By Emma Young
A stretch of cracked concrete in the southern Perth suburb of Hamilton Hill has been transformed into a people magnet, thanks to a crack team of helpers harnessed by a local sustainability guru.
Chris Ferreira, Murdoch University sustainability lecturer and author of hobby-farm manual A Place in the Country, is known for his Hamilton Hill home, which opens to thousands annually for eco workshops and tours, and is now the site of the Four Families, Four Homes, 40 trees pilot subdivision project.
Ripe for renewal: the urban heat sink that was outside Pear Tree cafe in Hamilton Hill. Credit: Chris Ferreira
Mr Ferreira also runs the Forever Project, which creates pop-up forests and permanent pocket parks to demonstrate how dead zones can become shaded, waterwise, waste-wise gathering spaces.
“We pick an austere, hot degraded urban space, a high-profile eyesore,” Mr Ferreira said.
“We use advanced smaller trees and shrubs for instant greenery, and a suite of recycled products, from rubble to recycled metal framing, metal sculptures and crushed bricks and tiles for paths and mulches and to make interesting features.”
He’s tackled Bassendean shopping centre, Melville’s open day and Coogee Live, is about to launch a park at Clancy’s City Beach, and talks are under way for the Clancy’s pubs at Canning Bridge, Fremantle and Dunsborough.
But closest to home is a small wasteland that used to lie between the public and the owners of Pear Tree cafe, who took the ultimate gamble when they bought a boarded-up old shopfront with smashed windows overlooking this odd patch of roadside concrete.
“We used to look at it longingly and think, wouldn’t it be nice if there was a lovely cafe there.” Mr Ferreira said.
“When the cafe came we obviously became instant fans and patrons.”
But he couldn’t keep his eyes off the 150 square metres of pavement out the front with three wizened-looking jacarandas standing like bored bouncers at a poorly attended club.
Site works under way. Credit: Chris Ferreira
The Forever Project approached the cafe’s owners, then the City of Cockburn, which provided funding.
They have now created a permanent space with a recycled pole roof that will eventually have vines trained across it and landscaped in about 50 plants, five young trees and metal artworks.
They are now meeting with the City on adding more seating and lighting so the park can function as a small event and music space.
A weatherproof TV screen and other signage will be set up to provide information highlighting the key features of the space, measures taken to improve soil, use recycled materials and create waterwise landscaping, and how greening spaces can reduce the urban heat island effect.
“We call it nudging,” Mr Ferreira said.
“If people are sitting having a cappuccino and we say, by the way, this is an important example of how trees can cool a landscape, it helps break down the polarisation that can occur around environment and climate change.”
Waterwise landscaping, including trees that will one day shade the space. Credit: Chris Ferreira
Mr Ferreira said once a community took ownership of a space, it became an asset very quickly.
“From what was a boarded up corner store, the Pear Tree’s owners showed the courage to actually invest in that area,” he said.
“The greatest security a suburb can have is not a new police station, but well populated and loved community spaces.”
- Pear Tree Pop Up Forest launches Saturday, September 21, from 4pm at 1 Kerry Street Hamilton Hill, with an introduction to the space followed by an evening of local music, food and drink.
- Chris Ferreira’s 2019 Hami Hill Sustainable Home Open is also coming up on Sunday, September 15, with hourly tours, prizes and a full day of home sustainability workshops on topics such as home energy efficiency, infill planning, soil improvement and eco gadgets. Tip: arrive early, because these workshops and tours get packed.
As plants grow, the space will become a green oasis. Credit: Chris Ferreira