlroy and Samantha Bolton (August 2008).

5.

The Excavation of an 1840s cottage complex in Pioneer Park, Fremantle - an addendum to the

Phillimore Street Precinct Archaeological Conservation Plan prepared for the City of Fremantle by

07

Jack McIIroy and Samantha Bolton (December 2008).

08

09

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The brief states that:

The project area is defined by the boundaries of the Pioneer Park Reserve, however it is important that the

plan takes into account the broader context of the area, particularly its relationship to Phillimore Street

Precinct as defined by the masterplan, its functional, cultural and visual links to Victoria Quay, the Railway

Station’s forecourt, Market and Short Streets and the main approaches to the city centre.

The plan should provide recommendations for these areas at all aspects where heritage interpretation of

the reserve is related to and/or forms part of the heritage values or historical links to the broader urban

context.

The prime purpose of the plan is to identify and develop a range of means of communicating ideas and

feelings which help users and visitors to Fremantle enrich their understanding and appreciation of Pioneer

Park as a heritage place. In addition the plan should aim to:

pioneer park

reserve

• Contribute to achieving broader objectives for Phillimore Street Precinct.

• Suggest means of celebrating arrival in the city by a welcoming entry statement in front of the

public transport’s hub associated with Fremantle Railway Station.

• Integrate successfully with the physical, social and cultural context of the reserve.

to city centre

• Consider ‘Fremantle Pioneers’ theme as potentially an additional aspect of enhancing Pioneer

Park’s identity through interpretation and an adoptive use in the future.

• Provide knowledge base and inspiration for the physical upgrade of Pioneer Park.

The plan is to identify, recommend and outline an overall heritage interpretation scheme for the reserve and

to list a range of interpretation means to build on in developing design development plans for the general

upgrade of Pioneer Park in future.

project area_pioneer park reserve

02.00

INTERPRETATION PLANNING

01

02.01

defining interpretation

02

“Interpretation is an interactive communication process, involving the visitor, through which heritage values

interpretation

planning

and cultural significance are revealed, using a variety of techniques in order to enrich the visitor experience

and enhance the enjoyment and understanding of the place” (Murphy, S. 1997:5)

03

02.02

what is an interpretation plan?

“An interpretation plan is a management tool that provides a strategy for transmitting messages about the

04

cultural heritage values of a heritage place to visitors. It identifies the most significant themes and stories

about a place and the media most suited to exploring them.

The plan also provides a framework for managing visitors, providing them with a memorable and enriching

05

experience while also ensuring the heritage values, including significant fabric, of the place are upheld. It

also helps ensure that the interpretive strategies recommended are appropriate to the place.” National Trust

of Australia (WA) Interpretation Planning Guidelines

06

07

08

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02.03

philosophical approach

Our approach to interpretation is encapsulated in the philosophical statement of approach we developed in

2005 for the National Trust of Australia (WA).

“The principal aim of interpretation is not instruction, but provocation. The place should be presented as

a space for public discourse and invite the visitor to share the excitement of thinking about the past, the

present and the future. The visitor experience should thus be one of discovery or inspired insight. The local

visitor should experience a degree of self-revelation while those from further afield should enjoy a richer

insight into the place, the State and the country.

Interpretation should aim to present the whole rather than a part. It should resonate with voices that encourage

open-minded consideration of different perspectives. The interpretation should celebrate the significance

of the place by promoting the exploration of knowledge and ideas and by providing a dynamic forum for

discussion and reflection. When challenging convention and encouraging debate, the interpretation may

sometimes be controversial but should never be dull.

Interpretation is not mere information - it is revelation based upon information. But the information upon

which it is based must be thematically organised, based on rigorous research and specific to each place. The

interpretation should aim to relate the place being displayed to something within the visitor.

Interpretation is an art, which combines many arts. Interpretive techniques should be appropriate to the

place and the various, or multiple, audiences. They should reflect a contemporary perspective and clearly

distinguish themselves from the historic fabric, artefacts or reality. They should be imaginative, reflecting the

best in creativity and ingenuity.

There are, however, many options for interpreting a place. There is no single right way. The philosophical

approach outlined above should be used to explore all the options.”

03.00

BACKGROUND COMPONENTS

01

Prior to the development of policies and strategies to guide the interpretation of Pioneer Park Reserve it is

necessary to understand the background to the place and its significance. It is necessary to consider the

02

available assets and how the place is currently interpreted. Consideration must also be given to both the

current and future audience.

03.01

documentary background

03

background

components

There are a number of formal documents and reports which provide an important source of background

knowledge. They include:

04

• The Brief

• Phillimore Street Precinct Fremantle Conservation Plan (2003) prepared for the City of Fremantle by

Heritage and Conservation Professionals.

• Phillimore Street Precinct Masterplan (2004) prepared for the City of Fremantle by

05

Donaldson + Warn

• Phillimore Street Precinct Integrated Masterplan, Fremantle (2006) prepared for the

City of Fremantle by Donaldson + Warn.

• Phillimore Street Precinct, Fremantle, Western Australia - Archaeological Conservation Plan

06

prepared for the City of Fremantle by Jack McIlroy and Samantha Bolton (August 2008).

• The Excavation of an 1840s cottage complex in Pioneer Park, Fremantle - an addendum to the

Phillimore Street Precinct Archaeological Conservation Plan prepared for the City of Fremantle by

Jack McIIroy and Samantha Bolton (December 2008).

