Russell Square, Perth
Park in Northbridge, Western Australia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Russell Square in Perth, Western Australia is a large public space between Aberdeen Street and James Street in Northbridge. It was named after Lord John Russell.[1]
The eastern boundary is on Parker Street, which is the location of the Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helene,[2] and the Hellenic Community Centre.[3] Shenton Street is the western boundary of the square.
Russell Square was created some time between 1838 and 1845; it appears on 1845 maps of Perth, but not on 1838 maps.[4][5][6]
Prior to the first world war photographs taken from the eastern side give a sense of the development of the square.[7][8]
In the 1920s it was the location of brass band music supported by the Perth City Council.[9]
It has also been known as the park of sighs (Italian: Parco dei Sospiri) as it was the favoured meeting place of the Italian community of Little Italy.[10]
In the early 1990s it was reviewed in planning studies.[11] In October 1994 Russell Square was upgraded, and thirty sculptures were designed and created by local artists Greg James[12] and Drago Dadich.
It has been a venue for the Festival of Perth.[13]
