Lotterywest Federation Walkway, Kings Park

Located in the botanic garden area of Kings Park in a unique elevated bushland setting in the city of Perth, the walkway is carefully located to enable visitors a range of experiences of the parkland setting and to highlight its native flora and fauna, the escarpment and river estuary. The gently inclined access arms of the structure are linked by a lyrical arc that passes through the eucalyptus canopies, and over a site of sacred significance to aboriginal women.

This project involved extensive collaboration with aboriginal groups and many stakeholders. The Walkway integrates signage that conveys information about the landscape, the place’s heritage setting, its importance to aboriginal culture and mythology, and the unique native plant species to be found throughout the Botanic Gardens.

The structure is made from prefabricated weathered steel components that has a beautiful patina which corresponds to the bark and dry leaves of the surrounding trees. Intended to encourage visitors to venture deeper into Kings Park and experience the rejuvenated Botanic Garden, the walkway attracted a million visitors in its first year.

The Lotterywest Federation Walkway is now a major piece of public infrastructure that synthesises a strong architectural concept with engineering innovation, landscape design and site characteristics, aboriginal mythology and knowledge, biodiversity, and artistic values, with public values and client expectations while achieving wide public appeal.