Yagan Square
{{Short description|Public space in Perth, Western Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox street
| name = Yagan Square
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| image = Yagan Square - Wirin, March 2018 02.jpg
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|zoom=17
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|stroke-colour=#C60C30
|marker-colour=#7B6660
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| caption = "Wirin" by artist Tjyllyungoo.
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| namesake = Yagan
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| area = {{cvt|1.1|ha}}
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| location = City of Perth
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| coordinates = {{coord |region:AU-WA_type:landmark_dim:200 |name={{wikidata |property |P1448 }} |display=inline,title |format=dms}}
| direction_a = North
| terminus_a = Northbridge
| direction_b = South
| terminus_b = Central business district
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| north = Roe Street
| east = Horseshoe Bridge
| south = Wellington Street
| west = Edith Cowan University (future campus)
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| construction_start_date = February 2016
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| inauguration_date = {{Start date and age |2018|03|03 }}
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| status = Pedestrian
| website = {{official website}}
}}
File:Yagan Square - Digital Tower, February 2018.jpg
Yagan Square is a public space and a component of the Perth City Link in Perth, Western Australia. It is situated between the Horseshoe Bridge and the Perth Busport in the eastern part of the Perth City Link precinct,{{cite web|url=https://www.mra.wa.gov.au/frequently-asked-questions/questions/where-is-yagan-square|title=Frequently Asked Questions : Where is Yagan Square?|publisher=Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority|access-date=18 March 2018}} occupying {{convert|1.1|ha}}.{{cite web |url=https://www.mra.wa.gov.au/frequently-asked-questions/questions/how-big-is-yagan-square |title=Frequently Asked Questions: How big is Yagan Square? |publisher=Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406011537/https://mra.wa.gov.au/frequently-asked-questions/questions/how-big-is-yagan-square |archive-date=2019-04-06
|access-date=2018-03-18 }} Construction of the square began in February 2016,{{cite web|url=http://www.mra.wa.gov.au/projects-and-places/perth-city-link/places-attractions/yagan-square|title=Explore Yagan Square|publisher=Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority|access-date=15 November 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mra.wa.gov.au/news-and-updates/article/historic-lakes-inspire-design-for-yagan-square|title=Historic lakes inspire design for Yagan Square|publisher=Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority|access-date=15 November 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-14/perth-yagan-square-design-for-city-link-unveiled/5893092|title=Government unveils $73m Yagan Square design for Perth city link|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=14 November 2014|author=Bonnie Christian|access-date=15 November 2014}}[http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/construction-starts-at-perths-yagan-square-20160214-gmtupu.html Construction starts at Perth's Yagan Square] WAtoday 14 February 2016 and it was opened on 3 March 2018.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-03/yagan-square-opens-in-perth/9505952|title=Perth's Yagan Square finally opens to the public|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|author=Jasmine Cookson|date=3 March 2018|access-date=3 March 2018}}{{Cite book|last=Saunt|first=Deborah|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oY2TDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA110|title=The Business of Research: Knowledge and Learning Redefined in Architectural Practice|last2=Greenall|first2=Tom|last3=Marcaccio|first3=Roberta|date=2019-06-17|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-1-119-54602-3|language=en}} It is named after the Aboriginal warrior Yagan.
Description
The design of Yagan Square has taken into account its place of significance to the indigenous people on whose land it was built, the Noongar people of Perth, as well as the lakes that used to exist under what is now the Perth railway station and Wellington Street.{{cite web|url=http://iredalepedersenhook.com/?portfolio=yagan-square|title=Yagan Square|publisher=Iredale pedersen hook|access-date=6 March 2017}} The square has pedestrian access points from Roe Street in the north, Karak Walk and the Busport to the west, Wellington Street to the south and from the Horseshoe Bridge to the east, with direct access from Perth railway station to Yagan Square under the Horseshoe Bridge in the south-east of the precinct.
