Point Roe Foreshore

He arrived aboard the Parmelia on 1 June 1829 and was responsible for surveying most of the new colony, including Perth and Fremantle. He also prepared land regulations, undertook expeditions and collected botanical, zoological and mineral specimens.

 

Roe remained Surveyor-General until 1871 and died in Perth on 28 May 1878.

 

Aboriginal history

Point Roe is situated on Whadjuk Noongar Country, along the Swan River, traditionally known as the Derbarl Yerrigan.

 

Before European settlement, the river and its surrounding landscape provided Aboriginal people with food, water and routes between the coastal plain and inland areas. The river's shallow margins, limestone headlands, beaches and surrounding vegetation formed part of this environment.

 

The formation of Point Roe

The limestone cliffs at Point Roe consist primarily of Tamala Limestone, a geological formation associated with the Spearwood Dune System.

 

The limestone developed from ancient coastal sand dunes during the Pleistocene period, when sand, fragments of marine shells and other calcium carbonate material accumulated along the coast. Over time, calcium carbonate cemented the sand and shell fragments together, forming limestone.

 

The Spearwood Dune System is older than the Quindalup dunes found closer to the present coastline. It is characterised by limestone ridges, hills, valleys and areas of exposed rock.

 

The limestone at Point Roe contains differing layers of hardness and resistance to weathering. Some sections are relatively solid, while others are heavily fractured or contain softer material that deteriorates more readily.

 

These differences have contributed to the formation of irregular cliff faces, cavities, overhangs, exposed rock ledges and sections where loose limestone has fallen from the slopes.

 

The headland also forms one of the natural rocky features influencing how sediment moves along the Mosman Park shoreline. Its limestone outcrops interrupt the movement of sand and other material carried by waves and currents.

 

Limestone erosion and cliff instability

The cliffs at Point Roe show considerable evidence of weathering and erosion, including fractured limestone, fallen rocks, exposed roots and sections where material has detached from the slopes.

 

Several natural processes contribute to the deterioration of the limestone. Rainwater enters cracks and joints in the rock, gradually weakening some sections. Water can also dissolve calcium carbonate, particularly where it passes through existing fractures.

 

Wave action and changing water levels can remove loose material near the base of the cliffs, while surface runoff carries soil and sediment down the slopes.

 

Vegetation can both stabilise and contribute to the deterioration of the limestone. Tree roots help hold soil together, reducing erosion on exposed slopes. However, roots growing into existing cracks can expand as the trees mature, placing pressure on fractured sections of rock.

 

Where limestone is already unstable, this pressure can contribute to the displacement of individual rocks or larger sections of the cliff.

 

Historical quarrying, land clearing, industrial activity and modifications to the shoreline have also affected parts of the Mosman Park river cliffs.

 

The original vegetation

Point Roe contains several different vegetation environments within a relatively small area, ranging from plants growing along the water's edge to trees and shrubs occupying the limestone slopes above.

 

The vegetation changes according to soil depth, drainage, salinity, exposure to wind and proximity to the river.

 

Historical vegetation assessments identified a dense stand of swamp sheoak and Rottnest cypress at Point Roe, together with rushes growing along the shoreline. This combination is particularly noteworthy because the two tree species are associated with different growing conditions.

 

Swamp sheoak is suited to saline and seasonally waterlogged environments, while Rottnest cypress is associated with coastal limestone and relatively well-drained soils. Their presence reflects the change from the river's low-lying margins to the higher limestone slopes.

 

Most of the original native vegetation along Mosman Park's river cliffs has been cleared or disturbed since European settlement.

 

Swamp sheoak

Swamp sheoak (Casuarina obesa) was recorded in a dense stand at Point Roe. This native tree grows in environments where soils may become waterlogged or contain elevated salt levels. It is commonly associated with wetlands, estuaries and the margins of rivers and lakes.

 

Swamp sheoak has fine, jointed green branchlets that resemble pine needles, although it is not a pine. Its leaves are reduced to small scales arranged around the branchlets. The trees produce small woody cones containing seeds and can tolerate conditions unsuitable for many other native trees.

 

At Point Roe, swamp sheoak forms part of the vegetation occupying the transition between the river and the surrounding slopes.

