PERTH
Spread out like a picnic by the tranquil, lake-like Swan River and the eternal surf of the Indian Ocean, everything in Perth is as easily done outdoors as in, in sandals as in shoes. Rumor has it that WA spurns daylight saving time so that business executives can get in a quick surf before work. This mellow attitude is a point of pride for many Perthites, as is their city’s status as the world’s most isolated capital. (Adelaide, the nearest state capital, is at least a two-day drive away.)
But isolation does not mean desolation, WA’s capital, home to 88% of the state’s population, is an extreme example of Australian demography. Business booms of the 80s and 90s injected fresh funds into the city, which now bristles with new skyscrapers and condominiums. The growth is easy to understand, given the clean air, accessible beaches, gorgeous sunsets, and mild climate. Yet as central Perth grows, some nostalgic residents point to Fremantle, the city’s port and the other focus of Perth’s energy, as the example to emulate. Funds flowing into “Freo” have been spent on historic, restorative facelifts rather than skyline lifts. In between Freo and the city center lie parks, sails, beaches, and plenty of souls content to share with visitors the lifestyle that their city is famous for. If you’ve made the effort to cross die kilometers to Perth, you’ll be more than welcome: pick your patch of sand and join the picnic.
Related Travel Information
Perth Zoo
Perth Zoo is in South Perth and has more than 2,000 creatures of 280 different species. It tries to present its residents in their natural environment as far as possible. There is an Australian Walkabout section featuring native wildlife, through some parts of which one can wander with the animals. This, the only zoo in Western Australia, is open daily from 9 until 5pm, hours extended until 9pm January. The zoo can be reached by bus no. 30 or 31, or, more scenically, by taking the ferry across the river to Mends Street, followed by a short walk. Located
Beaches in Perth
There are plenty of beaches around Perth, along what has become known as the Sunset Coast. The most famous of them is Scarborough. Scarborough can be reached by taking bus no. 15, 400 or 402 from the Wellington Street Bus Station. One of the nearest ocean beaches to the city is Cottesloe, which is a short walk from Cottesloe Station on the Fremantle Line, or is served directly by bus no. 71. Other beaches stretch north from Cottesloe along the coast, including North Swanbourne Beach, which is Perth’s nudist beach.
Perth Boys' School
The former premises of Perth Boys’ School date from 1854. This is the second oldest independent school in Australia, the oldest being King’s School, Parramatta, near Sydney (1831). Corner of the Esplanade and William Street
The Deanery
The Deanery on the corner of St. George’s Terrace and Pier Street is one of the few buildings in Perth dating from the 1850s. It was originally the residence of the first Dean of Perth, but now it is used as Church offices. It still has its original timber shingles on the roof.
Parliament House of Perth
The centre of government for the state of Western Australia Malcolm Street
