The Perth Convention Bureau helps you connect with all the latest information and destination news.
If you’re looking for specific destination information speak to Antonia Santich, our Marketing Coordinator on +61 (0)8 9218 2922 or email asantich@pcb.com.au
Destination News
CHOGM 2011
It will be an extraordinary occasion when Perth welcomes Her Majesty The Queen, more than 50 world leaders, and 4,000 delegates to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), 28 - 30 October. Perth was chosen to host the prestigious biennial summit due to its world-class meetings facilities, cultural vibrancy and remarkable growth.
Many of the world's top business leaders will also be in Perth to participate in the Commonwealth Business Forum which will coincide with CHOGM. It is tipped to produce at least $10 billion in business deals. Visit the CHOGM 2011 website or Tourism Western Australia's website for further information on what's happening, including road closures, sporting events, art exhibitions and more.
Construction of new Perth Airport terminal to start
The construction of a new $120 million domestic terminal will commence this month next to the international terminal, the first in a raft of major projects to transform Perth Airport in the coming years. It has been designed to meet the increased needs of regional and interstate air services; Perth Airport is recognised as the fastest growing Australian capital city airport with a 9.4 per cent growth rate during 2010-2011. Construction is expected to be completed in December 2012. Click here for more.
The new State Reception Centre, Kings Park
The State Government's $9 million redevelopment of the Fraser's complex in Kings Park for CHOGM is almost complete. The facilities are being expanded to accommodate the Leaders' Retreat and create a lasting legacy for the people of Western Australia. Once complete, the expanded venue will cater for up to 700 people at a cocktail function and 450 seated. In addition, Fraser's Restaurant, Private Dining Room and Function Centre have undergone an extensive refurbishment.
New direct Perth-China flights to start on 8 November
Asia's biggest airline, China Southern Airlines, will commence direct flights between China and Perth on 8 November. The service will start with three flights per week using China Southern's A330-300 aircraft. The new service will originate from Beijing with a short transit stop in Guangzhou, China's third largest city and China Southern's main hub, before flying non-stop to Perth.
WA currently attracts around 15,000 Chinese visitors a year and it is forecast that by 2020 WA will host around 100,000 Chinese visitors a year, making it WA's second largest international visitor market, behind the United Kingdom.
Perth City Link vision takes shape
Another significant milestone has been reached in the Perth City Link project with the commencement of a $10 million works program. These works are the first step in removing the great divide between Northbridge and the Central Business District (CBD) for the first time in more than 100 years. When complete, Perth City Link is expected to attract more than $3 billion of private investment, provide 1,650 new apartments for more than 3,000 new residents and accommodate 13,350 workers in 244,000 square metres of new commercial and retail space. Visit www.epra.wa.gov.au for more.
St Georges Tce officially opened
Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi officially opened the enhancement works on St Georges Terrace on Wednesday 3 August. St Georges Terrace is the main street running through the State's foremost business and commercial district and contains some of the city's grand and historic buildings.
Over the past 11 months the City of Perth has spent $15 million on transforming Perth's premier street into an attractive, pedestrian-oriented environment. The Council has created a 'sense of arrival' in the CBD; the pedestrian areas are paved with high-quality Western Australian granite and the footpaths are lined with London Plane trees and lighting creating a more inviting, relaxing and suitable place for alfresco dining.
Wildflowers setting Western Australia ablaze
Western Australia has the largest collection of wildflowers in the world - more than 12,000 species carpet the State with their vivid beauty and lush scent, 60 per cent of which are found nowhere else in the world. June to November is WA's wildflower season and it's big business for WA, as flower-spotters rush in from all over the globe.
Explore luscious smelling blossoms statewide, from Kings Park in Perth (culminating in the month-long Kings Park Wildflower Festival in September), to the rolling hills of the Darling Scarp, from Joondalup and Cervantes just north of Perth up to Kalbarri National Park in Western Australia's Coral Coast. The South West also attracts many visitors and this year the annual Mount Barker Celebration of Wildflowers is back again running 1 September - 15 October.
