One of Perth's first formal parks, Russell Square, has endured the ups and downs of Northbridge's fortunes.

Russell Square, in the north-west corner of Perth city, was one of the first areas in the city set aside as a park, Richard Offen from Heritage Perth told 720 ABC Perth.

"The history of this square goes back to 1873 when it was officially named Russell Square after Lord John Russell who was the UK prime minister from 1846 to 1852," Mr Offen said.

"In those days Russell Square was at the very [outer] limit of Perth.

"Hyde Park was still swamp and bogs out there and at that stage the city pretty much ended at Brisbane Street."

Despite the land being set aside, not much was done to turn the space into a park until 1885, when the state government handed the land over to the Perth council, which resolved to clear it and plant a few trees.

"There wasn't much here apart from sand," Mr Offen said.

"After clearing, the ground seems to have been used quite regularly for football matches — soccer rather than Australian Rules."

Russell Square in 1914. The fountain had been put in place and the trees were still small. ( Supplied: State Library of Western Australia )

London park style laid out

In 1896 the City of Perth's head gardener John Braithwaite described Russell Square as "a wilderness of sand with a few old bluegums stood forlornly".

Braithwaite served as the head gardener for 40 years and also designed Hyde Park and Queens Gardens.

The present design of Russell Square, based on the fenced squares in London, was created in 1899.

The London park style benches in Russell Square. ( 720 ABC Perth: Emma Wynne )

The design included the centrepiece fountain and the planting of the Moreton Bay figs, jacarandas and Norfolk Island pines.

In the period after World War I, Italian and Greek migrants began to move into the area around Russell Square.

Delivery van belonging to Giuseppe Re and Sons, outside Russell Square. The Re store is a well-known Italian grocery that continues in Northbridge today. ( Supplied: State Library of Western Australia )

"The area around here was actually known as Little Italy because there were many of the Italian community living here," Mr Offen said.

"It's now Northbridge, but it wasn't named that until the late 1970s."

Lovers create 'park of sighs'

"Early on in its history it became known 'parco dei sospire', which means the 'park of sighs', because it was where all the courting couples came," Mr Offen said.

For the next 70 years, the park continued through the changing fortunes of the area, which by the 1990s was in serious decline.

Russell Square rotunda in April 1994, shortly after renovations to the park. ( Supplied: State Library of Western Australia )

Russell Square developed a reputation as a no-go zone for the public, particularly at night.

"In 1994 Russell Square was upgraded with the installation of the gateways at each end, more water features and lighting," Mr Offen said.

The central fountain was replaced with a rotunda with four small fountains around the sides.

Thirty original sculptures by local artists were added to the Russell Square fountains. ( 720 ABC Perth: Emma Wynne )

"Another aspect of this redevelopment was the addition of 30 original sculptures done by local artists Greg James and Drago Dadich in and on the rotunda," he added.

"They really add life to the square."

With the resurgence of interest in inner-city living and a number of new housing developments in the surrounding streets, the square has come back into use.

"It's now an important community focal point, used for the Perth Pride festival and for the fringe festival pleasure gardens."