White City, also known as Cooee City[1] or Ugly Land,[2] was an amusement park that existed on the Perth foreshore in Perth, Western Australia between World War I and 1929.[3]

Location

It was originally located where the current Supreme Court Gardens are located, but in 1922 was moved into the space now occupied by the Elizabeth Quay bus and train stations.[4] It was often referred to being located at the foot of William Street.[5]

Uglieland

The name Ugly Land (also seen as Uglieland) was used in the era between the World War I and the Centenary of Western Australia in 1929 due to the Ugly Men's Association being involved with management of various events at the park in its history. It also was considered as a significant entertainment venue for poorer sections of the community.[6] The Ugly Men's Association lost an income generator when White City was closed.[7]

Many different facilities were provided at different stages in the park, including the more unusual events - such as goat racing events.[8]

Controversy

In the 1920s the amusement park caused moral panic due to the allegations of gambling[9] and other activities deemed unsuitable.[10][4]

There had been calls for it to be closed long before its eventual closure.[11]

It was closed in 1929 after pressure from various groups for it to be removed before the Western Australian centenary celebrations in Perth.[12]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Gambling at Cooee City". Western Argus (Kalgoorlie, WA : 1916 - 1938). Kalgoorlie, WA: National Library of Australia. 30 November 1926. p. 26. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  2. ^ Not to be confused with the contemporary Uglieland in Fremantle (1922-1936) - see page 63 - Tout-Smith, Deborah; Delroy, Ann; Bradshaw, Wendy; Western Australian Museum (1998), The foundations of Fremantle : exploring the early history of Western Australia's port city, Western Australian Museum, ISBN 978-0-7307-3811-4
  3. ^ Swan River Stories: White City
  4. ^ a b Emma Wynne (16 February 2016), White City: Remembering the dangerous charms of Perth's first riverside amusement park, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, retrieved 16 February 2016
  5. ^ Joll, Ted (1967), White City - Land of 'Just for fun', retrieved 1 November 2012
  6. ^ Davis, Annette (June 1990), "Good times for all?: popular entertainment and class consciousness in Western Australian Society during the interwar years. [Paper in special issue: Gregory, Jenny (ed.). Western Australia Between the Wars, 1919-1939]", Studies in Western Australian History (11): 68–79, ISSN 0314-7525
  7. ^ "CLOSING OF WHITE CITY". The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954). Perth, WA: National Library of Australia. 2 August 1929. p. 18. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  8. ^ "Cooee City Carnival". Western Argus (Kalgoorlie, WA : 1916 - 1938). Kalgoorlie, WA: National Library of Australia. 20 February 1923. p. 4. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  9. ^ "White City, Perth". Western Argus (Kalgoorlie, WA : 1916 - 1938). Kalgoorlie, WA: National Library of Australia. 23 February 1926. p. 8. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  10. ^ "WHITE CITY". The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954). Perth, WA: National Library of Australia. 29 November 1927. p. 14. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  11. ^ "ATTEMPT TO CLOSE WHITE CITY". Western Argus (Kalgoorlie, WA : 1916 - 1938). Kalgoorlie, WA: National Library of Australia. 19 March 1929. p. 27. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  12. ^ "Closure of White City". Western Argus (Kalgoorlie, WA : 1916 - 1938). Kalgoorlie, WA: National Library of Australia. 13 August 1929. p. 5. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
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