Ningaloo Coast receives world heritage listing
604,500 hectares of the Ningaloo Coast have received a world heritage listing, the highest level of international recognition of the region's natural beauty and biological diversity. Many rare and diverse plants and animals are found within the Cape Range, and a variety of marine mammals, turtles, manta rays and one of the world's largest aggregations of whale sharks reside in the marine park.
West Kimberley added to national heritage list
WA's iconic West Kimberley will also be placed on Australia's National Heritage List with more than 19 million hectares of the region identified as having outstanding heritage values. The listing will include the spectacular Kimberley coast from Cape Leveque in the west to Cambridge Gulf in the east, the Kimberley plateau and country south to the Oscar and Napier Ranges, and the Fitzroy River.
Duxton's Club Lounge unveiled
The Duxton Hotel joins a long list of top Perth hotels undergoing extensive refurbishments. In addition to all 306 Club Rooms and Suites, the Club Lounge on the top floor of the Duxton Hotel Perth has also undergone a complete makeover. The hotel's function rooms now also include drop down screens and some have ceiling mounted data projectors, with electronic signage to follow. Enhancements to the hotel lobby and accommodation floors have rounded-out the revamp program. See PCB's facebook photo album here.
Hyatt completes upgrade
Hyatt Regency Perth continues with intensive refurbishments including a full fit-out of all 367 guest rooms. The pool area and gym equipment upgrade is also now complete; the hotel foyers have new carpet, wall furnishings and furniture. Key energy-saving initiatives, including energy-efficient lighting and water-saving devices have been installed to extend the Hyatt's commitment to sustainability and to complement green initiatives already in place.
Burswood's food offerings reach new heights
Obviously 19 restaurants and bars are not enough for the Burswood Entertainment Complex... Nobu, the world's most recognised Japanese restaurant brand, opened its second restaurant in Australia at Burswood on 5 September. Chef proprietor of 'Nobu Perth', Nobu Matsuhisa, promises diners a theatrical Teppanyaki experience (the only Nobu restaurant with Teppanyaki) complete with a private Teppan dining room. Another unique feature will be a Sake Bar boasting an extensive sake menu.
The Burswood Food Court has also recently opened with four great outlets to choose from, The Deli, The Works, Hot Wok and Kebab Kitchen. Fans of French cuisine will also be pleased to hear that Bistro Guillaume is set to open in mid 2012... - we'll keep you posted.
Oaks Broome now offering conference facilities
Oaks Hotels & Resorts has opened their brand new meeting and conference centre at Oaks Broome, Roebuck Bay. Oaks Broome offers three meeting and conference rooms that can cater for 20 to 200 delegates. Rooms are available to suit a range of configurations from sit-down classroom style through to a cocktail event overlooking the pool. Rooms include state-of-the-art conferencing technology and facilities with plenty of additional equipment available for hire.
St Catherine's new offerings
St Catherine's College, within the stately grounds of the University of Western Australia, has unveiled its new seminar and catering menus, with new look breakfast, lunch and morning and afternoon tea packages. St Catherine's College offers a refreshing alternative to conventional conference venues, with a range of function rooms and event spaces. Located just 5km from the centre of Perth, it offers everything you need for a successful conference, seminar or function, plus a range of on-site accommodation.
University Club of WA extends
The University Club of Western Australia has commenced an extension project which is scheduled for completion by October. The southern colonnade will transform into an elegant pre-function space with vast windows and natural light. The terrace will be landscaped, partially covered and fitted out to make it ideal for delegate catering, sundowners and cocktail receptions. A shaded balcony on the first floor will create an alfresco space overlooking the university's stunning gardens.
