John Septimus Roe - Legacy

Legacy

Arguably the most significant legacy left by Roe was the setting aside of Kings Park. As early as December 1830, Roe responded to a request to cut timber below Mount Eliza with: "Mr. Mews to be informed that the neighbourhood of Mt. Eliza is reserved for public purposes". Although it is widely accepted that Roe's successors Malcolm Fraser and John Forrest were most instrumental in the establishment of Kings Park, Roe was clearly responsible for the initial setting aside of the park.

Roe was the founding president of the Swan River Mechanics' Institute, holding the position until his death. Both the Western Australian Museum and the State Library of Western Australia emerged from the Institute, Roe's large scientific collection forming the basis for the museum's collection. Jackson (1982) has argued that Roe can be regarded as the founder of both institutions.

During Roe's time in term in the Survey Office, he attempted to transcribe every journal of exploration in Western Australia. His Letterbook of Explorers' Journals survives to this day, as a result of which Western Australia has an exceptionally good record of its early explorations, nearly every significant journal being extant from 1827 until Roe's retirement in 1870.

In 1955 the State Library obtained on indefinite loan a large collection of log books, diaries and letters left by Roe. The collection constitutes one of the most important private collections ever to be lodged with the library.

John Septimus Roe was honored in numerous place names:

• The town of Roebourne, Western Australia;
• Mount Roe ;
• Roelands, a town near Bunbury;
• The Roe River;
• The Roe Range;
• The Roe Highway, a major highway in Perth;
• A poison weed found near Muntadgin, Western Australia was named Roe poison because Roe had found it near York;
• Roe Street, Perth;
• The electoral district of Roe in the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia;
• John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School in Mirrabooka;
• Caladenia roei, a species of Orchid published in Bentham's Flora Australiensis; and
• Haliotis roei, a species of Abalone shell from Western Australia and South Australia