Harmony Day is celebrated in late March each year around Australia. It’s a day when all Australians celebrate our cultural diversity and there are few places where this diversity is more evident than in Northbridge.

Northbridge’s history has been formed and defined by more world cultures than pretty much anywhere else in Western Australia; a rich ethnic diversity that has helped to shape its character and development.

Originally known either as ‘Little Italy’, or simply ‘North of the Line’, the precinct was renamed ‘Northbridge’ following a media competition in 1979.

The area’s landscape was originally a series of interconnected swamps and lakes, which were drained during the 1860s. Originally the site of market gardens, Northbridge went on to become a flourishing trade and light-manufacturing centre for Perth during the first gold rush of the 1890s.

Chinese immigrants played a large part of the establishment of market gardens. In the Perth metropolitan area, Chinese worked in groups of between two to ten men although the number required to work the garden in a busy season was an average of six men for a six acre block. Gardens were usually leased by a partnership of two or three men who worked the plot year round. During the growing or busy season the summer months in Perth and the winter months in country areas, extra labour was employed. Seasonal labour was supplied from a pool of Chinese who alternated between working in metropolitan and country gardens.

Ah Sam & Co, a Chinese fresh produce business would often send supplies to regional towns as well as supplying most of Perth’s major hotels and many visiting ships. Quan Ah Shem founder of the business, which is still carried on today, was also a founding member of the Chung Wah Association.

The Chung Wah Hall was built in 1911 as a “suitable place of resort for Gentlemen of the Chinese nationality residing in Western Australia …” This very fine hall with its splendid decorative pressed tin ceiling was, and remains, a centre for the Chinese community in Perth reminding us of their long association with Northbridge.

For much of the 19th century, Northbridge was very significant in the evolution of Perth Jewry. The influx of migrants to Western Australia in the 1890s, and in the decades which followed, included Jews in sufficient numbers to generate and sustain the institutions of religious and communal life.

Perth Jewry’s principal institution in its early days was the Perth Hebrew Congregation. Assisted by a government grant of land in Brisbane Street, the Congregation built a Synagogue in 1897. The building was extended three times to accommodate its growing membership and became a prominent landmark in Northbridge for 77 years. A second, smaller Synagogue was built in Palmerston Street in 1918.

European immigrants provide another strong cultural influence in Northbridge. St. Constantine and St. Helene’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral was built in 1936-37 during a period of considerable building activity in the economic recovery that followed the Great Depression. Designed by architectural firm, Oldham, Boas and Ednie-Brown, this important landmark on the edge of Russell Square has been the major place of worship and fellowship for Perth’s Greek community since its construction.

St. Constantine and St. Helene’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral

A very well known shop in Northbridge is Kakulas Brothers, where the people of Perth have been buying their provisions since the 1930s. Evangelos Kakulas purchased the Teeny Thomas Ginger Beer Company and commenced to operate on August 29, 1929 at the site where Kakulas Bros continues to thrive today.

The business was very profitable in its first year with plenty of ginger beer being sold during summer. Unfortunately the sales dropped off during winter so the decision was made to supplement the ginger beer trade with the sale of eggs, fruit and fine cut loose tobacco.

The Depression proved a struggle for the brothers, who decided to try importing products. By the early 1930′s new lines were arriving from Greece to cater for the needs of the few Europeans in Perth. In 1934, drums of olives and olive oil, and bags of beans, lentils and chick peas were imported. Greek newspapers and storybooks were also imported and the shop became a meeting place for most Greek immigrants living in Perth. The store also acted as a benevolent station; the brothers housing their needy compatriots who were having trouble getting a start in the new country. This service extended to include Italians, Polish, Russians and Romanians.

From the early 1950s, the Italian community in Northbridge has introduced many popular foods and goods, setting influential styles that still exist and flourish today. From the first coffee machines and gelato to setting the pace in fashion, Italians have greatly influenced the way West Australians eat, drink, play and travel.

