Step back in time in Samson

Established in 1971, Samson is one of Fremantle’s newest suburbs but the area is steeped in history.

The suburb was named after a prominent businessman and former Fremantle mayor Sir William Frederick Samson, who served for 21 years from 1951 to 1972.

Prior to the suburb’s development, the area was used by the army as a training and administrative camp during WWII.

The Melville Australian Army Camp operated from 1939 on the area now known as Sir Frederick Samson Reserve.

Initially there were tents and some buildings, with barrack huts later built amongst the cover of trees.

From 1955 the Melville Military Camp Hall was used to screen movies, before being demolished to make way for the new suburb.

The Hospital at the Melville Army Camp in 1944. Image courtesy of the Fremantle History Centre.

Today the area’s history is honoured on a plaque at Sir Frederick Samson Reserve.

The reserve is Fremantle’s only bush forever site and stretches over 14 hectares.

Walking tracks weave their way through Sir Frederick Samson Reserve with tall tuarts, jarrah, marri trees and native shrubs making it a great place to relax. 

The calls of magpies and kookaburras are a familiar sound, with the park home to more than 30 species of birds.

In spring, the arrival of the wildflower season sees the park blanketed in yellow and purple, with an annual bushwalk to mark the occasion.

Wildflowers at Sir Frederick Samson Reserve in spring. 

Although Samson is home to Fremantle’s only bush forever site, the suburb itself has a considerably low number of trees outside of Sir Frederick Samson Reserve.

In fact, Samson has one of the lowest canopy coverages in Fremantle and on average is two degrees hotter than nearby suburbs according to thermal mapping.

City of Fremantle Parks and Landscapes Manager Ryan Abbott said the City had been working to increase the canopy coverage across Fremantle, with a particular focus on Samson.

“In the 2017–18 financial year, the suburb of Samson had the highest tree planting numbers thanks to the City’s targeted Greening Samson project, which saw 212 trees planted,” Ryan said. 

A particular focus was given to native species, with red flowering gums, bottlebrushes and tuart trees chosen to best suit the local conditions and surroundings. 

Yellow wildflowers at Sir Frederick Samson Reserve in spring.