In January 2018 I had a few weeks holiday in Western Australia. It was my second time in Oz (see my New South Wales posts) but my first time over this side of the country. Although I originally had plans to experience the natural beauty of the northern part of the state, I instead decided to leave it until my next visit and, except for a couple of weeks in the Margaret River wine region in the near south, keep things fairly urban. Seventy nine percent of the state’s population lives in Perth, the capital, and city boy that I am, this is where I most wanted to be.
You’ll find my state map here and my Perth map here.
One of the best places to get a view of Perth’s skyline is from Kings Park which has an elevated view over the city, video here.
Many people enjoy coming here around dusk to watch the sun go down. Video here.
Another good view of the CBD can be had down at Elizabeths Quay on the waterfront. Video here.
The quay is also very atmospheric at night. Video here.
The whole area was redeveloped in 2016 so it’s a good area to walk around whatever the time of day.
Perth was built with mining money. One of the highest towers belongs to mining behmoth Rio Tinto, coincidentally named after one of the rivers mentioned in my previous posts on Huelva in Spain. You’ll find a brief history here.
To be honest the skyscrapers don’t have much going for them and the Rio Tinto HQ is no exception.
Local architects are getting quite good at the smaller scale modern stuff though. The City of Perth Library and History Centre is a nice example of the contemporary timber style of modernist architecture.
If nothing else at least it’s a good place to cool down on a hot day!
My favourite building is just a short distance away at 27 St Georges Terrace. Council House is a beautiful (to me) brutalist monster by day…
…and is now an even lovelier glowing rainbow by night. What a great way to show off the design.
You get the full effect from the video here.
Another modern building I quite liked was the newly completed Children’s Hospital.
And there were a few other post-modern bits and pieces dotted around that caught my eye.
There’s the odd nice bit of Deco.
They are quite good at integrating old colonial era facades with modern buildings.
The entrance to the Cadogan Song School next to the Cathedral is another example.
Plenty of colonial buildings have been lovingly preserved alongside their modern counterparts.
So, lots of architerctural eye candy around Perth. Street art next…