Bedford Park Precinct

Author

Shire of Broome

Place Number

03592

Location

1 Anne St Broome

Location Details

Bounded by Hamersley, Weld & Anne Sts

Local Government

Broome

Region

Kimberley

Construction Date

Constructed from 1904

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents
Heritage List Adopted 28 Aug 2014

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management
Category
Municipal Inventory Adopted 28 Aug 2014 Grading B
Register of the National Estate Interim 02 Nov 1983
Register of the National Estate Indicative Place
Classified by the National Trust Classified 07 Jun 1983

Parent Place or Precinct

26192 BEDFORD PARK/DAMPIER MEMORIAL/WAR MEMORIAL

Child Places

  • 03596 Rushton Power Generation Engine
  • 03594 Tramcar
  • 03597 Dornier Aero Engine
  • 03595 Pearl Diver's Decompression Chamber

Statement of Significance

Bedford Park is of considerable significance for the War Memorial, Dampier Memorial, and other commemorations, and as one of the few parks in Broome town overlooking Roebuck Bay.

Physical Description

Bedford Park is triangular shaped open parkland in a tropical setting with some mature plantings including Boab trees and palms. A brick wall and iron gates form an entry statement across a corner truncation. The entry leads through to the Broome War Memorial and Dampier’s Memorial. Plaques and commemorative elements are located throughout the park.

History

Bedford Park was named after Governor Bedford and opened by him in 1924. In 1938, a memorial was installed in the Park commemorating William Dampier's visit to the North West coast. The Broome War Memorial and the pearl divers' decompression chamber are also in the park. The chamber was donated to Broome by English firm E. E. Heinke & Co, manufacturers of diving suits. The use of the chamber reduced the number of deaths from the bends from thirty-three in 1914 to one in 1918. In 1990, the Broome Historical Society sent the decompression chamber to Fremantle Maritime Museum for restoration. It was returned in 1992 and is now displayed in the Museum. Other memorials in the park include one honouring Hugh Davis (Pa) Norman, one of the pioneers in the pearling industry and another honouring his son, Edward (Ted) de Burgh Norman, and his wife Catherine Mary (Rene), who was the first Commissioner of Girl Guides in the north-west from 1932-1941. In 1938, a memorial was installed in Bedford Park commemorating William Dampier's visit to the North West coast in the Roebuck in the early 1700s. It was originally accepted that Dampier had landed at Roebuck Bay, but this has since been proved incorrect.

Integrity/Authenticity

INTEGRITY High degree AUTHENTICITY High degree Modifications: Additional plaques and commemorative elements

Condition

Good

References

Ref ID No Ref Name Ref Source Ref Date
Broome Historical Society
Shire of Broome's Municipal Inventory. 1996
C Shaw;" The History of Broome's Streetnames". 2001

State Heritage Office library entries

Library Id Title Medium Year Of Publication
9600 Broome: maps and places of heritage interest. Heritage Study {Other} 0
9587 Broome heritage trail. Heritage Study {Other} 1988

Place Type

Urban Park

Uses

Epoch General Specific
Original Use SOCIAL\RECREATIONAL Other
Present Use PARK\RESERVE Park\Reserve

Historic Themes

General Specific
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES Sport, recreation & entertainment

Creation Date

13 Mar 1995

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

20 Oct 2020

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.