MATILDA BAY


One of the Boorloo walking tours that Susan and I took was along Matilda Bay, the area of the Swan River near the University of Western Australia. It's a site full of iconic images such as the blue boat shed and Eliza, the diving girl, but it's been ruined in my mind by the Forrest Hall Precinct including the Wonil Hotel, which blocks views of the river as you drive past the University. I can't believe that the alumni of St George's College didn't object to their loss of water view although money (in this case, a donation from Twiggy Forrest's Foundation) quietens all voices. 

Still, that loss of view would have been nothing compared to the loss for the indigenous people to what must have been a place of importance in terms of food and comfort.



Still, walking by the river with its expansive grassy banks, past the rowing and dinghy clubs, with views of black swans and even (although not on our day) dolphins drifting past, is glorious. I don't know why I didn't spend more time there when I was at UWA. 





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