Wireless Hill has a little bit of everything and really shines in Spring when the wildflowers are out. The surrounding bush is home to many varieties of wildflowers, including orchids which flower between July and November, so it is the perfect place to go on a wildflower hunt.
Wireless Hill Museum
Perth Wireless Station, established in 1912, was one of Australia’s first links with radio technology and was used for telecommunications during World War One and World War Two. Today this history is reflected in the Wireless Hill Museum.
For thousands of years before that Yagan Mia (Wireless Hill) was used as a lookout and a place to send smoke signals, by the indigenous people. This Noongar heritage is reflected in the walk trails and interpretive signage throughout the reserve.
War Memorial
The War Memorial commemorates those who served in Australia’s defence forces. This unique memorial features nine double-sided steel vertical blades within a circular formation. One side displays a panoramic photograph and when viewed from a distance the individual blades come together to form a single scene. The other side features laser cut, life-size silhouettes formed by a pattern of words with each silhouette representing an arm of the armed forces or a theatre of war or service.
Nature Playground
The shaded nature playground features links to the telecommunication heritage of the park with suggested communications etched into the timber posts. There are also panels with aboriginal language alongside picture cues for sign language welcoming children to play. There are picnic facilities and barbecues as well as toilets.
The park has plenty of large grassy spaces for games or picnics and has flat paths looping through on which younger kids can ride their bikes. The towers that supported the communication equipment are still there and you can climb up one for stunning views across Melville Water to Perth.
There are three named walk trails that wind through the reserve and a number of other paved and dirt trails. Dogs are permitted but must be on lead.
The Wildflower Walk
This flat paved 1.3km loop is universally accessible and has a stunning variety of wildflowers (see pictures above) in spring with signage along the way with pictures and descriptions of the wildflowers so you know what you are looking at or for. The trail is marked with yellow flower markers in the pavement along the way.
Yagan's Genunny Walk
This starts from the same place as the Wildflower walk but loops 1.1km around the hill in the opposite direction. While there are still plenty of wildflowers along this trail, in season, they are not as abundant as on the Wildflower Walk. The trail marker for this is an orange monitor lizard and you will find signage along the way describing how the Noongar people used this reserve as a lookout (genunny) and for food, medicine and ceremony.
The Station Walk
This walk starts from the Wireless Station at the top of the hill and heads towards the Swan River. It follows the Old Access Road down the hill to the Hickey St Cottages and then on down to the site of Old German Jetty in Tompkins Reserve on the river. The road is wide and sealed but remember for every downhill you must also climb back up hill! You can return back along the road or you can divert up some unnamed dirt trails which take you back up the hill to intersect with Yagan's Genunny Trail.
Parking is available in the small car park or there are bays on the edge of the road that loops around the top of the hill.
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In the spirit of reconciliation Out and About- Family Nature Connection acknowledges the traditional owners of the Wadjak boodjar (Perth land) and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
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