Perth Cultural Centre develops
A 36-metre LED screen, feature lighting and a new children's play space will be introduced into the Perth Cultural Centre (PCC), the space that links Perth's Central Business District with its cultural heart of Northbridge. Works will be completed in time for the People's Space held in the PCC during CHOGM in October. A range of feature lighting for the trees and heritage façades will add interest to the precinct, as will shade and colourful signage for the Urban Orchard.
Things to do during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), Perth
It will be an extraordinary occasion when Perth welcomes more than 50 world leaders to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) from 28 to 30 October 2011.
If you're a Perth local or expecting to visit Perth during the prestigious biennial summit that is CHOGM, then feel fre to link to this page on Tourism Western Australia's website, which contains great information on all the great things happening in Perth during this time, from sporting events to art exhibitions.
Click here to visit the website.
$10bn in deals for World Forum in Perth
Some of the world’s leading corporate figures and economic minds will headline the Commonwealth Business Forum in Perth which is tipped to produce at least $10 billion in deals.
The three-day forum will be held in late October, in the lead-up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The forum is described as the biggest and most significant gathering of international business and political leaders ever held in Australia.
According to The Australian newspaper, Commonwealth Business Council chief executive, Mohan Kaul, expects a higher number of deals this year because of the size of the Australian economy and Perth’s location at the corporate heart of the massive resources boom.
'Print Hall’ announced for CBD’s City Square
Brookfield Office Properties and leading hospitality company Colonial Leisure Group have announced ‘Print Hall’. The historic Print Hall building, the entertainment centrepiece of the new City Square tower and the former home of The West Australian, will be renovated and converted into four restaurant and bar venues.
Print Hall will become the venue at the base of City Square, the 45-level office tower under construction on St Georges Terrace. City Square is one of Australia’s most significant commercial developments which will deliver 75,000sqm of office space to Perth's CBD. Completion of the City Square project is scheduled for the end of this year and the opening date of the Print Hall is yet to be finalised.
WA rates well in top list
Flying over the Bungle Bungle Range, meeting the dolphins at Monkey Mia, cruising the Kimberley in the wet season, swimming with the whale sharks on Ningaloo Reef and snorkelling at the Rowley Shoals Marine Park have all been voted in the top 20 of Australian Traveller magazine's 100 Things To Do in Australia Before You Die.
In total, 11 unique WA experiences are on the list and WA has more experiences in the top 20 than any other state. The top 100 was determined by a panel of 10 contributors to the Australian travel, tourism and media industry.
British and WA Museum team up for CHOGM
The British Museum and the West Australian Museum have teamed up to hold an exclusive exhibition during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth in October. The special joint exhibition will feature displays of artefacts sourced from the collections of the British Museum and the WA Museum to represent most of the Commonwealth's 54 countries.
"This exhibition will offer highlights of the British Museum's collection from the Commonwealth, filled with unexpected stories and will take visitors on a 1.6 million year journey around the world," Mr Barnett said in a statement. The exhibition includes some of the British Museum's most important objects, never before seen in Australia.
Whale watching season begins
Each year, the Whale Song Festival celebrates the return of the Southern Right and Humpback Whales to Augusta’s and marks the start of the whale watching season. Locals and visitors alike welcome the whales to Augusta’s warmer waters from June to September.
The 2011 event (3-5 June) was held over the June long weekend with a family-friendly weekend of activities. It was a huge success and had special significance as it marked the 25th anniversary of the mass stranding of 114 False Killer Whales off Augusta.
This unique experience is special to Augusta; it’s one of the few places in the world where you can observe Southern Right and Humpback whales interacting – either from land or sea. Flinders Bay is the first port of call for many whales that come to feed, breed and play; boat cruises can take you mere metres from these gentle giants. To spot the whales from land, Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse is the perfect vantage point. It marks Australia’s extreme south west point and is the place where two great oceans (Indian and Southern) meet.