07

• Report on Heritage Significance of the Short Street Precinct, Fremantle, WA by Bob Reece (1986)

In

addition, there are a number of other print resources, the most important of which include:

08

• Appear - managing archaeological remains in towns and cities, from discovery to sustainable

display (2007) prepared for the European Commission

• Sharing Our Stories - Guidelines for Heritage Interpretation (2007) prepared for

National Trust of Australia (WA) and Museums Australia (WA)

09

• Oral History Transcripts and newspaper clippings collected by City of Fremantle Library,

Local History Section

• Building Code of Australia

• Australian Standard on Accessibility

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03.02

personnel background

Many people have provided considerable and valuable input into the understanding of the place and the

development of the interpretation plan. They include (and please forgive any omissions):

• Agnieshka Kiera, City Heritage Architect

• Vanessa Collins, Heritage Planner

• Alexandra Mackenzie, Heritage Project Officer

• Pamela Walker, Horticultural Technical Officer

• Jack McIlroy, Archaeologist

Project team:

• Mike Lefroy, Education Interpretation

• Paul Kloeden, Historian

• Anthony Coupe, Architect

• Esther Chew, Graduate Architect

01

03.03

statement of significance

02

The Phillimore Street Precinct, Fremantle, Western Australia - Archaeological Conservation Plan prepared

for the City of Fremantle by Jack McIlroy and Samantha Bolton assessed the significance of the place,

“from an archaeological viewpoint”, as follows - with the qualification that it represents “an opinion on the

ruins from an Irish archaeologist who has worked on a broad variety of archaeological sites ranging from

03

prehistoric times to the colonial period in Europe, the USA and in Australia. His statement of significance

background

components

is from the viewpoint of that professional and cultural field and attempts to take into account primarily the

significance of the site to the city of Fremantle. His views on cultural significance may be quite different

to

that of someone who works in another field and who comes from a different cultural background.”

04

This project has identified extensive building remains dating from at least 1844 onwards buried under

demolition debris and landfill in Pioneer Park in downtown Fremantle at depths ranging from 30cm to

1.40m. These structural remains include a stone well, a cobblestone yard, walls and floors of houses

05

and an outhouse, massive foundations of a boarding house and an adjacent footpath along with

archaeological deposits associated with a late 1800s saw mill and timber works and the Uglieland fun

park of the 1920s. It is evident that much more remains to be uncovered.

06

The park is also associated with John Forrest, a major figure in the history of Western Australia and its

first premier. Fremantle rate books record him as owning Lot 148 in the park from 1876 to 1903. He is

also listed in the rate books as living on the lot from 1880 until 1892 during which time the rate books

inexplicably describe the lot as vacant.

07

Pioneer Park is an exceptional archaeological reserve. As well as the buildings that can be uncovered

and conserved for public display, it is all but certain to contain buried artefact caches in the form

of former cesspits, rubbish pits and outdoor toilets or dunnies that were filled in with all manner of

08

unwanted household artifacts when they were no longer required. Forgotten for a century and more,

they become inadvertent time capsules. These artifacts were not historically selected; they were not

intended to give an impression of anything to anyone. No one ever expected this material to see the

light of day again. These time capsules are democratic. Analysis of their contents in the 21st century

09

can provide an insight into the lives of the early settlers and later inhabitants of Fremantle in the 1800s,

an insight difficult to obtain from written records alone. John and Jill Citizen, newly established on the

shores of Western Australia and who may themselves have been illiterate nevertheless wrote their own

personal history in the artifacts they discarded and left behind, and in the shadowed remains of the

home in which they once lived.

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The park also has a time marker, invaluable on an archaeological site. All but two lots were demolished

around 1906 to clear the area for the proposed western terminus of the transcontinental railway. The

stratigraphic horizon resulting from the demolition debris and land filling that immediately followed

forms a time marker across the site. Anything found stratigraphically below this layer can be confidently

dated to before 1906.

The Pioneer Park site is a microcosm of early Fremantle from the gentry owned lots along Phillimore

facing the Swan River estuary, to the homes of fishermen a few metres away, to the boarding house

along Short Street, the smoke-belching Lion Mill and the later Uglieland fun park. This is a social mix

unlikely to be seen in any city block today.

The park is located directly opposite the main public transportation hub in Fremantle where bus and

train services come together at the junction of Market and Phillimore streets. It is close to a ferry

terminal and passenger cruise ship terminal.

It is on a main thoroughfare to the busiest part of Fremantle, in itself a tourist draw. Thousands of

residents and visitors use this public transport hub daily, passing the park site as they walk to the main

shopping areas and ‘Cappuccino Strip’ of South Terrace. Pioneer Park is the first public facility they

encounter, and during the course of the excavation immense public interest was evident in the site.

The Pioneer Park site has aesthetic significance for residents and visitors alike related to its potential to

display the building remains of both the early settlers in Fremantle and those who lived there nearly a

century later.

It has historical significance in relation to the early settlement and development of Fremantle and its

association with one of the state’s major historical figures, John Forrest.

It has scientific significance in relation to its ability to answer archaeological research questions based

on an interpretation of its building development and its buried artefact caches.

01

It has social significance related to its potential to become a central downtown focus linking Fremantle’s

past to its present.

02

Many cities across the globe have building ruins on display. Few have them in such a central location.

For the city of Fremantle, the location of Pioneer Park provides an opportunity unparalleled in a major

Australian city. The full extent of these remains should be determined, conserved and displayed in a re-

03

landscaped park.

background

components

For residents and visitors alike, arriving at the transport hub, their first impression of Fremantle and

their last upon leaving should be ‘Old Freo,’ evoked by the ruins of the early settlers’ homes spread

04

across the park.

While the Spare Parts Theatre building is noted on the Heritage Council of Western Australia’s database as

having been considered under their Assessment Program on 11 April 2002, the building does not appear on

05

the State Register of Heritage Places.

06

07

08

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04.00

SITE ANALYSIS

01

04.01

SWOT analysis

02

An analysis of the site and its various elements, including its location, form and infrastructure was conducted.

