Milligan Street, Perth

Milligan Street Western Australia
General information
Type	Street
Major junctions
Southern section
South end	St Georges Terrace
	Hay Street Murray Street
North end	Wellington Street
Spur section
South-west end	Milligan Street (southern section)
North-east end	Wellington Street
Northern section
South end	Roe Street
North end	James Street
Location(s)
Suburb(s)	Perth, Northbridge

File:Milligan Street Sign.jpg

Street sign - Milligan Street

Milligan Street runs between St Georges Terrace and Wellington Street in Perth, Western Australia. A small side-street of the same name branches off Milligan Street (on the east side) between Murray and Wellington Streets, and forms a second intersection with Wellington Street. Not connected to either of these – although once part of the same thoroughfare – Milligan Street also runs from Roe Street to Russell Square.

History

Milligan Street appears in maps of Perth from as early as 1838, running from what is now Spring Street to Murray Street. It was named after Dr William Lane Milligan, the original owner of the land on the southern end of Milligan Street, south of St Georges Terrace.

In 1863 the section of Milligan Street south of St Georges Terrace was rezoned and transferred to Matthew Hale, the Anglican Bishop of Perth. By 1894 Milligan Street extended north to Wellington Street.

Melbourne Street

The section of Milligan Street north of Roe Street and the small side-street between Murray and Wellington Streets were originally part of a separate (although intersecting) thoroughfare named Melbourne Street (after William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne). Early maps of Perth show Melbourne Street running north-east from the corner of Milligan and Murray Streets, past Wellington and Roe Streets. In 1838 Melbourne Street continued past James Street, but by 1845 Russell Square has been constructed and Melbourne Street terminated at James Street.

In 1923 Melbourne Road was officially renamed to Milligan Street and the two were considered a single road, when the Perth City Council adopted a committee recommendation:

That the name of Melbourne-road be altered to Milligan-street, and that the present Milligan-street and the present Melbourne-road be then regarded as one thoroughfare.

However the name Melbourne Road continued to be used at least until the 1940s.

Separation

The northern section of Milligan Street (previously Melbourne Street) was originally continuous between Murray and James Streets but it was closed between Wellington and Roe Streets in 1911. The road was removed in 1974, when the Perth Entertainment Centre was built.

Future plans

The Perth City Link project includes a plan to reconnect the northern section of Milligan street to Wellington Street with a pedestrian "land bridge" – to be known as the Bridge Plaza – over the railway line. It is expected to be completed by 2015.