Explore Busselton with Skywest
Skywest Airlines will commence flights to Busselton in the popular South West region of Western Australia from Friday 8 July. The perfect base to explore the natural beauty and gourmet delights of the Geographe Bay and Margaret River wine regions, Busselton is WA's premier seaside resort town. Flights will operate twice a week to/from Perth and start at $69 ex Perth.
Qantas launches new flights
QantasLink has launched a new route in WA with direct flights between Perth and Exmouth now available. The airline's 115-seat Boeing 717 aircraft will operate three return services per week on the route. The flights open up WA’s striking Coral Coast region to more visitors with nearly 700 more seats available.
Additionally, Qantas has launched a direct flight between Broome and Brisbane with flights available on Sundays and Thursdays, making the exotic pearling town, and the Kimberley region, more accessible for visitors from Queensland.
Cape Lodge on MasterChef
Stunning Cape Lodge in Margaret River appeared on Master Chef for two evenings in May. The Lodge’s award-winning chef, local legend Tony Howell, appeared on the national hit cooking show which saw the show’s top contestants compete against Tony in a cook-off on Busselton Jetty.
The Master Chef crew spent three days filming at Cape Lodge, Clairault Winery and the Busselton Jetty showcasing our fantastic produce, wine and regional highlights. Described as one of Australia’s finest new generation gourmet establishments the multi award winning gourmet restaurant at Cape Lodge offers a calendar of culinary events, exclusive wine dinners and cooking schools.
Cape Lodge features 22 rooms and suites, the executive five-bedroom Private Residence, and was listed in Conde Nast Traveller’s World’s ‘Best 100 Hotels Gold List’ in 2011.
Qantas upgrades domestic routes to Perth
Qantas has upgraded the in-flight standard for business and leisure travellers flying the busy route from the Australian east coast to Perth. Qantas explains these moves are in response to the growing demand from both business and leisure travellers, with research showing a preference for wide-bodied aircraft.
Over 90% of Qantas services between the east coast and Perth will now be operated with wide-bodied aircraft. The upgrade will give passengers the benefits of an international product including the Qantas Skybed in Business, and personal on-demand entertainment options across both business and economy, with a vast range of entertainment options on selected flights.
Burswood reaches milestone
Intercontinental Perth Burswood has reached the half-way mark in its hotel room redesign project and is on schedule for a mid 2012 completion date. Levels one, two, nine and 10 are complete, and levels three and seven are currently underway. An investment of $150,000 per room ensures the finished product is of the highest quality and level of sophistication.
The new hotel reception area is complete and is designed to take full advantage of the Swan River and Perth city views. All of this combined with the new Lobby Lounge and Atrium restaurant make InterContinental Perth Burswood an impressive landmark on the Perth hotel scene. Still to come in the redevelopment project is a new Las Vegas style, glamorous outdoor pool area, complete with private cabanas, plunge pools and butlers, and a luxurious day spa.
Beaumonde Summer Marquee
This December, Perth’s vibrant port city of Fremantle will come alive for the 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships. The Beaumonde 2011 Summer Marquee at Bathers Bay in Fremantle will be a fabulous and unique space set over the sea with a large balcony and glass windows metres from the Indian Ocean.
The temporary marquee will be available 3-18 December for breakfast, lunch, cocktail parties and dinner. For breakfast and lunch there are two spaces available with a maximum seated capacity of 120 & 400. For a stand up event these spaces will accommodate 150 & 500 guests. In the evening it can host up to 500 guests for a cocktail event and 400 guests for a seated function.
Eco Beach’s new Beach Houses
Eco Beach's two new Beach Houses offer a great option for a secluded corporate retreat or for groups looking to connect and rejuvenate. Set upon a cliff top overlooking the Indian Ocean and Kimberley bushland, these stylishly-appointed group abodes sleep six people each and are just 1.5 hours' drive from the cosmopolitan pearling town of Broome.