The results are summarised in the following table:

03

Inventory

Strengths

Weaknesses

Opportunities

Threats

Location

proximity to railway station and bus

on edge of city centre

greater link with railway development

change to Market Street / Phillimore

stops

Street intersection

04

site analysis

high traffic flow

traffic flow mainly along Market St

greater link with wharf area

increased traffic has potential to

edge

isolate park from north side of

phillimore street

urban context

undesirable use / safety issues

link with ING development

05

open space

Short

/ Pakenham Streets frontages

market / entertainment area

particularly ‘dead’

facility for youth use

06

Surface

lawn is a green space in built

effect of weather on

water restrictions

environs

soft surface for recreational activities

soft surface limits use

07

paved areas stained (paths only)

introduce some hard paved areas for

events

Trees

shade / soft elements in urban

root interference with archaeology,

area under fig tree provides shade

palm tree roots damaging remnants

context

visual incoherence

underground

08

link to Arbor Day and formation of

tree location somewhat ‘random’

increase shade with additional

Pioneer Reserve

planting

Park

useful to activate park

very basic - limited use

to improve design and usability

vandalism

09

furniture

to incorporate / be informed by

interpretation

Lighting

no lighting in reserve - relies on

introduce lighting to enhance

vandalism, lack of security

adjacent street lighting

park environment and illuminate

archaeological remnants

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Inventory

Strengths

Weaknesses

Opportunities

Threats

High water

interpretive element

limited understanding

integrate into wider park

mark

interpretation

location slightly wrong

adjust / upgrade with park upgrade

Spare Parts

divides park

divides park

better integrate with park and

private property could be sold for

Theatre

interpretation

unsympathetic development or use

activates precinct

activation limited in extent and time

provide facilities to maximise use at

event times

signage on outside - north + east

improve presentation

wall in particular

building appears derelict at non

integrate with better display

event times

separate ownership

lack of coordination in development

sound issues from outside to inside

Electricity

visually intrusive

adapt as interpretive element

vandalism

Sub-station

separate ownership

Concrete

link to opening of Pioneer Reserve

visually and physically intrusive

remove, re-interpret story within

platform

interpretation

Bore

visually and physically intrusive

Archaeology

the fact that it is there, beneath an

fragile

to reveal and use to tell stories

deterioration - physical, chemical,

urban environment

biological

expectation of visitors might not be

interesting presentation &

significant public interest

met

interpretation

mix of remnant activities - domestic,

not spread ‘evenly’ across the park

consider stories as separate

commercial industrial

elements

01

04.02

archaeology

02

The archaeological ruins provide the principal interpretive assets available for conveying the themes and

telling the stories of Pioneer Park Reserve. They are non-renewable and subject to the threat of damage or

destruction from physical, chemical and biological damage. In analysing their potential use, three approaches

are possible.

03

1. Keep all archaeology burried

04

site analysis

The archaeology could be kept buried. This approach has the advantage of low cost and offers possibly the

best long term preservation of the ruins. It does mean, however, that the public is denied visible access to

‘their past’. Interpretation needs to be indirect and referential. It is less likely to activate the reserve as a

05

meaningful recreational space.

06

referential interpretation and

park furniture to activate park

07

08

308

201

210

200

09

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2. Reveal all archaeology

The next approach, at the other end of the spectrum, would be to reveal all the archaeology of the reserve.

This would necessitate enclosing / roofing the entire reserve with internal platforms and walkways constructed

to facilitate movement without damaging the ruins. The centre would be expensive and require large ongoing

costs associated with staffing etc. Visitors would have the maximum access to the ruins but the experience

would need to be controlled and an entrance fee charged. The lack of artefacts found to date and the relative

‘weakness’ of the archaeology (in comparison with the possible expectations based on exposure to Roman

and like ruins / Time Team etc) mitigate against such an approach.

new structure above to weather proof and secure archaeology

308

201

210

200

01

3. Reveal part archaeology

02

The third approach is essentially a compromise between the two extremes outlined above. In this approach

visitors would gain close visible access to the most important and/or interesting piece of archaeology -

Tibbett’s cottage with yard and well - with limited visible glimpses of other ruins throughout the reserve

to hint at the extent of the archaeology. While there are significant conservation requirements involved in

03

this approach and infrastructure costs associated with a structure to protect the main piece of revealed

archaeology and get visitors down to its level, there would be no requirement for ongoing staffing costs etc.

The spreading of ‘glimpses’ onto the ruins below across the reserve has the advantage of visitors feeling a

sense of discovery and encouraging them to use the entire reserve.

04

site analysis

05

06

new structure of varying scale to reveal part of archaeology

reveal most interesting / important archaeology and hint at extent of archaeology

07

08

larger new structure to be

linked with activity base

program to activiate park

09

smaller structures to create

visual interest

tibbett’s cottage

ruins

308

201

210

200

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04.03

aboriginal interpretation

While the archaeology of Pioneer Park Reserve provides the visible and tangible basis for telling stories since

the earliest time of European settlement, these stories need to be placed within the context of the ownership

and use of the place by Aboriginal people.

Aboriginal interpretation must be done by, or in consultation with the appropriate community.

04.04

other locales

Pioneer Park Reserve needs to be considered not just in isolation but within a wider context.

It is one of a number of parks within the City of Fremantle. While all offer some ‘respite’ from their hard urban

surrounds, each park is different serving a slightly different role to a different audience. Pioneer Park Reserve

is on the edge of the city proper, in a highly visible location to visitors arriving by car, bus and train. It has

the capacity to be a significant entry point / statement to the city.