The Italian Club (Casa d’ Italia) was founded in 1934 and immediately became an important and popular meeting place for Italians, with dances, picnics and other social events. At the outbreak of the Second World War, the Casa d’Italia remained closed and its future remained uncertain. With the cessation of international hostilities the Casa d’Italia promptly resumed its activities in 1946 and in 1947 its registered name was altered as “WA Italian Club Incorporated”. Today, the Italians in Northbridge uphold their values of community life and family connections through their love of good food and the manner in which they conduct business.

Harmony Day reminds us to celebrate our multicultural heritage and the wonderful treasures that multiculturalism has brought to WA as exemplified in Northbridge.

Harmony Day began in 1999 and since then, a wide variety of groups including sports organisations, community groups, local, state and federal government agencies, schools and businesses have staged more than 25 000 Harmony Day events. If you want to know more about Harmony Day visit www.omi.wa.gov.au

Tower House, Parker Street

Curtin Radio and Jenny Seaton have both been a part of Perth media for over 30 years.

Jenny started her career as a Channel 9 weather presenter whilst Curtin Radio started as WA’s first public broadcaster.

In the 70’s, the Minister for Media Moss Cass visited the US and ‘discovered’ community radio. He returned to Perth and decided to issue five special community radio licenses. Motivated by School of Journalist staff member and journalist Duncan Graham, Western Australian Institute of Technology (WAIT), now Curtin University of Technology applied for a license. Thus Curtin Radio, then known as 6NR (6 New Radio) started broadcasting. Duncan became their first station manager.

The station held a special licence, and was responsible for providing training and access time to 37 ethnic radio programs; 25 religious broadcasters; Aboriginal Radio broadcasters and trainees; and Radio for the Print Handicapped. The stations programming was almost entirely produced and presented by volunteers.

Over time, 6NR gave birth to four major community stations, now broadcasting to the Perth metropolitan area: WAAMA; Sonshine Radio; Radio for the Print Handicapped; and EBAA.

The station was the first in WA to broadcast European soccer matches and supported country music. It was also the first radio station in Australia to officially provide training for Aboriginal cadets, receiving grant funding for the purpose from then Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser. The station went on to win numerous awards.

Today Curtin FM 100.1′s newsroom still provides formal ‘on the job’ training for journalism students with Curtin’s School of Media and Information Studies, under the direction of news editor Les Welsh. Les is a graduate of the famous Lee Murray School of Radio Announcing in Melbourne, and has been in Radio for 40 years as a broadcaster and journalist. Over the years, many students have found jobs in the broadcasting industry due to the unique opportunity offered them through this training scheme.

Jenny Seaton joined Curtin FM 100.1 in 2009. Logie Award winner for Most Popular Personality 1971, 1976 and 1979, Jenny has hosted a wide variety of morning, children’s and magazine styled programs including Postcards WA with Channel Nine, The Today Show, Good Morning Perth and Jenny Seaton Live, all with Channel Seven.

A WA girl, Jenny recalls childhood memories of London Court and its English history, Perth Town Hall, and the Barracks Archway as beautiful locations. Jenny believes “The history of our beautiful city is an important window to our future as it reflects our past. In contrast to other parts of the world, that are rich in history, the value of the preservation of early WA history is imperative. The beauty of our iconic landmarks is indicative of what we are today.”

Jenny interviews a wide variety of guests and touches on numerous subjects including heritage. On the first Thursday of every month, Richard Offen, Executive Director of Heritage Perth is a guest on Jenny Seaton’s Afternoon program which can be heard from noon to 3.00pm, Monday to Friday.

For more information about Curtin fm 100.1, visit www.curtinfm.com.au

The City of Perth Heritage Awards was established to recognise the efforts made by individuals and groups in conservation, promotion and enhancement of the city’s heritage. It further aims to promote a positive image of heritage and to recognise excellence in building design and conservation. The bi-annual Awards are based on one major cash prize of $10,000 with minor awards in the form of certificates.

For full details, including submission and judging criteria visit www.cityofperth.wa.gov.au and follow the links in the ‘Business’ section to download the Heritage Award brochure.

Entries for the 2012 Awards are now open and close 20 April 2012