- First motor vehicle to the summit of Buckland Hill, 1924
Buckland Hill (also known as Monument Hill), stands high above Mosman Park, affording 360 degree panoramic views over both the Swan River and the Indian Ocean. It is presumably for this reason that the area attracted the attention of Commander Willem de Vlamingh in 1697 and Captain James Stirling in 1827. Stirling named the hill in honour of William Buckland who was well known for his books on geology and mineralogy. Buckland Hill was suggested as the first settlement site for the Swan River Colony but later rejected in favor of Arthur Head in Fremantle. Buckland Hill originally formed part of a range of seven hills known as the Seven Sisters, much of which disappeared through the quarrying which began in the Rocky Bay and Mosman Park areas in the 1890s. During World War 1, Buckland Hill was used a signal station by the Navy. The Obelisk was surrounded by buildings and sailors were stationed there. The Army took possession of the western side of the hill during 1941 which then played a significant part in a larger, national system of coastal defense strategies during World War Two. Tunnels were dug through the limestone, mainly for communication purposes. The tunnels connected two anti-aircraft gun emplacements, storage rooms and gunner’s sleeping quarters. The tunnels are now part of a military museum.
Leighton Battery Heritage Tour
The Monument
The Monument originated in 1850 as a timber framed navigational beacon used for navigation and surveying purposes. In the spring of 1875 a permanent trigonometric station was erected referred to as the Obelisk . It is thought to be constructed of limestone by convict labour between1878 and 1880. In 1924 a water supply reservoir was established which surrounded the Obelisk rendering it inaccessible. During reconstruction of the reservoir in 1983-84 the Obelisk was carefully relocated 48 metres south-west of its original position.The Metropolitan Water Board arranged to have the Obelsik floodlit, making it a striking landmark within Perth’s Western Suburbs.
The image is of H. Turner’s Republic Speed Truck which was the first vehicle to manage the steep slope to the summit of Buckland Hill in 1924.
For more stories or further information contact The Grove Community History Library at history@thegrovelibrary.com or visit us at 1 Leake Street, Peppermint Grove.
Mosman Park History 