You may have noticed in the Echo a report of work being undertaken to improve the facilities at John Forrest National Park. This park was first declared an A Class Reserve in 1900 and known as Greenmount National Park, and the name was again changed to Forrest National Park in 1928 and finally in 1947 to John Forrest National Park. It was the first national park in Western Australia.
As time went on there were 1000 men living in army huts. The rules were no gambling and no liquor and their camp to be kept clean and tidy. Where possible each man was given 12 hours work a week and paid 5 shillings in cash. They were taken by truck each day to and from the park. Another camp was started in 1931 in Hovea where the men were employed to cut down dead trees to cut up for firewood and taken by train to the city and suburbs to needy families.
1n 1930s weekend trains were provided for picnickers.
In 1947 tearooms and two more dams were built and in 1978 a tavern and restaurant were opened.
We all look forward to the new Park Hub and redeveloped gardens and Margaret Forrest Centre to be built as you can see on the website
Looking at our collection we have many wonderful photographs of aspects of the park over the years.
1987
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