Paying homage to river transport in Perth

Place Laboratory has created a new gateway linking the Perth CBD, Perth Zoo and greater South Perth area which fulfils “the city’s vision for the creation of a revitalised foreshore with high quality spaces to host civic and ceremonial events.”

Mindeerup Piazza, developed through the city’s $7.5 million Connect South Project, sits along the Perth water foreshore loop, a trail frequently used by visitors and walkers.

Mindeerup Plazza was completed last year. Image credit - Peter Bennetts.

It includes a parade of animal sculptures ranging in size, extending the Perth Zoo experience through the main street, as well as a performance space, wooden seating, and community access to the water.

The three themes Place Laboratory has incorporated into the design are the Perth Zoo, South Perth’s reputation as a green suburb, and a reminder of the importance of river transport to early Perth settlers through the Mends Street Jetty.

The name Mindeerup is a traditional Noongar name meaning ‘place of the shore’.

Mayor Greg Milner says “the city’s goal for Mindeerup is to provide a unique and vibrant welcome to visitors, a fantastic meeting place for residents and support to local businesses in encouraging people to see and enjoy the area.”

Larger animal sculptures provide canopies of weather protection, and smaller sculptures, such as the emus and gatherings of meerkats, lend a playful tone to the development. A numbat and frilled neck lizard were selected in consultation with the Perth Zoo in order to raise awareness for these endangered local species.

The name Mindeerup is a traditional Noongar name meaning ‘place of the shore’, and thus references the cultural importance of the area. Included artworks represent Aboriginal culture, with two artworks from ART+.

For example, sand sculptures, inspired by Yondee Shane Hansen’s sand paintings, reference storm clouds, emu feathers, rock formations, water holes and song lines.

The piazza includes a parade of animal sculptures ranging in size, extending the Perth Zoo experience through the main street,

Mindeerup Piazza becomes a performance space at night, and Karl Kep Ngoornd-iny is producing a nocturnal artwork for the development, with light, sound and projection technologies that represent the rhythms and cycles of the country from an Aboriginal perspective.

“The Connect South Project is about creating a positive environment, both economically and socially to support the growth of the South Perth Peninsula and greater region,” says Place Laboratory. “The project is focused on improved access to transport, improved public amenity and greater economic opportunity.”

More of the animal parade which is designed to extend the zoo experience.