City of Kalamunda requests submissions on mysterious Jorgensen Park event, believed to be Harry Potter-themed

A Perth Hills council is considering a proposal to carve out a big chunk of a crown reserve for an entertainment group to hold a mystery event lasting four months — believed to be a Harry Potter-themed tourism drawcard. The City of Kalamunda has called for public submissions on a plan to temporarily lease 15ha of Jorgensen Park for the “exclusive use” of an entertainment provider to put on an all-ages ticketed event. But because the City signed a non-disclosure agreement, it can’t say what the event would be. The West Australian understands the event is likely to be Perth’s first Harry Potter Forbidden Forest Experience, with lighting, props, music and special effects recreating the magical wizarding world from the Harry Potter books and movies. Part of the world-famous Bibbulmun Track cuts through Jorgensen Park, which also contains numerous bush trails popular with dog-owners, walkers and mountain bikers. According to council documents, the City of Kalamunda proposes to temporarily lease more than half the 26ha site to Kzemos Australia for a public event. A separate licence is also being negotiated with the State Government to provide access to part of an adjacent reserve. The mystery event, to operate in late afternoons and evenings, would take place from early April to July 31, with the option to extend until August 31. While council documents state financial considerations are confidential, public notices posted in Jorgensen Park said the City would receive an estimated $230,000 for use of the land. Organisers are not expected to reveal details about the event until April, even though public submissions are due by March 13. Kzemos Australia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of US company Fever Labs, which has been involved with interactive Harry Potter Forbidden Forest walk-through events staged in cities across the world — including Brisbane and Melbourne — in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences and IMG. Fever Labs was approached for comment. Visitors to forbidden forest experiences held in other cities encountered creatures such as unicorns, hippogriffs and giant spiders during a 90 minute night-time walk. Market stalls sold food, drinks such as “butterbeer” and Harry Potter merchandise. In 2024, organisers were forced to relocate the Melbourne event from a Mornington Peninsula wildlife sanctuary to a nearby off-leash dog park over concerns it would damage conservation efforts. The Kalamunda proposal has sparked consternation from some ratepayers worried the event would adversely affect wildlife and nearby residents. Mayor Margaret Thomas said the City of Kalamunda understood some residents were concerned about being asked to comment without full details. “While we are bound by a non-disclosure agreement at this stage, this is standard practice for organisations exploring the feasibility of major events and does not predetermine any outcome,” she said. “The NDA was a particular request of the proponent due to their intellectual property and event marketing concerns. Public comment for proposed leases is a legal requirement and remains an important part of determining if the event will proceed. “We are aware of speculation about the nature of the event, but the City cannot confirm or comment on this at this time.” In response to curious residents’ demands for more information, the City has since said the event would be “a ticketed, family-friendly evening experience designed for visitors to walk through and enjoy the natural setting of the Hills”. Ms Thomas said only a defined portion of Jorgensen Park was proposed for temporary lease, with alternative walking trails available. The proposal had to include plans for managing parking, transport, noise, waste, emergencies and an ecological assessment. “The ecological assessment must cover all remediation works, which the City will oversee to ensure the reserve is restored to its original condition,” she said. Nature Reserves Preservation Group president Mick Davis said it expected the City to ensure any proposal would guard against the spread of Phytophthora Dieback and impacts on vegetation, threatened Black Cockatoos and erosion. Tourism Council WA chief executive Evan Hall said that if the event was a Harry Potter-themed attraction, it would bring in overnight visitors from across WA and interstate, boosting tourism businesses offering hospitality and accommodation. “Kalamunda is a great tourism town and we’d love to show it off to more West Australians and people from the east coast,” he said.