The re-location of the Visitor Information Centre to the railway station will increase the opportunity for visitors

to be apprised of the reserve’s attractions before they simply pass it while heading into the city heart.

The archaeological work at Peel Town should be monitored to assess any opportunities for cross-promotion

or other relationship which could increase the visibility of and visitation to Pioneer Park Reserve.

Pioneer Park Reserve is a rare, if not unique example of a publicly accessible urban archaeological site within

Australia. There are a number of such sites throughout the world. Pioneer Park reserve needs to be seen

within this context, although it is necessary to be aware of the relative strength of the archaeology here in

comparison with, for example, the Roman ruins of Barcelona.

05.00

AUDIENCE PROFILE

01

05.01

general

02

Pioneer Park Reserve is an open space with no restriction on access. It is located directly opposite the railway

station and bus terminal. It is generally passed (along Market Street) by both locals and tourists making their

way from the station to the centre of Fremantle. A smaller number pass through the reserve heading to the

south-west. The reserve is located on Pillimore Street, a major vehicular traffic route. The reserve is thus

03

highly visible to people entering Fremantle by car, bus and train.

Actual use of the reserve, however, is currently limited. This is probably a reflection of the reserve’s location

on the ‘edge’ of the city and its lack of infrastructure to activate it. Some use the few available seating and

04

picnic facilities. Others use the green lawn and shade from trees to provide a respite from the surrounding

built up area. But the number of users is not large. At night the reserve is not seen as an attractive place for

general visitors. The major night users are the homeless and those attending the mobile medical centre.

05

audience

profile

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07

08

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05.02

target audience

The revealing and interpretation of the archaeology below the surface of Pioneer Park Reserve offers the

opportunity to activate the space and substantially increase and change the visitor profile.

The target audience includes both Fremantle locals as well as tourists, from the wider Perth as well as

interstate and overseas. The reserve is already visible to many of these. The challenge is to encourage them

to enter and actually use or interact with the reserve, not just pass it.

While the archaeology will provide an attraction in itself to many people, the method of its interpretation and

presentation, particularly its relationship with the wider context of the reserve and beyond, can entice those

who may have no specific interest to still utilize the park.

It is necessary to remember that the audience for heritage places is changing. In line with general demographic

changes, it is more sophisticated and better educated than in previous decades. Retirees, who comprise a

large section of the heritage audience, are younger and have greater experience of alternative entertainment

and cultural attractions both locally and around the world.

Heritage places generally fail to attract the younger audience who see their presentation as “boring” and “old

fashioned”, considerably less vital than alternative attractions.

One of the aims of the broader development strategy for Pioneer Park reserve is to develop a place

/

experience that will appeal to this changing and hopefully expanded broader audience. The decision to

develop contemporary interpretive strategies as well as useful and attractive recreational spaces is partly

rooted in this aim.

01

05.03

multiple attractions

02

Multiple attractions offering diverse experiences are the key to accessing multiple audiences. The ‘division’

of the reserve into a green space to the north, an active recreational space to the west, and an archaeological

space to the east offers factors which will each appeal to a different audience group. From a purely interpretive

perspective, each visitor to the green or to the recreational space is a potential visitor to the archaeological

03

interpretation. From a more general perspective, any user to one of the attractions helps activate the entire

reserve.

05.04

repeat visitations

04

The use of the event space to the west offers the opportunity to hold regular or one-off events. Each such

event has the potential to bring a new or repeat visitor to the site

- to activate the reserve and potentially

experience the archaeological interpretation.

05

audience

profile

The design of the event / gathering space as a place attractive to the young will also result in a continuing

use which may flow through to other parts of the reserve.

06

07

08

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05.05

school and education groups

School groups are often seen as an important visitor group to heritage sites, not just in terms of visitor numbers

but because of the importance of assisting the next generation to understand and value our cultural heritage.

Pioneer Park Reserve offers a number of attractions to such groups. As a free access site it is attractive as a

low cost excursion. It will offer the only archaeological attraction available in Western Australia. The stories

associated with the place, and the visible archaeology, are central to the history of Western Australia.

The following outlines the likely areas within the WA Curriculum that could engage with the proposed

development. A number of these should be considered as integrated with potential visits to ‘Spare Parts’ and

include:

Society and Environment - Place and Space; Time, Continuity and Change; and Investigation, Communication

and Participation.

Science - Investigating Scientifically (process of the archaeological dig and investigation of the site)

English - all strands in particular the possible linking with Spare Parts Puppet Theatre

The Arts - all strands in particular the possible linking with Spare Parts Puppet Theatre

Technology and Enterprise - Technology Process (archaeology) and Materials (use on the original site and in

the modern interpretation of the site).

In addition, a new national history curriculum is due out soon and will support some local history components.

An important overall theme in relation to education opportunities is Valuing Heritage - as the area is exposed

and interpreted the links to the past become clearer offering first hand experience of historical research both

documentary and on-site.

A key education component will be web-based programmes and activities as well as suggested school based

activities such as simulating an archaeological dig and building a model of the site. Web based activities

would need to be written with curriculum links and could include photographic and video images of the dig,

primary source material, reports, historical accounts, historic visual materials etc. They could also provide

information to a range of ‘visitors,’ not just limited to a school-based audience. Web based activities could

be coordinated by the Council utilising the rich resources of the available documentation and the resources

of the Local History section of Fremantle Library

Preliminary discussions with local schools indicate keen interest in using and accessing the site as proposed,

as part of their education programmes.

06.00

THEMES & STORIES

01

While themes and stories co-exist in all heritage interpretation, they are not the same thing.

02

“A theme is the main point or message the communicator is trying to convey about a topic. It is the answer

to “so what” or “big deal”. It is the moral to the story.” (Sam Ham and Betty Weiler Developing Interpretive

Themes 2003)

03

A theme identifies the key message in the interpretation. It should be simple and clear, providing a link

between stories or pieces of information.

