Jacob's Ladder (Perth)

Originally known as Cliff Street Stairway,^[1] it was constructed in 1909 as a straight stairway of 274 jarrah steps as a cheaper alternative to building a road for Mount Eliza residents to reach the river. According to legend, it acquired its current name from a local real estate agent who placed a sign at the base of the stairway, in reference to both the Bible story about a ladder to heaven and the stunning views at the top of the structure.^[1] The original wooden structure was closed and demolished in 1961 due to safety concerns and replaced by the winding concrete stairway still in use today.^[1]

According to legend, Herb Elliott trained on the original timber version of Jacob's Ladder before it was replaced by its current concrete and metal version.^[2]

The stairway was closed for three months after being damaged by a landslide during a storm on 22 March 2010.^[3][4] It re-opened on 21 June 2010, after repairs.^[5]

In November 2023, the stairway was closed for three weeks after a deliberately-lit bushfire caused some minor structural damage.^[6]

The stairway's enduring popularity with joggers has led to complaints from some nearby residents over noise and inconsiderate behaviour.^[7][8]