Perth Voice Interactive

Heritage buff Richard Offen is optimistic WA won’t repeat the disasters of the 1960s and 1980s when the state governments of the day oversaw the demolition of many of Perth’s historic buildings.

As part of this weekend’s Perth Heritage Days, Mr Offen is presenting a talk titled “Don’t let it happen again,” reflecting on the “destruction and vandalism” wrought on our city.

While an occasional old-timey building does still get flattened, Mr Offen is confident it won’t happen again on the same widespread scale.

“I think people have learnt,” Mr Offen says.

“You hear a lot more protesting now when somebody threatens to knock down a much-beloved building.

Perth’s history is one to celebrate

“With organisations like Heritage Perth and Time Team and popular heritage programs we’re getting on television, people are realising what we’ve lost and they don’t want it to happen again.

“I think it bodes very well for the future that people are becoming aware of their past.”

Mr Offen says Perth’s history is one to celebrate as we’re one of the most historic permanently inhabited places on Earth.

“I argue we’re older than any city in the world, given the indigenous artifacts that have been found,” he says.

“The Nyoongar people have continually inhabited this area because it was good for fishing, good for food, so I reckon we’re the oldest city in the world and that’s something to celebrate.”

Along with his talks on our old buildings, this year’s Heritage Days will delve into historic gardening with events on colonial kitchens and heritage vegetable workshops at City Farm, explaining how to grow the older varieties of vegetables like purple carrots (their original colour).

To see all events across November 16 and 17 head to http://www.heritageperth.com.au/calendar/.

by DAVID BELL