 

Rottnest cypress

Rottnest cypress (Callitris preissii), also known as Rottnest Island pine, was recorded growing with swamp sheoak at Point Roe. The species is native to south-western Australia and is associated with coastal limestone, sandy soils and exposed environments.

 

It is a conifer with fine, scale-like foliage and small woody cones. Mature trees can develop irregular trunks and spreading crowns, particularly in exposed coastal locations.

 

Historical descriptions indicate that parts of Mosman Park's limestone cliffs once supported low closed forest dominated by Rottnest cypress. Most of this vegetation was subsequently lost through land clearing, repeated fires and other disturbances.

 

Rushes and shoreline vegetation

The lower slopes and river margins at Point Roe also support vegetation adapted to periodically wet and saline conditions.

 

Historical assessments recorded sea rush (Juncus kraussii) along the Point Roe foreshore, as well as at Mosman Bay and Point Resolution. Sea rush is a perennial plant with long, narrow, cylindrical stems. It commonly grows along estuaries, saltmarshes and coastal wetlands where the soil is exposed to saltwater or occasional inundation.

 

Its dense root system helps bind sediment and reduce the movement of loose material along the shoreline. The vegetation also provides shelter for small animals and habitat around the margins of the estuary.

 

Knotted club-rush (Ficinia nodosa), formerly known as Isolepis nodosa, was another species recorded in the shoreline vegetation. This plant forms dense clumps of narrow, upright stems with rounded flower heads near their tips. It grows in coastal and estuarine environments, including sandy ground, rocky slopes and areas exposed to salt-laden winds.

 

Like sea rush, its roots help retain soil and sediment, particularly where the shoreline is exposed to runoff and occasional wave action.

 

Rush vegetation also helps trap sediment and organic material, creating sheltered conditions around the water's edge.

 

Western Australian peppermint and other native plants

Scattered Western Australian peppermint trees (Agonis flexuosa) were recorded at Point Roe, growing among introduced trees. The peppermint is a native coastal tree with long, narrow leaves, drooping branches and small white flowers. It is common in parts of south-western Australia, particularly near the coast.

 

Its tolerance of sandy soils, coastal winds and relatively dry conditions allows it to grow on exposed slopes and in areas where the soil is shallow.

 

Other native plants recorded in the surrounding Mosman Park limestone vegetation include cockies tongues (Templetonia retusa), chenille honeymyrtle (Melaleuca huegelii), white-stemmed wattle (Acacia xanthina), basket bush (Spyridium globulosum), coastal wattle (Acacia rostellifera), Melaleuca systena, prickly moses or parrot bush (Banksia sessilis) and the grass tree (Xanthorrhoea preissii).

​

Environmental importance and habitat connectivity

Point Roe forms part of a series of native vegetation remnants along the northern side of the lower Swan River.

 

The Town of Mosman Park contains several areas of remnant bushland, including Minim Cove Park and Chidley Point Reserve. Many of these areas are connected by relatively narrow strips of vegetation following the river. These connections allow some native animals to move between otherwise separated areas of habitat. They also assist with the movement of seeds and pollen between plant populations.

 

The different growing conditions at Point Roe provide several habitat types close together.

 

The shoreline contains salt-tolerant rushes and vegetation associated with periodically wet ground. Further uphill, the limestone slopes support plants adapted to shallow soils, stronger winds and drier conditions.

 

The surrounding trees and shrubs provide shelter and potential feeding habitat for birds, insects and other wildlife, while the shallow waters and rocky shoreline form part of the Swan River's estuarine environment.

 

The limestone itself also creates different growing conditions. Plants occupying cracks and ledges may have access to small pockets of accumulated soil and moisture, while exposed sections of rock provide little opportunity for vegetation to establish.

 

The vegetation is also important for maintaining the condition of the slopes. Roots help retain soil, while groundcover and low shrubs reduce the amount of sediment carried downhill during rainfall.

 

Loss of vegetation can leave the surface exposed to erosion, particularly where runoff becomes concentrated along paths or disturbed sections of the hillside.

 

The Colonial Sugar Refining Company

The northern end of the Point Roe foreshore formed part of the land used by the Colonial Sugar Refining Company (CSR), whose refinery was situated on the higher ground above the river near McCabe Street.