As with Eco Beach's other accommodation choices (Eco Safari Tents and Eco Villas) the Beach Houses strike the perfect balance between eco-friendly tourism and luxury. Linked by timber decks with a shared open-air living space, groups can choose to recount the day's adventures together over a barbecue or retreat into the air-conditioned comfort of their own private living space. With two bathrooms and two bedrooms in each house and self-catering an option, you can enjoy spacious and affordable self-sufficiency.
Modo Mio opens at Burswood
Modo Mio, Burswood’s new Italian restaurant is now open. Leading the kitchen team is new Italian Head Chef Giampaolo Maffini direct from Milan. Maffini has worked in two Michelin star restaurants, including the famous Gualtiero Marchesi from Milan who is credited as shaping modern Italian cuisine.
Diners at the premium restaurant can expect to be treated to passionate and honest Italian cuisine. For wine enthusiasts there will be an extensive selection of Italian wines to pair with their favourite dish. Modo Mio makes a welcome addition to Burswood’s range of dining opportunities which also include Neil Perry’s Rockpool Bar and Grill, and the stylish new Noodle 88 Bar.
Rendezvous refreshed
Rendezvous Hotel Perth, Scarborough’s iconic beachside hotel, has been going through some exciting changes. Following a $250,000 soft refurbishment, the main conference venues at Rendezvous Observation City are once again open for business. The Harbour Suite Ballroom, one of the two pillarless ballrooms in the hotel, and the Ocean View Room have both had facelifts.
The kitchen team have also been busy upgrading their offerings, with new a la carte menus in the Pines Restaurant and new themed buffets. Over the coming months, the hotel will commence works for further upgrades in the Plaza Club rooms and Suites.
Upgrades for Goodearth and Ambassador
The Goodearth Hotel in Perth city has unveiled the first stage of a major refurbishment with 70 apartments completed. Works include upgraded kitchenettes and bathrooms, plus new flat screen televisions, carpets, sleek furniture, bedding and artwork.
Quality new beds and bedding, plus flat screen TVs have been injected into all rooms of The Perth Ambassador Hotel, as well as painting the exterior of the hotel in a dual tone colour scheme. The East Perth hotel also offers Foxtel (cable television), free in-house movies and free broadband internet access.
New look for Ibis Perth
The Ibis Perth now has a fresh, clean look with brand new beds, fixtures and fittings for each room, plus new LCD televisions, iPod docking stations and brand new bathrooms. The hotel, in the heart of Perth's West End, is also finalising plans to refurbish the hotel lobby and one of the main function rooms in the winter months.
Big Win for ‘Two Feet’
Perth tour operator ‘Two Feet & a Heartbeat’ has received the “Professor David Dolan Award” for Outstanding Newcomer at the 2011 Western Australian Heritage Awards. The award recognises new talent and excellence in the promotion and conservation of cultural heritage in Western Australia.
“We are extremely honoured to win the award as it is recognition of the hard work that we have put in to showcase the amazing heritage and culture or Perth that is all too often overlooked or completely ignored” says Ryan Mossny of Two Feet & a Heartbeat.
Two Feet & a Heartbeat provide guided tours in and around the Perth metropolitan region, specialising in cultural and heritage based experiences.
State Theatre Centre opens
The stunning State Theatre Centre of Western Australia in Perth’s cultural heart of Northbridge was officially opened with a series of gala celebrations late January 2011. The Governor of WA, His Excellency Dr Ken Michael AC and Premier Colin Barnett officially opened the Centre. The spaces within the complex can be hired out for private or business events.
Located on the corner of Roe and William Streets in Perth’s cultural heart of Northbridge, the State Theatre Centre features the 575 seat Heath Ledger Theatre and the flexible performance space, Studio Underground, capable of seating 200+. Also included in The Centre is The Courtyard, a multi-purpose outdoor events space, two rehearsal rooms and two flexible use private suites.
Perth City Link project underway
Perth City Link is a regeneration project between three tiers of government into the future of Perth, led by State Government authorities EPRA and the Public Transport Authority in collaboration with the City of Perth and the Federal Government.
