Perth's Award-Winning Splash Pad: Maylands Waterland

Perth's historic Maylands Waterland — a beloved community landmark on the Swan River foreshore in Maylands — has been transformed into a multi-facility splash pad and aquatic playground that has set a new benchmark for public open space in WA. The redevelopment was commissioned by the City of Bayswater and designed by renowned landscape architect Josh Byrne & Associates, with Van Ryt Industries engaged to supply and install the custom nature play equipment within Perth's most-visited splash pad precinct.

A Splash Pad Brief Shaped by the Swan River

The design vision was clear: create an all-abilities aquatic playground that honoured the ecology and heritage of the Maylands foreshore. Inspired by the Swan River's native flora and fauna, the facility was planned in two stages — with Stage 1 delivering the splash pad, water creek, wading pool, and surrounding nature play areas by June 2022.

Working closely with principal contractor MG Group, the Van Ryt team were engaged to supply and install a suite of custom timber and steel play elements — each designed to sit naturally within the foreshore setting and complement the broader aquatic play environment.

VRI's Custom Nature Play Equipment

VRI's scope encompassed four bespoke play elements, all fabricated in our O'Connor workshop from locally sourced West Australian timbers and structural steel:

• Custom junior play structure — a multi-challenge timber climbing and activity frame for younger visitors within the aquatic playground precinct
• Custom spider tunnel — a steel-framed tunnel climbing structure with timber cross-members, engineered to provide an engaging crawl-and-climb challenge for older children
• Custom angled play structure — a bespoke inclined climbing frame positioned to complement the natural foreshore topography
• 007-LSC Log Scramble — VRI's signature timber obstacle element, featuring naturally shaped Jarrah logs arranged as a ground-level movement challenge for nature play

All elements were designed in accordance with AS 4685 and supported by full engineered shop drawings prior to fabrication — essential documentation for any installation within a publicly accessible splash pad and aquatic playground.

A Tight Timeline, Delivered

This project carried real complexity. Custom fabrication lead times had initially been overlooked during the scheduling phase — leaving the Van Ryt team with a compressed production window. However, once engaged, our team moved quickly: shop drawings were developed, fabrication sequences were rationalised, and all four custom elements were manufactured and delivered efficiently within the O'Connor facility. Equipment was installed on time and to specification, allowing the Maylands Waterland splash pad precinct to open to the public as planned.

The outcome was a satisfied client, a happy community, and a play environment that has since become one of Perth's most celebrated public spaces.

AILA Award-Winning Recognition

Since opening, Maylands Waterland has received two 2023 AILA WA Landscape Architecture Awards, recognising the facility as one of Perth's finest contributions to public open space:

• Playspace Award (2023) — recognising the quality of the aquatic play environment
• ShadeSmart Cross Category Award (2023) — recognising best-practice shade integration within the facility

Both awards were presented by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects to the project's design team. VRI is proud to have supplied and installed the nature play equipment within this nationally recognised Perth splash pad.

About Maylands Waterland

Maylands Waterland is located on the Maylands Peninsula on the Swan River foreshore, 7km from the Perth CBD. The facility is free to use and includes splash pads, a water creek, wading pool, and multiple play areas beneath the shade of mature eucalypts. It is acknowledged as the premier outdoor water playground in WA and is managed by the City of Bayswater.

Featured Equipment

• 007-LSC — Log Scramble
• Custom Junior Play Structure
• Custom Spider Tunnel
• Custom Angled Play Structure

Planning a nature play or water play space for your community? Contact Van Ryt Industries to discuss custom equipment design, fabrication, and installation for your aquatic playground project.