Solidarity Park

Statement of Significance

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE gazetted with permanent entry as State Registered Place (20/04/2004) Solidarity Park, a landscaped park containing five memorial structures and used as a place for remembrance, public protest, recreation and access to Parliament House, has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons. + The place was created in reaction to the Third Wave Campaign, a union protest against extensive change to Industrial Relations legislation in Western Australia, and was occupied continually for over six months during these 1997 protests. + The place is highly valued by the union community and contributes to their sense of place as it reflects bonds of solidarity and united union defiance against Richard Court’s Coalition Government policy in 1997. + The place contains the largest concentration of labour monuments in Western Australia and, together with the Tom Edwards Memorial in Fremantle and is one of only two labour monument sites in Western Australia. + The place is valued by parts of the community as a commemorative and protest site. A tunnel entrance and its surrounding fence are considered to be of little significance to the site.

Physical Description

Solidarity Park, formerly known as The Workers’ Embassy, is a landscaped
park containing five memorial structures. There are five memorials, two pergolas, two barbecues, various mature and
immature trees, garden beds, a flagpole and two types of lights. Three of the
memorials are located on the perimeter of the site. These include the
People’s Wall, The Wall of Remembrance and the Fountain for Youth. The
Commemorative Rock and Mark Allen memorials are located facing each
other just inside the east and west boundaries. The shelters are located
inside the northern and southern boundaries.
See Register of Heritage Places - Assessment documentation

History

Solidarity Park, formerly known as The Workers’ Embassy, is a landscaped
park containing five memorial structures. All structures in the park were
constructed in 1997 during the six month trade union occupation of the site
as part of the Third Wave Campaign against industrial relations legislation
reform proposed by Richard Court’s coalition government.
See Register of Heritage Places - Assessment documentation

Integrity/Authenticity

High level of integrity.
High level of authenticity.

Condition

Fair

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.