His Royal Highness The Duke of York kindly unveiled the first marker of the Fremantle Commonwealth Walkway in Western Australia today at a special ceremony in Victoria Quay, Fremantle Port.
The Fremantle Port marker, mounted on a sandstone plinth, links the Fremantle and Perth Commonwealth Walkways. It also commemorates the reign of Her Majesty The Queen and The Queen’s three separate visits to the port, in 1953, 1963 and 1977. In addition, there have been a number of other Royal visits to Victoria Quay, including that of King George VI in 1927 as The Duke of York.
The ceremony was expertly coordinated by the Commonwealth Walkways Western Australia Steering Committee led by Barry House and David Forster. Dr Noel Nannup, a member of the group, started the ceremony by conducting a Welcome to Country.
Afterwards, The Hon Kerry Sanderson AC presented His Royal Highness with a commemorative Commonwealth Walkway WA mini marker. Further awards were also presented to Dr Brad Pettit, The Mayor of Fremantle; The Hon Barry House – Chair of Steering Committee; Mr Chris Leatt-Hayter, CEO of Fremantle Ports; and Ms Jill Hoffmann, Chair of Fremantle Ports Board.
Chairman Barry House said “The marker and plaque represents the special input of the City of Fremantle/Fremantle Ports to the connection which is being made with the culture and heritage of local Aboriginal people. You will see the words ‘ngalang bidi’ meaning ‘our path’ is written on all of the markers to be used for the walkways along with Her Majesty’s EIIR cypher and this is very important to all of us, as a celebration of our shared culture, heritage and history since about 1829″.
The marker will also connect with the City of Perth Commonwealth Walkway which is being progressed with the Government House marker being unveiled by the then Governor, Hon Kerry Sanderson AC in April this year.
The Fremantle Commonwealth Walkway, known locally as the ‘Walk with the Windsors’ is 5.46 km long and connects:
- Victoria Quay РB Shed Caf̩ Р1 Peter Hughes Drive;
- Fremantle Port; Navy Club – 64 High Street;
- Princess Chambers – 29-33 Market Street;
- Princess Theatre – 29-33 Market Street;
- Fremantle Hospital – Alma Street;
- Fremantle Oval – 70 Parry Street;
- William Street;
- Fremantle Town Hall – 8 William Street;
- Victoria Hall – 179 High Street;
- Cnr. Queen & Adelaide Streets;
- Proclamation Tree at the junction of Adelaide & Parry Streets;
- Princess May Girl’s School and Park – 6 Parry Street;
- Flying Angel Club – 76 Queen Victoria Street;
- Cantonment Hill /Tuckfield Oval;
- Flipside – 239 Queen Victoria Street;
- Mrs Brown (Bar) – 241 Queen Victoria Street;
- North Fremantle Town Hall – Matilda’s Antique Centre / Guildhall – 222 Queen Victoria Street;
- North Fremantle War Memorial – 222A Queen Victoria Street.
This was a wonderful afternoon where HRH The Duke of York KG boarded Sail Training Ship Leeuwin with his standard at masthead and met some very committed volunteer members of The Commonwealth Walkways Steering Committee about half of whom have been working on the Fremantle and Perth Commonwealth Walkways since 2014. The support of The Outdoor Trust UK and now The Commonwealth Trust has enabled two concept Walkways to become reality – firstly Fremantle … also referred as Walk With the Windsors tracing Royal visits since 1954 as well as highlighting the Aboriginal and European cultural and historical sites …with finalising likely for the Perth Walkway with the completion of the new Cultural Centre in the CBD late next year.
The Commonwealth Walkways are a wonderful association across the seas to other Commonwealth countries and cities for Western Australians who want to have informative activity by walking remembering and learning together along ‘ngalang bidi’ … our path in the local Wadjuk language … and inscribed on the markers for each of the local Walkways.
Congratulations to those responsible particularly Hugo Vickers DL Chairman and Jim Walker CEO and Trust Members now including Lord Marland on this defining and historic project.