In the late 1880s Perth Water extended further north than its current boundary, and the river covered part of the area now occupied by the Supreme Court Gardens. What land there was south of the original court house and the Supreme Court building of the time was occupied by the police stables and Waterside Police Station.[1][2] The police buildings were demolished in 1902 when a new Supreme Court building was constructed, and part of the river was reclaimed.[3]
The gardens have had extensive trees, shrubbery and fencing, various small structures at different stages in the grounds in the past.[4]
The gardens have at times been very poorly lit, and had many darkened areas due to the vegetation - this culminated in concerns in 1985 over safety due to inadequate lighting.[5] By the 2000s large amounts of low shrubs and fences had been removed and better lighting introduced.
Austen, Tom; St. George Books (1988), The streets of old Perth, Saint George Books, ISBN978-0-86778-038-3
Richards, Oline (1982), "A fairer Athens and a freer Rome: historic public gardens in Perth, WA", Heritage (Australian Heritage Society), 1 (1): 66–69, ISSN0155-2716
