A walking tour reveals how Perth’s Elizabeth Quay evolved from open space into a waterfront lined with art, hotels and renewed city energy
Built on what used to be the Esplanade Reserve – once just an open patch of grass – Elizabeth Quay on the northern side of Perth Water is a relatively new addition to the city’s central business district, having opened in 2016. The multimillion-dollar redevelopment anchors Perth’s efforts to modernise its waterfront. International hotels such as The Ritz-Carlton, COMO and DoubleTree sit alongside public art, giving locals new reasons to linger by the Swan River.
Few capture the area’s transformation as clearly as Adie Chapman, founder of Oh Hey WA, which has been running walking tours of the city for 11 years.
Chapman started Oh Hey WA to show visitors an exciting side of Perth. “People used to call the city sleepy,” she says. “But the energy has shifted. There are exciting events almost every week and the city feels more confident about who it is.”
Here, Chapman shares insider stories of Elizabeth Quay’s most recognisable landmarks. ohheywa.com.au.
Bell Tower
Built in 1999 to house ancient church bells from London’s St Martin-in-the-Fields, The Bell Tower was once the only structure in the Esplanade Reserve (now Elizabeth Quay). Chapman often starts her tours here to show the scale of transformation. “It used to feel so removed from the city,” she says. “Now it marks the beginning of a proper waterfront.” Visitors come for the chimes and to admire how the tower frames the redeveloped promenade. thebelltower.com.au
Yagan Square meeting point
Yagan Square, a civic bridge between the central business district and Northbridge, is home to James Angus’ bright green cactus sculpture, which Chapman calls “the most reliable place in Perth to find your friends”. The square’s redevelopment has turned a former divide into a forum for events, small markets and weekend gatherings. Corner of William and Wellington Streets
State Buildings
At Perth’s Point Zero, the State Buildings stand as one of the city’s most successful heritage revivals, linking the restored Lands, Titles and Treasury buildings into a walkable block of hospitality and retail. Pick up the city’s best coffee at Telegram, stay in a six-star hotel (COMO The Treasury) and sample world-class wines at Wine Merchant. statebuildings.com
Supreme Court Gardens
The Supreme Court Gardens offer a pause from surrounding glass towers. Chapman points out often-overlooked details – a sculpture of five giant pen nibs, Kangaroo Paws nodding to WA’s floral emblem and a 7m-tall astronaut figure called Boonji Spaceman. She links this to John Glenn’s 1962 orbit, when Perth famously switched on its lights as he passed overhead, earning the city its lasting title, City of Light. Corner of Barrack Street and Riverside Perth
Council House
A mid-century grid of concrete and glass by day, the Council House transforms after sunset. Technicolour lights illuminate the façade during festivals, giving the area a sense of theatre. Once controversial and dismissed as dated, it’s now one of Perth’s most photographed landmarks. 27 St Georges Terrace
Graffiti alley
Grand Lane, a narrow laneway in the central business district, has had a major glow-up, showcasing a new batch of striking murals. Watch for work by Asian artist Yip Yew Chong, famous for his Singapore works. Between Barrack and Murray Streets
Old GPO
The former General Post Office – now an H&M store – has bronze emu and kangaroo sculptures on its Beaux-Arts façade, symbols of the nation’s forward-leaning identity. Local folklore says the sculptor, who was never paid for his work, angled the kangaroo to stare at the Treasury building in mild protest. 3 Forrest Place
