Russell Square, Perth

31.9461°S 115.8555°E / -31.9461; 115.8555

Russell Square

Bandstand at the centre of Russell Square

Russell Square in Perth, Western Australia is a large public space between Aberdeen Street and James Street in Northbridge. It was named after Lord John Russell.[1]

The eastern boundary is on Parker Street, which is the location of the Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helene,[2] and the Hellenic Community Centre.[3] Shenton Street is the western boundary of the square.

Russell Square was created some time between 1838 and 1845; it appears on 1845 maps of Perth, but not on 1838 maps.[4][5][6]

Prior to the first world war photographs taken from the eastern side give a sense of the development of the square.[7][8]

In the 1920s it was the location of brass band music supported by the Perth City Council.[9]

It has also been known as the park of sighs (Italian: Parco dei Sospiri) as it was the favoured meeting place of the Italian community of Little Italy.[10]

In the early 1990s it was reviewed in planning studies.[11] In October 1994 Russell Square was upgraded, and thirty sculptures were designed and created by local artists Greg James[12] and Drago Dadich.

It has been a venue for the Festival of Perth.[13]

Notes

1. "Perth names". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 10 December 1938. p. 4. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
2. Yiannakis, John N; Hellenic Community of Western Australia (2012), The 75th anniversary of Greek Orthodox Church of Saints Constantine and Helene, Perth : an outline history of events leading to its consecration, Hellenic Community of Western Australia, ISBN 978-0-646-58480-5
3. Hellenic Community of Western Australia, 50th anniversary : 1923–1973, retrieved 22 March 2013
4. Western Australia: An atlas of human endeavour: 1829–1979. Western Australia: Government Printer. 1979. p. 48.
5. "Perth 18a. Plan of Perth Township showing Lots, Streets & Lakes from Mt Eliza in West to Walters & Claise Brooks in East, Lakes Henderson & Poulett to North & St Georges Terrace in South. Unsigned, probably Hillman, 1838 [scale: 6 chains to an inch]". State Records Office of Western Australia. Series S235 Original Plans – Townsites, Item 289. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
6. "Perth 18F. Copy of Plan of Perth Townsite Map 18E (see Map 18E for details) added notation of Fieldbook 2 p. 9 by W. Phelps, 1859-60 [scale: 6 chains to inch, Tally No. 005728]". State Records Office of Western Australia. 31 December 1860. Series S235 Original Plans – Townsites, Item 297. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
7. Russell Square, West Perth, W.A, 1918, retrieved 4 December 2023
8. "No Title". Kalgoorlie Western Argus. Vol. VIII and XIII, no. 679. Western Australia. 12 November 1907. p. 24. Retrieved 4 December 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
9. "Band Selections at Russell Square". Sunday Times (Perth). No. 145[?]. Western Australia. 15 November 1925. p. 4 (First Section). Retrieved 4 December 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
10. "Parks and Gardens: City of Perth". Archived from the original on 23 December 2009. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
11. Western Australia. Dept. of Planning and Urban Development; Donaldson and Warn Consultant Architects; Perth (W.A. : Municipality). Council (1991), Northbridge study : final report 1991 [Draft] (1st ed.), Perth, W.A, retrieved 22 March 2013
12. "Greg James - Public Art". www.gregjamessculpture.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2013.
13. "Russell Square - Perth Festival". Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2013.