Perth City Centre
Captain James Stirling founded the City of Perth as part of the Swan River Colony in 1829. Stirling thought the natural environment around Perth was “as beautiful as anything of this kind I had ever witnessed” and advocated that a colony be established there. The British Government agreed to found the colony as the first free settlement in Australia, and the first settlers arrived in Western Australia in June 1829. On August 12 of that year, the felling of a tree marked the official foundation of the City of Perth.
Having celebrated the 175th anniversary of its foundation, the City Centre of Perth continues its evolution into one of Australia’s most distinctive and welcoming cities.
The City Centre of Perth is divided into five distinct precincts, each with its own distinctive character and in easy access to facilties.
Central Business District
The CBD is the commercial core of Perth, with St Georges’ Terrace as its heart. “The Terrace” is the home of big business, grand hotels, smart cafes and some of Perth’s most historic buildings, neighbouring modern skyscrapers.
The main shopping centre areas of Hay and Murray Street Malls are in the CBD, as are many arcades and shopping centres, including Forrest Chase and Carillon City. Many of Perth’s major cultural institutions, such as His Majesty’s Theatre and the Perth Concert Hall, are also found in this precinct.
Riverside
The Riverside city centre precinct is primarily dedicated to recreation, with dual-use paths surrounding the river encouraging enjoyment of Perth’s stunning environment. The new wetlands at Point Fraser and the kangaroo colony on Heirisson Island are two noteworthy areas within this precinct, which becomes a centre of focus for the city’s Australia Day celebrations on January 26 each year.
West Perth
West Perth extends west from King Street to Thomas Street. King Street and its immediate surrounds are known locally as “the West End”, forming the transition between the CBD and West Perth. King Street is one of Perth’s most stylish locations, where designer shops meet sidewalk cafes for a little taste of Europe. Hay Street West is a business-oriented precinct where mining companies and medical specialists abound.
It’s not all work in West Perth, though. Hay Street features charming cafés and bakeries, and in the streets running between Murray Street and Kings Park Road you can find some of Perth’s best restaurants, many in character houses that retain their original beauty. All this is within close reach of Kings Park, a favoured site for the lunchtime joggers and nature lovers.
East Perth
East Perth is both one of Perth’s oldest and newest precincts. The Perth Mint, the Catholic Cathedral of St Mary’s and Australia’s first purpose-built fire station are among the historic buildings in the area.
Formerly made up of warehouses and light industry, East Perth today is a landscaped region of architecturally magnificent homes and well-kept public gardens overlooking the Swan River. An abundance of public art combined with riverside restaurants has made East Perth an attractive location for work and play.
Northbridge
Although Northbridge was only named in 1977, it has a colourful history marked by waves of immigrants who have made it the multicultural hub of Western Australia.
Northbridge is known as the centre of Perth’s nightlife and dining and it also hosts a thriving backpacking industry. This is the place to enjoy a hearty meal of any number of international cuisines, swap stories with backpackers at the pub, hit the dance floor, or shop for hard-to-find ingredients.
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