On the south-western corner of Yagan Square is a {{convert|45|m|ft|adj=mid|-high}} "digital tower",{{cite news|url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/perth/yagan-square-to-open-on-march-3-ng-b88744021z|title=Yagan Square to open on March 3|author=Joe Spagnolo|publisher=Perth Now|date=18 February 2018|access-date=18 March 2018}} with a wrap-around display screen {{convert|30|m}} in width and {{convert|14|m}} in height.{{cite web|url=https://www.mra.wa.gov.au/news-and-updates/works-updates/digital-tower-construction|title=Digital tower construction|publisher=Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority|date=15 January 2018|access-date=18 March 2018}} Fourteen columns rising from the middle of the tower represent the fourteen Noongar language groups.{{cite web|url=https://www.mra.wa.gov.au/see-and-do/yagan-square/attractions/digital-tower|title=Digital Tower|publisher=Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority|access-date=18 March 2018}} The tower has been used to display artwork and short films,{{cite web|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/public-notice/ecu-films-grace-big-screen-yagan-square/|title=ECU films grace the big screen in Yagan Square|publisher=Filmink|access-date=8 August 2022}} as well as livestreamed events such as the AFL Grand Final and other sporting events,{{cite web|url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/west-coast-eagles/screens-aplenty-as-west-coast-fever-hits-perth-ng-b88970820z|title=Screens aplenty as West Coast fever hits Perth|publisher=The West|date=26 September 2018|access-date=8 August 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://kidsinperth.com/international-football-fever-comes-to-yagan-square/|title=International Football Fever comes to Yagan Square|publisher=Kids in Perth|date=19 July 2022|access-date=8 August 2022}} a satellite launch in 2021,{{cite web|url=https://www.katherinetimes.com.au/story/7407417/was-first-space-satellite-launched/|title=WA's first space satellite launched|publisher=Katherine Times|date=29 August 2021|access-date=8 August 2022}} and a solar eclipse in 2023.{{cite web|url=https://perthisok.com/news/solar-eclipse-2023-get-the-lowdown-on-next-weeks-rare-hybrid-eclipse/|title=Solar Eclipse 2023: Get the lowdown on next week’s rare hybrid eclipse|publisher=Perth is OK|date=13 April 2023|access-date=14 May 2023}} After the abduction of Cleo Smith in October 2021, images of the missing child were displayed on the tower as part of the public appeal for information.{{cite web|url=https://thewest.com.au/news/cleo-smith/cleo-smith-search-posters-off-missing-girl-plastered-across-wa-ng-b882049485z|title=Cleo Smith search: Posters of missing girl plastered across WA|publisher=The West|date=23 October 2021|access-date=8 August 2022}}
Facing William Street, a {{convert|9|m|adj=on}} statue "Wirin", designed by Noongar artist Tjyllyungoo, represents the "sacred force of creative power that connects all life of {{langx |nys|boodja |label=none |italic=unset}} (mother earth)".{{cite web |title=Wirin |url=https://www.mra.wa.gov.au/see-and-do/yagan-square/attractions/wirin |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311105716/https://yagansquare.com.au/ys/see-do/attraction/wirin/ |archive-date=2021-03-11 |publisher=Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority |access-date=2022-02-21 }} "Waterline", a {{convert|190|m|ft|adj=mid|-long}} water feature designed by artist Jon Tarry, flows through the space, and Yagan Square also boasts a small grassed area and wildflower garden.{{cite web|url=https://www.landscapearchitecture.nz/landscape-architecture-aotearoa/2019/2/11/yagan-square-in-perth-gets-set-to-mark-a-milestone|title=Yagan Square in Perth gets set to mark a milestone|publisher=Landscape Architecture NZ|date=12 February 2019|access-date=8 August 2022}}
Taking up most of the eastern half of Yagan Square is a 500-person capacity outdoor amphitheatre shaded by a light-up digital canopy in the shape of the former Lakes Kingsford and Irwin that once existed in the area. The amphitheatre has been host to concerts, live performances, and public exercise classes.
