Freo's own Jacob's Ladder

by Zel Cowie

April 10, 2008

FREO power walkers are fast transforming the 68 stairs of a local incline into a portside version of Perth’s Jacob’s Ladder.

“Men, women and children use  them,” says Boyd [surname witheld], who lives in Moran Court, Beaconsfield. “ They run up them, walk up them and sometimes crawl up them.”

The stairs were originally built to link the recently-completed Salentina Ridge subdivision with the top of Beacy Ridge.

Like Jacob’s Ladder, that has long linked Perth’s Mounts Bay Road to King’s Park, the newer stairway is  proving an interesting exercise option and a great meeting place.

Luigi Diptrieto says he’s incorporated the stairs into his morning walk. He enjoys the exercise, the views, and catching up with neighbours.

 “They’re lovely actually,” says Jo Fowler, who loves seeing locals walk up, and sit on a new artistic bench installation atop the hill.

Plumber Brett Leslie, who’s working on a Salentina Ridge home, says the steps are particularly busy in the morning.

“This morning, around 6.30am, there were two pregnant women going up and down, up and down, for about an hour!” Brett relayed.

Beaconsfield ward councillor Shirley MacKay says she’s “delighted” to hear local residents are enjoying the stairs, considering the incline was once the side of an old quarry-cum-rubbish tip.