The 13.5 hectare project is bounded by the Mitchell Freeway, Roe Street, Wellington Street and the Horseshoe Bridge. Framed also by busy roads, this area has become a physical barrier in the centre of the city.
Sinking the Wellington Street Bus Station and the Fremantle rail line, from Perth station to Lake Street will prepare the site for redevelopment. To date, works are underway on the Perth Arena and works to prepare the first development site will commence in 2011.
Perth City Link will play a key role in addressing transport and infrastructure issues while meeting the changing needs of an evolving city. It will remove the great divide between Northbridge and the CBD for the first time in more than 100 years and create a vibrant mixed use precinct.
The Perth City Link will deliver a range of benefits for the community including improved public safety, access and connectivity and high quality public space. When complete, Perth City Link is expected to attract more than $3billion of private investment, provide 1,650 new apartments for more than 3,000 new residents and accommodate 13,350 workers in 244,000 square metres of new commercial and retail space.
Burswood's three-year development plans
InterContinental Perth Burswood continues its multi-million dollar refurbishment project across all rooms, foyers and floors of the hotel, as well as the Atrium Buffet Restaurant and the glamourous Lobby Lounge.
The renowned Atrium Restaurant reopened in December 2010 offering guests a more theatrical dining experience and a range of cooking stations which include an Eastern and Western buffet selection, sushi, soup and salad bars and desserts guaranteed to satisfy every sugar craving imaginable.
The Lobby Lounge also reopened in December 2010 with a chic new look, plush lounges and a new bar menu, creating the perfect spot to meet over coffee and cakes, tapas or a delectable cocktail to start the evening off.
Neil Perry’s Rockpool Bar & Grill Perth opened on 24 January this year enjoying rave reviews and a flurry of bookings from Perth diners eager to sample the latest and most exciting restaurant venture to hit Perth. Perry is focused on serving only the freshest and highest quality local produce accompanied by an impressive list of the world’s best wines. Dining at Rockpool should not be missed.
Burswood's newest premium dining venue, Modo Mio Cucina Italiana, is set to open in early June 2011 once head chef Giampaolo Maffini arrives from Milan.
A set of new plush “high-roller” suites overlooking the pool area are also being built and many more phases of refurbishment to come.
The new Perth Cultural Centre
The Perth Cultural Centre is the new urban space between the CBD and Northbridge that houses the State's most significant cultural and learning institutions, including the Art Gallery of Western Australia, State Library of Western Australia, Western Australian Museum, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, Central Institute of Technology and the new State Theatre Centre that features the Heath Ledger Theatre (opens January 2011).
The Perth Cultural Centre is one of the largest, most commercially important and strategically located inner-city precincts next to essential public transport infrastructure, but for many years the area had been neglected. The first stage of the government’s short-term revitalisation project was completed in July 2010, which included the creation of an urban orchard and native wetlands, improved lighting, furniture and landscaping, and the installation of new retail pods that will house café-style vendors.
This new space is now a destination for a diverse calendar of public events and activities, and can also be hired out upon application to EPRA. Other spaces within the Perth Cultural Centre are now available for events, such as the elegant area within the State Library or the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts. The Bureau encourages you to visit this urban space to connect.
Fraser’s Kings Park - $9M State Government revamp for CHOGM
The Fraser’s complex and surrounding area in Kings Park is undergoing a $9 million redevelopment by the State Government. In October this year, Fraser’s will host the Leaders’ Retreat for the prestigious biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The facilities at the Fraser’s complex will be expanded to accommodate the Leaders’ Retreat and create a lasting legacy as well as a long-term asset for the community of Perth and the people of Western Australia.
The Kings Park overhaul includes replacing the "temporary" marquee that has stood on top of the Fraser's building for the past 10 years with a permanent, circular glass and steel structure. This impressive facility will be able to host large receptions and dinners suitable for government, corporate and community events, including weddings. Once complete, it will cater for up to 700 people at a cocktail function and 450 seated.
