In 2020 Coniglio Ainsworth Architects (CAA) joined with MPS Architects as the CAMPS JV, participating in the Alliance Development phase for the Morley–Ellenbrook Line Request for Proposal (RFP) tender with the shortlisted Ellenbrook Alliance team including CPB Contractors and Downer EDI.

As part of that tender, CAMPS proposed the design for Whiteman Park Station on the Morley-Ellenbrook Line (now known as the Ellenbrook Line), which also included proposals for five other stations.

A multidisciplinary design approach was adopted to ensure that the Station design was cohesive with the Urban Design, Placemaking, Landscape Architecture and Engineering design for the Station and the Precinct.

The precinct seeks to reinforce the future potential of the Station as a hub that services the wider Whiteman Park Tourist, Recreation and Education Precinct and to provide a landmark that will serve the growing communities of Henley Brook, Dayton, West Swan and Brabham.

Whiteman Park Station is located on the eastern edge of Whiteman Park, which is a major historic recreation and tourist attraction in Perth and sits directly adjacent the future town centre of the Brabham Development to the east. In addition to providing convenient and attractive public transport for residents, Whiteman Park Station will act as a primary arrival point to the key tourist and recreation destination of Whiteman Park and also to potential future developments. The station is adjacent the many attractions Whiteman Park has to offer, is near to the Swan Valley and also adjacent the future PEET Brabham Development to the East. The station design adds to the visitor experience of these areas by contributing to a strong sense of place. 

Key to the design is the configuration of the Station Entry Building, Concourse and Elevated Viaduct Platform and the relationship to the proposed pedestrian underpass beneath Drumpellier Drive (linking Whiteman Park in the west to Brabham Town Centre Development in the east) and the ancillary provisions of station carpark and bus interchange.

Our design for Whiteman Park Station drew inspiration from the distinctive layered bark of paperbark trees (Melaleuca), known locally by the Whadjuk Noongar name Modong, which are characteristic of the wetlands and woodlands around Whiteman Park. The station roof forms were conceived as layered planes — with the elevated platform roof floating above the lower entry building roof — helping transition the scale between the ground-level arrival space and the elevated rail infrastructure, while assisting intuitive wayfinding.

Precinct has been designed to feel like an extension of Whiteman Park and its bush setting. It importantly creates a vibrant station precinct for visitors by creating a Meeting Ground surrounded by amenity and future activity that will attract both tourists and day trippers. A Nature play area will be an attraction at the Meeting Ground for a family day out and a tourism stop for Whiteman Park. Any trees that need to be felled, can be reused for seats, nature play elements or habitat logs within planting beds.

The precinct design ensures as many trees can be maintained as possible so that Meeting Grounds, the yearning circles, a sunny lawn, nature play and food truck facilities feels like they are nestled amongst the existing trees and creeks that contribute to the bushland setting and the Bennett Brook water system. 

Whiteman Park is unique with its heritage tram line and a proposed tram stop is included in the design marking this a landmark station for tourists and locals. In addtion, clear and legible pedestrian and cycle paths help to increase patron amenity integrating the precinct into the greater landscape via the Whiteman Park to Brabham suburb underpass and a connection to the leisurely cycle path withing the bush setting to support the state landmark tourist destination.

Imagery by Viewport.