UWA is known for its lovely gardens. What makes the spaces even more lovely is the chance to sit and enjoy them from a number of named wooden benches.
But where are they all?
After years of sitting on the benches enjoying the calming views, Joan Pope, Margo Warburton and Marc Tennant started their summer project into the history of UWA in collaboration with the UWA Historical Society.
Through the early mornings of summer Marc wandered about geolocating and photographing the benches one at a time in high resolution, while Joan and Margo checked their histories and formulated the database.
UWA Crawley, Nedlands and QEII campuses have approximately 130 benches and we now know exactly where 120 of them are located with high quality images to add to the digital gallery. Some are looking in top form while others seem to have faced the weather for a good length of time.
Some gems are hidden in little unsuspecting corners no one would even notice.
When you are next on campus take a moment to look in the little gap behind the Somerville Auditorium ticket hut or over behind the fern trees in the garden at computer science. Yes, lovely, but lonely hidden benches.
Ten of the benches remain elusive, so the hunt continues.
Like all snapshots in time the collection is just that: a moment in time. In this case summer 2022/23. We have one bench that was moved after the team helpfully located it for the donor family. So benches do "migrate" from time-to-time. Nothing is permanent.
The full list of images and information will soon form a collection in the new digital gallery that UWA Library is developing. You will be able to hunt benches and see who these benches commemorate. If you would like to assist in building ‘The Background Stories‘ of the UWA graduates and staff who have been honoured by their friends and families, we welcome your interest. Contact the team via [email protected]
From benches to plaques
The team is going to spend this winter making a complete record of the plaques at UWA since the first Foundation Stone in Park Avenue, 1923. A much more difficult task as many are hidden away in the dark overgrown corners of buildings. If you see someone walking into the garden crouching down staring at walls do not be concerned: they’re just on the hunt for plaques!