Misplaced Identities: Cultural and Environmental Sources of Heritage for the 'Settler Society' along the Swan River, Perth, Australia

On the far southwestern coast of Australia, efforts aimed at enhancing the aestheticappeal of Perth’s most notable topographic feature, the Swan River, have coincided withgrowing unease over its vulnerability at a time of extensive development. It is in view ofthe multiple demands made upon the watercourse that this article looks at the Swan andclaims for its cultural and environmental heritage. It considers how values arising fromone or the other understanding of the uniqueness of a riverine system are played out intwo architectural and landscape projects recently completed along the Swan as theyprompt reflection on the theme of rivers and regional and national identities.