Hammond Park

Description

Take a break from the beautiful red dirt scenery of Kalgoorlie-Boulder with the lush green oasis that is Hammond Park.

The large playground provides endless fun for the children, and the whole family will enjoy a stroll through the park, sitting amongst the free-roaming peacocks or meeting the various birds, kangaroos and emus in the aviaries and neighbouring pens.

Arguably the most popular resident of the park is Macca, the talkative and dancing cockatoo.

The fish and ducks swimming in the pond are another popular attraction, as is the miniature Bavarian Castle built entirely of gemstones.

Hammond Park is perfect for a BYO picnic on one of the picnic tables or under the rotunda, or support the on-site Plum Café.

 

Hammond Park was named after Herbert Alexander Hammond, Mayor of the Town of Kalgoorlie 1969 – 1976.  Hammond developed a proposal for a fauna and flora reserve, which was completed in 1978 and named in his honour.

Herbert Hammond was born in Fremantle in 1905 and came to the Goldfields in 1927. He started a store on the corner of Maritana and Collins Streets, in Lamington.  The store developed into a newsagency and drapery business run by the Hammonds until 1974 when he sold up the business to allow more time for his Mayoral duties.

Bert served in the Australian Army during WWII, becoming Commanding Officer of “C” Company, 28th Battalion. Hammond was known as Captain “Bull” Hammond to his troops he was known as “Bull” because of his imposing stature.  Originally an officer of the 28th Infantry Battalion, an illness stopped him from serving in the regular army, so Hammond served as an officer with the militia in Kalgoorlie. He led the unit that escorted the crew of the “Kormoran” from Harvey to a POW Camp in South Australia.

A strong supporter of public amenities Hammond developed a proposal for a fauna and flora reserve opposite the Kalgoorlie Cemetery and in 1979 Hammond Park was opened in his honour. He was a member of the Eastern Goldfields-Esperance Zone Development Committee, Kalgoorlie-Boulder Joint Town Planning Committee, and the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Repatriation Committee.

Eight days before his death in 1976, Hammond sent the council a letter resigning as Mayor. His health had deteriorated to the point where he felt he could ”. . . no longer carry out the duties of Mayor of this renown and remarkable town in a manner and with the decorum that has always been maintained by those worthy men who have preceded me in this important office.”

The historical information is courtesy of  City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, City Archives.