Custom Playground Equipment Perth – Maniana Park, Queens Park
When Van Ryt Industries was commissioned to supply custom playground equipment for the City of Canning at Queens Park, the brief moved through years of community consultation, design approvals, and funding milestones before a single post was sunk. Three of the products installed here — the Mini Maniana Fort, the Maniana Mania Towers, and the Maniana Monkey Climber — were named for this project. The Mini Maniana Fort reached the VRI catalogue before the park opened. By October 2025, it was already one of VRI's most in-demand items.
A $7.1 Million Destination
The Queens Park Open Space redevelopment — now officially named Maniana Park — received $7.1 million in joint funding from the Federal Government, the State Government, and the City of Canning. Landscape architects Josh Byrne & Associates led the masterplan, delivering a BMX pump track, upgraded cricket and football facilities, a conservation zone, and a district-level playground adjacent to the Sam Kerr Football Centre on Gibbs Street.
Van Ryt Industries was engaged by Phase 3 Landscape Construction, who managed the full landscape scope. VRI's working relationship with Phase 3 spans multiple WA projects.
The Design Language
Josh Byrne & Associates' direction called for bold, joyful colour — vivid orange, fuchsia pink, warm yellow, and earthy terracotta applied consistently across every product in the installation. Two structures were debut items, appearing in the VRI catalogue for the first time.
Two Debut Structures
148-MAN Maniana Mania Towers
At 8.4 metres, the 148-MAN Maniana Mania Towers is the centrepiece. Three interconnected circular towers rise above the park's mature trees, each detailed with bubble-shaped portal windows and vivid coloured panel inserts. Children reach the platforms via rope nets, carved log steps, vertical circular ladders, and rope tunnels — each approach developing different physical skills across a broad age range. Interconnecting bridges with stainless steel webmesh sides link the towers at the upper level. Two giant tube slides — one fuchsia pink, one deep orange — return climbers to the bark chip surface below.
The Towers went through seven revisions of documentation before fabrication began, each informed by Luke Priddle's original concept design. For a Jarrah playground equipment manufacturer, this kind of iterative design process on a debut structure is not unusual — but the scale demanded it. Aaron Boultbee, VRI's Senior Designer, led the detailed design process:
"The challenge of design is making something complex look like it was always supposed to be that way. Seven revisions. Hundreds of hours. And then you walk onto site and see it in the ground — and it just looks right."
— Aaron Boultbee, Senior Designer, Van Ryt Industries
431-MMC Maniana Monkey Climber
The 431-MMC Maniana Monkey Climber also makes its first appearance here — Jarrah post framing with suspended disc stepping elements, rope climbing panel, and rope traverse. It provides a distinct physical challenge from the Towers, suited to active, confident climbers.
The Nature Play Zone
The nature play equipment WA councils commission from VRI ranges widely in scale — Maniana Park sits at the larger end. Stepping Stumps, Logs, and interconnecting Balance Beam Wide sections form a continuous balance and movement sequence. Bush Poles — painted in the park's palette at the City of Canning's direction — are configured as a weaving pathway through the space. Stilt Steppers add graduated height challenges to the sequence.
The Mini Maniana Fort — dual-level platforms, porthole windows, rope net approach, and orange slide — complements the Towers at a scale suited to younger climbers. A Tee Pee provides a quieter gathering point. The Stump Picnic Setting, with painted stump tops matching the park's palette, serves as both seating and play element. A custom predominantly West Australian Jarrah bridge crosses the park's dry creek bed, connecting the nature play zone to the wider landscape.
Completing the Space
The swing zone features an 203-ASS A-Frame with Basket and Single Swing, customised with two standard swings replacing the basket. A paired See Saw and Mini See Saw covers cooperative play at two scales.
The Outcome
Maniana Park officially opened in October 2025. Mayor Patrick Hall:
"We're excited to welcome the community into this outstanding space. Maniana Park brings together play, sport and nature, providing opportunities for recreation and connection for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities."
— Mayor Patrick Hall, City of Canning
VRI's relationship with the City of Canning extends to Shelley Beach Park, where a custom Pelican Nest Fort anchors the Canning River foreshore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can VRI design and fabricate custom playground equipment for a council project?
Yes. VRI works with local councils, landscape architects, and landscape contractors to deliver custom playground equipment tailored to site, community brief, and budget. Maniana Park involved two debut structures — the Maniana Mania Towers and Maniana Monkey Climber — each designed from scratch for this commission and fabricated in VRI's O'Connor workshop. Custom playground equipment of this scale typically involves multiple design iterations before fabrication begins.
Does VRI's playground equipment meet Australian Standards?
All VRI playground equipment is designed in accordance with AS 4685, the Australian Standard for playground equipment and surfacing, covering structural integrity, fall zone requirements, entrapment hazard prevention, and accessibility considerations.
How does VRI manage a complex, multi-product council installation?
VRI handles design, fabrication, and installation coordination from its O'Connor workshop. For large-scale installs, VRI works closely with the appointed landscape contractor — at Maniana Park, that was Phase 3 Landscape Construction — to sequence delivery, manage site access, and ensure each product is installed to specification.
Does VRI supply playground equipment to councils outside Perth?
Yes. VRI supplies playground equipment Australia-wide with full installation documentation, engineering certification, and contractor support. Contact VRI to discuss supply-only options for your project.
Working on a council playground brief in WA? Contact Van Ryt Industries to discuss design, supply, and installation.
Featured Equipment
- 001-STU Stepping Stumps
- 002-POL Bush Poles
- 003-STI Stilt Steppers
- 004-TEE Tee Pee
- 005-LOG Log
- 008-BAL Balance Beam Wide
- 015-SPS Stump Picnic Setting (customised — painted stump tops)
- 148-MAN Maniana Mania Towers — debut product
- 149-MIN Mini Maniana Fort
- 203-ASS A-Frame with Basket and Single Swing (customised — basket replaced with two standard swings)
- 431-MMC Maniana Monkey Climber — debut product
- 731-SEE See Saw
- 732-MSW Mini See Saw
- Custom Jarrah bridge over dry creek bed — bespoke item
