Langley Park, Perth

Langley Park
Langley Park, looking across the western end towards the Perth CBD, circa 2006. The dominant building on the right is the Federal Law Courts, the gardens in front include Government House and Supreme Court Gardens
General information
Type	Park
Location	Perth, Western Australia
Coordinates	31°57′41″S115°52′8″E / 31.96139°S 115.86889°E / -31.96139; 115.86889 (Langley Park)
Western Australia Heritage Register
Type	State Registered Place
Designated	14 October 2011
Reference no.	3346

Langley Park is an open space in the central business district of Perth, Western Australia. Running alongside Riverside Drive, it is grassed, rectangular in shape and has approximate dimensions 900 by 100 metres (2,950 ft × 330 ft). It was created by reclaiming land from the adjacent Swan River between 1921 and 1935, to provide open space near the city. ^[1]

As a pioneer of civil aviation in Western Australia, Major Norman Brearley used the park as an airstrip in the 1920s. That tradition continues with "fly-ins", where small aircraft land in the park. ^[2] In 2003, to celebrate 100 years of powered flight, 10 aircraft – one representing each decade of the 20th century – landed. ^{[3] [4] [5]} Aircraft have also used the park to perform emergency landings. In 1997 a Tiger Moth TMK had an engine failure and put down in the park. ^[6] While not an official airfield, Langley Park makes Perth a place where fixed-wing aircraft can land in proximity to the central business district. ^[7]

Modern usage

Langley Park at sunset

For many years, Langley Park's location made it a popular place to view the annual City of Perth Skyworks fireworks show on Australia Day, which were held over the river. After Skyworks' retirement in 2022, for 2023 Langley Park hosted a smaller fireworks display and drone show as a replacement for the event. ^[8]

The Telstra Rally Australia World Rally Championship held events at the park for 11 years from 1992 to 2002, and once more in 2005. ^{[9] [10]}

During November 2006, 2007 and 2008, the final stage of the Red Bull Air Race World Series was held over the Swan River and Perth Water, using Langley Park as the airfield.

Cirque du Soleil has used the park many times for its shows whenever a big top touring production visits Australia. Shows performed at Langley Park have included Saltimbanco, Alegria, Quidam, Dralion, and Ovo.

On 30 September 2018, the park was the site of the West Coast Eagles homecoming celebrations after winning the 2018 AFL Grand Final.

In 2019, Langley Park hosted the 2019 WMF World Cup.

References

1. www.cityofperth.wa.gov.au Archived 24 March 2006 at the Wayback Machine Langley Park. Accessed 21 March 2006
2. www.airliners.net Aviation Photos: Langley Park, Perth. Accessed 21 March 2006
3. Werner Buhlmann, Royal Aero Club of WA, Centenary of Aviation Fly In (PDF), Sport Aircraft Builders Club, archived from the original (PDF) on 4 May 2013, retrieved 11 January 2014
4. "Centenary of Flight, Langley Park Fly-In - 29th April 2003". Sport Aircraft Builders Club. Archived from the original on 19 June 2005. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
5. "Langley Park fly-in: Commemorating 100 years of Aviation". 26 April 2003. Archived from the original on 21 February 2005. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
6. "Two Die As Old Plane Crashes" by John Townsend, The West Australian, 2 March 1998
7. www.discoverwest.com.au Interesting Facts Did you know?. Accessed 21 March 2006
8. "Summer nights ignite with City of Light Shows". 19 November 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
9. www.rallyaustralia.com.au Archived 5 December 2004 at the Wayback Machine Telstra Rally Australia – Pulse Racing Horse Power!. Accessed 21 March 2006
10. www.rallyaustralia.com.au Archived 23 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine The Road Ahead for 2005. Accessed 21 March 2006