The amphitheatre is flanked to the north and south by two buildings containing food and beverage outlets: the Horseshoe Lane building and the Stories hospitality complex, the latter a reconfiguration of the original Market Hall building that initially opened alongside the rest of the precinct. Although both original buildings had been praised for their architectural design, after opening the larger Market Hall saw a gradual exodus of tenants due to lower than expected visitor numbers caused by the building's indirect pedestrian access and mediocre visibility for the businesses inside, with some branding the Market Hall a "ghost town" and a "white elephant".{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-17/yagan-square-food-hall-struggles-after-just-three-years/13254054|title=Struggling food hall vendors leave Yagan Square 'ghost town' after three years|publisher=ABC News|date=17 March 2021|access-date=8 August 2022}} Acknowledging the failure of the initial configuration of the Market Hall, the state government considered reconfiguring the space for other uses such as a farmer's market,{{cite web|url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/local-news/central/back-to-the-drawing-board-for-troubled-yagan-square-as-last-tenants-move-out-of-market-hall-c-3828499|title=Back to the drawing board for troubled Yagan Square as last tenants move out of market hall|publisher=PerthNow|date=2 September 2021|access-date=8 August 2022}} before announcing in October 2022 that the Market Hall will undergo a {{AUD|8.4{{nbsp}}million}} redevelopment into a five-level hospitality complex consisting of a number of bars and restaurants with a total capacity of over 2500 patrons.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-16/yagan-square-to-be-redeveloped-into-five-level-hospitality-venue/101540896|title=Yagan Square to get multimillion dollar revamp to bring people back to Perth city|publisher=ABC News|date=16 October 2022|access-date=16 October 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/perths-yagan-square-to-undergo-84-million-redevelopment-with-beer-hall-and-retractable-roof--c-8566226|title=Perth’s Yagan Square to undergo $8.4 million redevelopment with beer hall and retractable roof|publisher=PerthNow|date=17 October 2022|access-date=17 October 2022}} The Stories hospitality complex, which gutted the original Market Hall and added an additional two storeys to the existing structure, opened in April 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/lifestyle/food/bar-bites-two-mega-pubs-set-to-shake-up-perths-entertainment-precincts-c-11396995.amp|title=Bar & Bites: Two mega-pubs set to shake up Perth’s entertainment precincts|publisher=PerthNow|date=26 July 2023|access-date=27 July 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/local-news/central/brains-behind-the-old-synagogue-and-the-beaufort-behind-bid-to-bring-yagan-square-to-life--c-13908416|title=Brains behind The Old Synagogue and The Beaufort behind bid to bring Yagan Square to life|publisher=PerthNow|date=13 March 2024|access-date=14 March 2024}}
Prior to its redevelopment the Market Hall also featured a children's playground and water play area on its upper level.{{cite web|url=https://developmentwa.com.au/projects/redevelopment/yagan-square/playscape|title=Yagan Square - Playscapeaccess-date=13 May 2023}} They were replaced by a new children's playground in the Stories complex.
Edith Cowan University's future multi-storey inner city campus, ECU City, will be located to the immediate west of Yagan Square.{{cite report |title=Perth City Deal |author=Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, Australian Government |author-link=Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts |others=Foreword by Scott Morrison, Mark McGowan and Andrew Hammond |date=October 2020 |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |url=https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/sites/default/files/migrated/cities/city-deals/perth/files/perth-city-deal.pdf |isbn=978-1-925843-69-9 |access-date=2024-12-21 |archive-date=2024-11-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241123154210/https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/sites/default/files/migrated/cities/city-deals/perth/files/perth-city-deal.pdf |url-status=live }} Construction of the facility commenced in February 2023, with completion {{update after |2025 |text=expected in late 2025}} for classes {{update after |2026|text=to begin in 2026.}}{{cite web|url=https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2023/02/Joint-media-statements-Groundbreaking-moment-for-landmark-ECU-city-campus.aspx|title=Joint media statement - Groundbreaking moment for landmark ECU city campus|date=23 February 2023|access-date=24 February 2023|archive-date=24 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224071213/https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2023/02/Joint-media-statements-Groundbreaking-moment-for-landmark-ECU-city-campus.aspx|url-status=dead}}
References
{{reflist |30em |refs=
|work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-17/ecu-perth-cbd-campus-gets-158m-funding-boost/100916070 |access-date=2022-03-20 }}
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External links
- [https://developmentwa.com.au/projects/redevelopment/yagan-square/overview Yagan Square] at the DevelopmentWA website
- {{Commons category-inline}}