Kelmscott Hall Ground (Rushton Park)

Child Places

• 04705 Kelmscott Agricultural Hall

Statement of Significance

The place is an attractive urban park, in a prominent location near the Canning River, and features significant Sugar Gum Trees planted around its perimeter.
The place was the first showground and sportground in Kelmscott and was the focus of social and sporting activities from as early as 1897. Trees were planted on the grounds by Henry Buckingham of Roleystone.
The place is valued by the community as a long-standing and popular site for social and recreational activities, and as a public open space.

Physical Description

The place comprises a grassed recreation reserve located on the corner of Orlando Street and River Road in Kelmscott. Mature Sugar Gum trees are planted around the perimeter of the grounds, which are bounded by chainlink fencing to the street boundaries, and the Canning River to the east. A number of buildings and facilities are located throughout the reserve, including the bituminised carpark areas off River Road, the Kelmscott Agricultural Hall (1960), the former Kelmscott Swimming Pool (1957), display pavilions associated with the Agricultural Show circuit, as well as a children’’s playground and public picnic areas near the rivers edge.

History

This land was surveyed originally in 1837, when the town of Kelmscott was gazetted. These grounds, now known as Rushton Park, were the first site of the Kelmscott Show, inaugurated on 3 February 1897 by the Kelmscott Farmers’’ and Fruit Growers’’ Society, formed the previous year. At the first show were exhibited poultry, fruit and vegetables and home and craft items, and a race- the Kelmscott Handicap- was held. Initial success led to the Show being held twice a year, with equestrian ring events added to the fourth show in October 1898. In addition, log chopping first appeared in February 1899, and cattle and pigs were introduced in October 1902.
In 1905, Henry Buckingham planted trees on the grounds, which were used as the venue for local school sports. Two tennis courts were used at the grounds during the 1920s and 1930s, and the Presbyterian Church Youth Groups held Easter camps there during the 1930s.
Economic depression in the early 1930s led to the discontinuing of the Agricultural Show in 1935, although this recommenced three years later. In 1957, the Kelmscott Swimming Pool was constructed on part of the Rushton Park grounds.

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