This purpose built facility will showcase the very latest technology, stunning architecture, ample natural light, opening floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic views which are sure to impress. Many Australian sourced materials will feature throughout the venue and lifts will make this venue easily accessed by all.
In addition to the new venue being built, Fraser’s Restaurant and its Private Dining Room have undergone a complete facelift for the first time, since its inception in 1993. A revamped bar, new flooring, furniture and fixtures together with soft lighting and fresh wall coverings gives Fraser’s a new lease on life. Next door, the Kings Park Function Centre will also endure a timely refurbishment this June with upgrades to the flooring, ceiling, dance floor and furniture. Landscaping of the area as well as a new outdoor seating area will also be built in front of the adjacent Botanical Cafe, offering alfresco dining. All works will be completed in time for CHOGM 28-30 October 2011.
Pinctada will develop Rotto hotel
After a 12-month tender process, Marilynne Paspaley's Pinctada Hotels and Resorts has been named the preferred development to build a new luxury hotel on Rottnest Island, beating a rival proposal from Karma Resorts.
The 120-room hotel includes a “signature” restaurant, bar and lounge, function room, gymnasium, pool, spa and adventure playground, plus a 200-guest boardroom. It will be built on a four hectare site on Mt Herschel overlooking Longreach Bay.
Pinctada’s portfolio includes boutique retreat McAlpine House and Pinctada Cable Beach in Broome, and the Kimberley Grande in Kununurra. It is the first new accommodation to be built on the island in almost 30 years.
A century of tourism for Rottnest
Rottnest Island is celebrating 100 years of tourism. A schedule of events and festivities has been planned across 2011 to celebrate the significant milestone, which officially kicks-off on December 9, 2010.
Tourism Minister Liz Constable said the events provided a great opportunity to reflect on how tourism on Rottnest had changed over the years. “For more than 100 years, Rottnest has been a favourite destination of local and international tourists alike as recreational use began to gain momentum in the early 1900’s with ferries carrying day-trippers to the island from 1902,” she said.
Dr Constable said the celebration of 100 years of tourism on Rottnest was not only about looking back on the past as a new era for tourism on the island was under way.
“The story of Rottnest Island continues to evolve with the recent announcement of the preferred proponent for the hotel development overlooking Longreach Bay. The interest in this development shows that Rottnest Island will continue to be an important and attractive destination for tourists as we look to the next 100 years,” the Minister said.
The Jewel of Augusta reopens
Jewel Cave reopened December 2010 after a $3million dollar redevelopment. Jewel Cave is Western Australia’s largest tourism show cave and home to the world’s third longest straw stalactite (5.4m from the ceiling). Over the last 18 months, the Augusta Margaret River Tourism Association (AMRTA) has been redeveloping the site to preserve this fragile attraction.
The meticulous project involved the removal of fifty-year old infrastructure above the cave to enable the natural filtration of water to protect threatened ecological species that live within the cave. A new tunnel entrance, carpark, board walk and Jewel Cave Preservation Centre have also been constructed.
AMRTA CEO Simon Ambrose reflected on this iconic achievement: “Jewel Cave was officially opened by Premier Sir David Brand in 1960 and this is the most spectacular way possible that we could celebrate this fifty-year milestone”.
Busselton Jetty reopens after refurbishment
The longest timber-piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere - the Busselton Jetty reopened March 2011 after a $27 million refurbishment program.
New features include interpretive nodes and fish cleaning bays, swimming and diving platforms, rain shelters, and heritage sculptures. The popular train service has also re-commenced. Visitors can also explore Geographe Bay's amazing marine life as they descend eight metres to the ocean floor via a spiral staircase at the jetty's Underwater Observatory.
Check here for more details on events in Perth and Western Australia.