06.01

themes

04

The following key themes to be communicated to the visitor in the interpretation of Pioneer Park Reserve

arise directly from the statements of significance and the investigation of the physical evidence of the place.

They are not listed in any particular order of importance.

05

1.

Aboriginal people occupied the area now known as Fremantle prior to European settlement and

have continued to have a presence there to this day.

06

themes &

2.

All towns and cities, including Fremantle, are the theatres of human activity which constantly build,

stories

destroy and rebuild new urban landscapes.1

3.

Archaeological remains represent a tangible yet fragile witness to this continually changing

07

collective life.2

4.

In illustrating a continuity with the past, archaeological sites provide a sense of identity and

reinforce bonds of solidarity in the present.

08

5.

Archaeological heritage is a non-renewable asset and its preservation is in a continuous state of

balance with the desire for public access and contemporary urban growth.

09

6.

Archaeological heritage is esteemed for its associative/symbolic, informational/scientific, aesthetic

and economic values.

1

European Commission ‘The Appear Method - a practical guide for the management of enhancement projects on urban archaeological sites’ 2006

2

ibid

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06.02

stories

There are numerous stories associated with the place now known as Pioneer Park Reserve. They can be

divided spatially into those associated with the entire location and those associated with specific parts of the

reserve. They can also be divided temporally into those associated with the pre-European period, the early

European settlement period, later development, and the present.

Stories associated with the entire reserve include:

1.

Aboriginal occupation and use

2.

First European settlement

3.

Survey and land division

4.

Land reclamation

5.

The place’s relationship with transport - water based, road, rail

(including the clearing of the site c1905)

6.

Recreation - including Uglieland and Pioneer Reserve

Stories associated with specific parts of the reserve include those related to individual owners and occupiers,

including:

1.

Bobins and Willis - fishing, boarding house

2.

John Forrest

3.

Tibbet - residential, boarding

4.

Lion Timber Yard and Steam Saw Mill

5.

Woolams - residence/carpenter

6.

Henry Berry’s - office and wharehouse

7.

State shops - state butchery and fish shop, bank

8.

Payne & Humble / Mallock Bros - customs and forwarding agents

9.

Theakston - boarding house

10.

Uglieland

11.

Spare Parts Theatre

Stories associated with the past are essentially those mentioned above but considered from a different

perspective. As such they include such stories as:

1.

Building techniques through time

2.

Changing urban patterns - residential / industrial / commercial / recreational

Stories associated with the present include:

1.

The story of the archaeology - the methodology of, including the preservation of remains - its role

in connecting the present to the past thus reinforcing a sense of identity - its place within the

context of Australian and world archaeology

2.

Recreation

07.00

INTERPRETATION POLICIES

01

The following interpretation policies articulate the core principles and procedures which should be followed

when interpreting Pioneer Park Reserve.

02

Policies

03

The primary purpose of interpreting the place is to transmit to the public the heritage significance and values

A

of the place.

All interpretation should be consistent with the conservation policy as set out in the Archaeological Conservation

04

B

Plan and respect the integrity of all archaeological fabric.

The interpretation should acknowledge the prior occupation and “ownership” of the place by Aboriginal people

C

and reflect the strength of their culture prior to European settlement and today.

D

Interpretation should present alternative/layered perspectives of the site, both temporal and spatial.

05

Visitors should be able to visually access one major archaeological excavation (Tibbett’s Cottage, yard and

E

well) from its original ground level.

Visitors should ‘discover’ glimpses of other archaeological remains throughout the reserve from contemporary

06

F

ground level.

G

Interpretation should enhance rather than diminish the recreational use and appearance of the reserve.

07

H

Interpretation should be embedded into park elements such as surfaces, furniture etc.

interpretation

policies

Interpretation should enhance the reserve’s historical position ‘on the edge’ - of the river, the town, transport

I

etc - by creating an entrance to Fremantle, its past and its contemporary form.

08

J

Future archaeological excavations should be seen as part of the ongoing interpretation of the place.

K

Advertising should not occur in the reserve unless part of the interpretation.

09

L

Interpretation should challenge visitors to rethink what they might normally take for granted.

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08.00

INTERPRETATION STRATEGIES

01

08.01

vision for pioneer park reserve

02

Pioneer Park should become one of Fremantle’s ‘must see’ attractions. It should become a destination that

encourages visitors to spend time rather than a mere transitional space.

As a rare example of an urban archaeological site open to the public, Pioneer Park Reserve provides a

03

unique and exciting entrance to the City of Fremantle. In

[re]-establishing the relationship between the

city’s European origins and its contemporary urban environment, the reserve offers a dialogic space for the

contemplation of and conversation between past present and future.

04

It should remain a ‘green’ space that supports a range of activities and audiences.

05

06

07

08

interpretation

strategies

09

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08.02

strategies overview

As an overall interpretive strategy, the project has developed a cohesive design for the entire park. The

design has been based on particular interpretive imperatives that have driven the form, layout and use of the

space. Details are included in the design drawings in Appendix A

The following are the major interpretive strategies.

08.02.01 reveal part archaeology

The approach adopted is to reveal part of the archaeology using new structures of varying scales. The

strategy taken is supported by recomendations in conservation plan.

new structure of varying scale to reveal part of archaeology

reveal most interesting / important archaeology and hint at extent of archaeology

larger new structure to be

linked with activity base

program to activiate park

smaller structures to create

visual interest

tibbett’s cottage

ruins

308

201

210

200

01

08.02.02 zoning

02

The park is divided conceptually into 3 sections - a green space to the north, an active recreational / event

space to the west, and an archaeological space to the east.