 

Construction of the refinery began in October 1928 and took approximately two years, with operations commencing in 1930. The construction period coincided with the beginning of the Great Depression, although work had commenced before the financial crash of October 1929.

 

The refinery became one of Mosman Park's major industrial establishments and operated for approximately 67 years before closing in September 1997. The industrial buildings were subsequently demolished, leaving the former refinery site available for redevelopment.

 

Adjoining the refinery property was Billy Goat Farm, described in earlier historical accounts as one of Western Australia's oldest farms.

 

The CSR pump house and wastewater outlet

The refinery used water drawn from the Swan River as part of its industrial operations. A pump house was constructed near the northern end of the Point Roe foreshore, below the refinery buildings. Water was pumped uphill through a system of pipes and used for cooling and other industrial purposes.

 

Approximately 100 metres south of the pump house was a wastewater outlet pipe that discharged water from the refinery into the river. The former pump house site included concrete structures, limestone retaining works and associated pipe infrastructure.

 

The Heritage Council of Western Australia separately recorded the pump house as a heritage place associated with the former refinery. The refinery closed in September 1997 and the pump house was also recorded as demolished in 1997.

 

The Point Roe box barges

Two submerged timber barges, known as Point Roe Box Barge 1 and Point Roe Box Barge 2, are located in the Swan River near the headland. The Western Australian Museum records both wrecks in its maritime archaeology database.

 

Each barge measures approximately 12.2 metres long and 6.1 metres wide. They lie in approximately 1.5 metres of water and are separated by a distance of around 40 metres. The barges were constructed from timber and have been located and inspected by maritime archaeologists.

 

Some secondary records suggest that they sank during 1942 or 1943, although the Western Australian Museum lists their dates of loss as unknown.

 

Point Roe Park and recreation

Point Roe Park provides public access to the Swan River foreshore and is used for walking, cycling, birdwatching and other recreational activities.

 

A shared pedestrian and cycling path connects Point Roe with Minim Cove Reserve, allowing visitors to travel along sections of the limestone shoreline. The reserve also contains a birdwatching hut overlooking the river.

 

Point Roe forms part of the Town of Mosman Park's recreational and heritage trail network, including the approximately 10.5-kilometre Mosman Park Heritage Trail.

 

Environmental restoration and erosion control

Point Roe has been the subject of several environmental restoration projects intended to address erosion, stabilise disturbed slopes and re-establish native vegetation. The works have been undertaken by the Town of Mosman Park, with funding assistance through the Western Australian Government's Riverbank Program.

 

The Point Roe Park Environmental Management Plan 2019-2029 provides a framework for managing the reserve's vegetation, environmental condition, recreational use and other issues affecting the locality.

 

In 2024, the Town announced funding for restoration works on the southern slope near the boardwalk. The project included erosion control measures, the installation of coir matting and plans to establish approximately 1,500 native tubestock plants.

 

Coir matting is a biodegradable material manufactured from coconut fibres. It is laid over exposed soil to reduce the movement of sediment during rainfall and provide temporary protection while new vegetation establishes. As the plants develop, their roots help retain the soil, gradually reducing the need for the matting.

 

In 2025, additional funding was announced for further rehabilitation of the Point Roe embankment. The proposed works included slope stabilisation, improvements to connections between areas of native vegetation and the planting of approximately 400 local native tubestock.

 

Further restoration was undertaken in May 2026, when more than 2,600 native tubestock plants were established on the riverward slope near the western end of the boardwalk. The Town confirmed the plantings in June 2026, together with additional erosion control works.

 

Native tubestock consists of young plants grown in small containers before being planted directly into the ground. The method is commonly used in revegetation projects because the plants can be established in large numbers and are generally easier to transport and plant than mature specimens.

 

The restoration works aim to establish vegetation on exposed slopes, reduce the loss of soil and improve the condition of the native habitat.

 

In October 2026, temporary closures were also scheduled along sections of the boardwalk and foreshore path adjoining Colonial Gardens and Downey Drive to allow fencing works to take place. The continued rehabilitation of Point Roe reflects the ongoing problems associated with erosion, disturbed ground and the loss of native vegetation along the limestone foreshore.