Whiteman Park, Park in Western Australia
Whiteman Park is a 4,000-hectare (9,900-acre) bushland area 22 kilometres north of Perth's central business district, in the suburb of Whiteman within the Swan Valley. It contains the source of Bennett Brook and Grogan's Swamp, a Conservation Category Wetland, and hosts heritage transport groups and their collections.
The land was once owned by Lew Whiteman, who ran a brick business there and turned Mussel Pool into a local picnic spot. He later sold the property to the government, which gradually expanded it into the public park it is today.
Bennett Brook rises within the park and is a place of importance to the Nyoongar people, linked to stories of the Wagyl and accounts of Aboriginal use of the area. The park's name honours Lew Whiteman, the main landowner before the state bought the land in 1978.
The park opens early in the morning and closes at dusk, with the exception of Christmas Day, and entry is free of charge. Because the grounds are very large, it is a good idea to plan a route in advance and wear comfortable shoes, especially in summer when temperatures can be high.
The park is home to the only heritage electric tram still operating in all of Western Australia, kept running by volunteers. Those same volunteers also maintain old vehicles and farm machinery in working order, so visitors can see them actually moving rather than standing still in a museum.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,462 contributors worldwide.