03

04

05

06

07

link

view of green space and timber seating platform

08

interpretation

strategies

09

view of link area and green space

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08.02.03 visual access to main archaeological space

Built into the park development is visual access to Tibbets cottage site as the major interpretive element

and visitor attraction. A level of physical access is also incorporated - visitors are encouraged and able to

experience the site at the former (1844) ground level.

The eastern archaeological area also incorporates a kiosk

/ cafe together with an interpretive

‘plaza’

-

permanent detailed interpretation about the site. The kiosk / cafe acts as an interpretive device to encourage

people to stay longer and develop a greater understanding of the site’s history. Both the kiosk / cafe and

interpretive platfrom also encourage use by patrons of the Puppet Theatre.

interpretive plaza

view of access ramp from market street towards

Tibbets Cottage viewing platform

200

view of access ramp from market street towards

Tibbets Cottage viewing platform and cafe beyond

view of access interpretive plaza

01

Perspective of viewing platform, Tibbets Cottage remnants.

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

interpretation

strategies

09

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08.02.04 viewports to other smaller excavations + interpretive landscapes

A series of ‘viewing ports’ to other smaller excavation areas are also included and spread over the site. These

allow an understanding of the extent of the archaeology, and former urban density. They provide a sense of

discovery by allowing glimpses of underground elements.

Interpretive landscape are mounds of earth / grass formed in smaller scale than that of Tibetts Cottage. They

suggest a location where archaeological ruins are found, but are not revealed.

interpretive landscapes

203

204

200

perspective of viewports to trench

210

308

210

120

201

140

viewports

interpretive landscapes

viewports

01

08.02.05 recreational space / event space

02

The western recreational

/ event space provides a

‘flat’ platform for a range of community events and

incorporates casual recreational activity infrastructure

- such as a basketball ring

+ backboard (not a

formalised playing court as such).

03

08.02.06 steps and timber seating platform

The east and west sections are connected by a continuous stepped platform that provides seating and a

range of views, particularly towards the northen green space and towards the quay.

04

05

views

views

06

views

07

view of ‘flat’ platfrom in recreational space

08

interpretation

strategies

09

view of recreational area with sculptural lighting and

small scale sporting facility

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08.02.07 other interpretive elements

The timber seating platform is itself an interpretive element. The decision to use timber as a landscape

surface element refers to the former use of the site as a saw mill. Although the use of timber in such a format

is abstract, the proposal incorporates routed text within the decking that gives the visitor further clues to that

former use.

Sculptural lighting elements help to define the place. As tall sculptural elements they provide a readily

recognisable form that helps to signify the park. As elements that provide a lighting function they support

activation of the site and increase safety and night usage opportunities. They also incorporate small amounts

of interpretive information as well as providing service points for events

(electrical outlets and public

address).

timber seating platform and sculptural lighting

The existing electrical substation facing Short Street is intended to be conserved and its presentation

elements

upgraded via lighting and general maintenance. A screen wrapping the sides facing the park is proposed. It

will incorporate interpretation as well as contributing to the presentation of the element.

Free wi-fi hotspots are proposed for the park to encourage longer stays and understanding of the place as a

destination. Accessing the web from the park via a personal device such as a laptop computer would be via

a dedicated browser page containing information about the park itself.

The Aboriginal reconciliation mural on the north wall of the Spare Parts building is intended to be conserved

and its presentation upgraded. A re-dedication ceremony could form part of the aboriginal interpretation

programme.

Screen wrapping around electrical substation

01

08.02.08 off-site interpretation

02

A web presence is an important interpretive tool that can deliver a greater range of information than any

on-site interpretation. Links through wi-fi can link the place with a web-site but the two aspects provide

different types of experiences. A web-site should be developed using information about the archaeological

programmes that have occurred, the site’s history, and genealogical information amongst others. It could be

03

part of the City’s website or separate. It would form a key resource for schools and similar groups and will

encourage site visitation.

Fremantle walk trail brochures should be modified to incorporate the site and mark it as a destination.

04

05

06

07

08

interpretation

strategies

09

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08.03

interpretation strategies table

Based on the interpretation policies and in direct response to the site, the following strategies have been adopted.

Interpretation Strategy

Location

Details

Storyline/Interpretive Objective

‘Lifted’ ground surface, ramps, steps and glazed enclosed

structure.

Permanent viewing to Tibbet’s

Trench Nº 200

Possible light and sound interpretation.

Tibbet

Cottage remnants

Eastern section

Graphic panels, lighting.

Two or three viewports raised above ground. Lighting,

Permanent viewing to remnants

Trench Nº 210

Woolams - residence / carpenter

single graphic panel to each.

Two or three viewports raised above ground. Lighting,

Trench Nº 308

Residents

single graphic panel to each.

Two or three viewports raised above ground. Lighting,

Lion Timber Yard and

Trench Nº 120

single graphic panel to each.

Steam Saw Mill

Raised ground surface over trench.

Trench Nº 203

Willis - fishing

North eastern section

Graphic panels

Interpretative landscape mound

(Phillimore Street)

Raised ground surface over trench.

Trench Nº 204

Uglieland

North eastern section

Graphic panels

Raised ground surface over trench.

Interpretative landscape mound

Trench Nº 140

State Shops -

(Market Street)

Eastern section

butchery and fish shop, bank

Graphic panels

01

Interpretation Strategy

Location

Details

Storyline/Interpretive Objective

02

Improved views of surrounding

Flat raised paved area with views to most of park.

context - urban development.

Interpretation Plaza

Eastern Section

Didactic graphic panels.

