Russell Square

Perth is one of the few cities in the world that has been able to cleverly mix retail and commerce with gorgeous greenery. Just trek through the business area of East Perth, just outside of the city CBD to see how many spots of lush parkland there are.
In Northbridge, too, there are some lovely expanses of green and one of the most popular is Russell Square. I’ve come here on several occasions, for picnics with family when I was younger, to Gay Pride fair days in more recent years.
Named after an ex-​Aussie Prime Minister, Lord John Russell (1846 – 1952), it became the favoured meeting place for Italian immigrants in the middle of the 1900s. Back then, they called it ‘Parco dei Sospire’, literally translated to ‘The Park of the Sighs’. And I’m guessing because it got Italian men out of the house and away from family pressures, giving them a chance to contemplate their naval (after enjoying a few vinos at The Victoria Hotel that once stood opposite the road).
It was mid-​1994 that Russell Square got an upgrade, with gateways installed as well as more seating and water features. I still like to relax here with a good book from time to time.

Russell Square is a long-​standing park in the heart of Northbridge. It has had a varied history, from being a garden modeled on 19^th-​century English gardens to being a prominent meeting place for the Italian community, and, in more modern times, a notorious place for prostitutes. Since a redesign which involved the installation of several floodlights, as well as sculptures and a water feature, Russell Square no longer has a seedy element.
The square features well-​manicured grass and with large, grand trees offering shade during the day. There is a gazebo in the centre of the park and arches on both ends, lending Russell Square a gentle elegance. During the day, it is a good place for a picnic and a kick of the footy, and the sculptures are beautiful. At nighttime, the floodlights ensure that there are no dark corners for unsavoury types to lurk.
Russell Square is great if you are looking for a picnic spot close to public transport.