New attraction for heritage park

The Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale is hoping to get its own version of Kings Park’s Federation Walkway and a slice of Western Australia’s tourism pie with plans for a $12 million redevelopment of the Jarrahdale Heritage Park.

Works planned for the 32 hectare park, located 45 kilomteres south-east of Perth, include a 75 metre-long aerial walkway through the re-growth forest, a 500-seat amphitheatre, viewing tower, picnic shelters, walk trails and the restoration of the nineteenth century Mill Managers’ residence.

The shire has engaged Applecross-based firm Matthews Architecture and engineering group Capital House, consultant on the Kings Park walkway, to design the walkway and associated facilities.

Matthews Architecture director Clinton Matthews said at its highest point, the walkway would be seven metres tall and would be the only structure of its type in Australia, incorporating spirals of laminated jarrah, steel and bronze castings.

“The innovative timber structure is very relative to Jarrahdale’s heritage and history as a timber export town,” he said.

The walkway will span a total length of 110 metres, incorporating a path from a bush car park through to the entrance of the structure, which will open at the end to a historic post office and potential café on the other side, he said.

Capital House director and structural engineer Brian Nelson revealed the project was a significant job for the joint venture partners, taking six months to design a fine furniture-like structure that would allow visitors to filter through and interpret the space within the context of its environment.

“We tried to address the natural history and cultural significance of Jarrahdale within the gridshell design. Paying respect to these elements drove the materials and form,” he said.

Known as a gridshell, Mr Nelson said the nest-like walkway was influenced by its surroundings, and the designers drew inspiration from its intended path across a Gooralong Brook and up a heavily wooded slope.

“The bridge is not meant to be glitzy. It must be seen to belong to the environment and must continue to relate to it… we deliberately wanted it to be fairly precious, so that people could walk inside without touching it," he said.

The shire is in the process of finalising a business plan for the entire park, which will detail development stages and provide a cost breakdown.

Shire president Denyse Needham said council would likely apply for state and federal government grants in May or June, with a view to starting work later this year.

“It will be a massive boost to  tourism in the Jarrahdale region and we expect it to be on the national tourist route and become an international attraction.”

The shire began planning for the future of the park two years ago, following the closure of the Wesfarmers-owned Bunnings timber mill in 1997.