All storylines

03

Park name signage to northern face of retaining/balustrade wall

Park definition/identity

Revised entry forecourt and eastern wall of Spare Parts building.

Integration with Spare Parts.

Incorporating puppet and video displays.

Short Street/Eastern Section

04

Spare Parts Forecourt

New timber decking and steps and concrete ramp

Access

Trench Nº 201

Viewing structure around remnants

Theakston

05

Semi- sheltered gathering space for

Fig Tree - deck

Short Street/Eastern Section

New timber deck built over exposed roots of tree.

groups.

Eastern side of ‘Spare

New food and beverage facility. Small building with outdoor and

Increase ‘holding power’ of place.

Kiosk/Café

Parts’

enclosed eating area. Views of archaeology.

Add value to visitor experience.

06

Activation of park, repeat visitation

Hard surface area suitable for supporting a range of events such

Western section

through events. Increase ‘holding

as markets as per masterplan. Also low-key recretational use.

power’ of place.

07

Recreation/event space

New hard paved area connecting east and west sections of the

Improved connectivity of site

park.

specific stories and park usability.

North of Spare Parts

building

Aboriginal occupation and use of

Representation of reconciliation mural, new lighting.

site.

08

Interpretation of former use - timber

interpretation

Timber seating and deck element separating hard and soft

Timber seating/platform

Western section

saw mill. Increased ‘holding power’

strategies

landscaped areas. Text routed into decking.

of site.

Sculptural lighting elements incorporating service points and some

Lighting towers

All of site

Various stories. Site activation.

09

interpretive text.

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09.00

IMPLEMENTATION

01

09.01

general

02

The strategies proposed in this plan form part of a single overall design for the park. Although it may be

possible to implement the proposal in stages, it is intended that the overall interpretation is distributed across

the site, the entire story of the place being revealed through a series of elements and different media.

03

It has also been one of the underlying aims of this project, to provide integrated interpretation - strategies

that are integral to the re-design of the park by using the interpretive imperatives to define the way the park

is redeveloped. Although there are a number of didactic graphic panels, the key interpretive aim is to provoke

interest by revealing part of the below-ground remnants and encouraging the viewer to imagine the rest.

04

As a plan the proposal requires further design development and investigation. It gives a definitive intent

to the way in which the park should be redeveloped to retain some of the interest generated by the initial

excavations, but details of construction systems, layouts and finishes will need to be further refined.

05

09.02

consultation

Consultation with a number of key personnel and stakeholders occurred throughout the preparation of this

06

interpretation plan. This was done both on an individual level and through meetings with City staff as well as

public feedback through the City’s website. A number of key stakeholders were also notified directly.

From the consultation period, responses were collated by the City and passed on to the design team. These

07

were then assessed against the aims and objectives of the project and where appropriate, the plan adjusted.

Most notably there were comments relating to future archaeological work, accessibility, shade and tree

planting, tree retention and playground/recreational activities.

08

Some further consultation with particular stakeholders will be required through the development process.

The noted themes and storylines include aboriginal occupation of the site prior to European settlement and

design proposals have incorporated opportunities for the presentation of information relating to aboriginal

people and their use of the site. The specific details of this interpretation have yet to be developed and will

09

implementation

need to be done in consultation with relevant aboriginal people.

The City has an Aboriginal liaison officer and a City-wide project in relation to consultation is currently being

developed, however a definitive consultation plan identifying the appropriate elders and likely costs will need

to be developed for this project.

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09.03

masterplan

This proposal has been developed in the context of the masterplan for the area. Design elements are

cognizant of the proposals within the masterplan including future changes to pedestrian and vehicular routes

and suggested uses.

It is important that the final endorsed version of this plan be linked to any ongoing masterplanning work to

ensure coordination and facilitation of opportunities.

01

09.04

trees and landscaping

02

Under this proposal a number of new trees are to be planted - to provide shade and define space, particularly

in the western section. Some existing trees are to be removed. This includes all palm trees and all of the

pepper trees. The Pine trees are to be retained as is the Moreton Bay Fig. A timber platform is to be built

over the exposed roots of the Fig tree to be used as an impromptu group gathering space that uses the broad

03

shelter provided by the tree’s canopy.

As the pepper trees are quite old and relate to past community commemoration, further consultation may be

required on their removal.

04

The majority of the surface of the Park is grassed. The western section contains a possible hard surface area

that supports events such as markets and concerts as well as impromptu recreation. A smaller area of timber

decking is included.

05

All will require maintenance to varying degrees, the timber decking most.

06

07

all existing trees

08

09

implementation

retained tress and new trees to provide shading

tress to be retained

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09.05

budget

A preliminary budget estimate is included in Appendix B. The opportunity to stage the works is possible but

it will be necessary to complete a substantial section of the works to make it appear ‘finished.’ The diagram

below indicates a possible three-stage approach as follows:

Stage 1 - develop the eastern end of the park including the major archaeological presentation, ramps,

eastern footpath, and park entry elements.

Stage 2 - develop the western end of the park including the hard paved events space and timber seating.

Stage 3 - develop the eastern side of the ‘Spare Parts’ building including the proposed new eastern wall,

arrival plaza, new ramp, and kiosk.

The development of Stage 3 is complicated by the interface with a State Government owned (rather than

City owned) building and operating venue. It also incorporates a proposed Kiosk facility that is likely to

be a leased business. Both of these aspects will require further negotiation and agreement prior to design

resolution.

As designed, the proposal increases the likely running costs of the place. General maintenance and cleaning

costs as well as for electric lighting and plant for environmental management of the archaeological remnants

are the main areas of running costs.

stage

2

stage

1

stage

3

staging diagram

01

09.06

visitor management

02

The proposal is intended to provide a self-guided visitor experience although it does not preclude guided

tours. The proposal provides gathering spaces and viewing points and encloses all archaeological remnants

providing constant protection.

03

As a result of providing access to the archaeological remnants the proposal creates an undulating surface

and incorporates level changes and ramps. Balustrades and handrails are provided to code requirements.

09.07

spare parts puppet theatre

04

Because of their status as the only site occupier, the team met with representatives of Spare Parts Puppet

Theatre in order to understand their operations, usage patterns, visitation and interaction with the surrounding

site.

05

Similarly, as the plan incorporates significant intervention into the eastern side of the ‘Spare Parts’ building,

further consultation with the occupier will be required. The Plan recognizes the opportunities that the theatre

brings in activating the site at particular times, but aims to increase that activity by better presentation of the

06

building and contents outside of performance times.

09.08

conservation

07

Some conservation and stabilization of the exposed remnants will be required when they are exposed. Such

work should be minimal. It should be limited to essential works such as the careful removal of tree roots and

securing of loose masonry.

08

Ongoing atmospheric control will likely be required to maintain the remnants and reduce the risk of damage

from moisture-borne salts. The proposal incorporates mechanical plant to assist in the management of the

atmospheric conditions within the display space.

09

implementation

Periodic maintenance and monitoring will be required.

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09.09

BCD + DDA

Accessibility in relation to Australian Standards (1428) has been a guiding factor in the layout of the place.

One of the key interpretive imperatives is the experience of the original ground level, at about 1500mm below

the current ground level. This has necessitated the incorporation of ramped access ways and these have

been designed at a fall of 1in 20, reducing the need for rails.

All levels have ramped access and signage has been designed to suit viewing from either a standing or

sitting position. Audio interpretation can be built-in to the interpretation plaza elements and in the Tibbetts

Cottage display.

Ongoing atmospheric control will likely be required to maintain the remnants and reduce the risk of damage

from moisture-borne salts. The proposal incorporates mechanical plant to assist in the management of the

atmospheric conditions within the display space.

Periodic maintenance and monitoring will be required.

01

09.10

evaluation

02

Evaluation of the visitor experience is important for the future planning, conservation, and development of

the place. Because of the open public nature of the site some types of evaluation are not practical. Specific

visitor numbers will be impossible to record, but other techniques may be able to provide effective feedback.

In this instance, the aim of evaluation would be;

03

To understand the audience and visitor profile - who are they, where do they come from and why they

have visited the place.

To understand the way in which visitors interact with the place and interpretation (or lack of).

04

To understand where the gaps are - the storylines, experiences etc.

Evaluation techniques

05

Evaluation can be undertaken in a number of ways.

Where possible, visitor numbers should be recorded. Bookings relating to guided tours and education

groups could be recorded although casual visits would need to be estimated through on-site observations.

06

Survey / questionnaires - standard evaluation forms that record visitor information such as origin,

age, how they knew about the place, how many times they’ve visited, etc. could be available on site either

through the proposed kiosk or via guides. It is important that the guides encourage visitors to fill out this

07

form.

Additional, more qualitative evaluation could be undertaken through conducting detailed interviews

with visitors. The frequency and number of interviews needs to be determined in relation to the aims and

08

objectives of the evaluation programme.

09

implementation

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09.11

further research and archaeology

The plan encourages further research and further investigation. It also recommends that an archaeologist be

employed during construction to ensure any excavation is monitored and any recording undertaken.

Designs for interventions into the park have been developed such that the footings and supporting structures

do not interfere with the below-ground remnants based on information contained within the conservation plan

and other reports. More accurate surveys will be required during design development to ensure new work

does not interfere with the existing remnants.

09.12

marketing

As a key element in the cultural fabric of Fremantle the park should be marketed as a destination. It can be

added to existing walking trails and related brochures for casual visitors, but could also be marketed as part

of education packages and guided tours for probus groups.

09.13

kiosk

/ cafe

The proposal incorporates a small kiosk/café. As part of the overall vision that the park becomes a destination

it is an element that adds value to the visitor experience and helps to encourage people to stay longer. The

combination of the kiosk, the archaeology and the location should combine to create a cohesive experience

that is more than the sum of its parts.

It is likely that any such facility be leased as a commercial enterprise outside of the City’s administration.

The commercial viability of this has not been tested as part of this report, and further negotiation between

the City and potential operators may help refine the proposal.

It is important that the City retain a high level of control over the scale and nature of the operation; the

visitor experience will be significantly affected by the operation and presentation of the food, drinks and

service. Such a facility may also add value to Spare Parts’ programme by offering parents somewhere to

stay while children are watching a performance. Further discussions with Spare Parts will be required in the

development of this as extraneous noise is a potential problem for their operations.

01

09.14

priorities

+ programming

02

The proposal for the redevelopment of Pioneer Park has been envisaged as a cohesive and unified design. As

a space the park currently has two or three different zones with different characteristics. The design has been

developed to incorporate some unity to these different spaces, although the subtle differences will remain.

03

Although it has been designed as a whole, it may be possible if funding requires, to develop the place in

three different stages as specified above. The priority would be to develop the eastern section first (stage

1), followed by the western section (stage 2), and then the eastern side of the Spare Parts building (stage

3). However, within the context of the emerging masterplan and other budgetry constraints that priority may

04

need to be reviewed.

05

06

07

stage

2

stage

1

08

09

implementation

stage

3

staging diagram

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Freotopia

This page incorporates material from Garry Gillard's Freotopia website, that he started in 2014 and the contents of which he donated to Wikimedia Australia in 2024. The content was originally hosted at freotopia.org/books/pioneerplan/index.html, and has been edited since it was imported here (see page history). The donated data is also preserved in the Internet Archive's collection.