What's happening in Perth

Melbourne is notoriously expensive to visit during the grand final weekend. But this year, Fremantle is nipping at its heels.

A “desperate” Perth mother whose 18-year-old daughter died hours after being discharged from a Perth mental health hospital has been refused a government payout for ongoing private psychological support for her family.

The driver had a lucky escape and was not injured as the hole opened beneath their car about 4am.

We’re getting a lot of proposals at the moment from data centre developers looking to develop in less populated areas,” WA Premier Roger Cook said.

Follow our live coverage here.

New documents have raised questions about whether wastewater ponds at a proposed fracking project could safely contain water full of “toxic chemicals”.

It was once the go-to spot for a late-night feed, but the prime land in Perth’s CBD has sat vacant for several years. That could soon change.

Five people have pleaded not guilty to being involved in the attempted importation of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from South America, including the captain of the bulk carrier the drugs were found in.

Firefighters were called to the house on the corner of Gerald Street and Phoenix Road in Spearwood just after 6am.

If WA had a Godfather of wine, it would probably be Larry Cherubino. And when Larry recommends a bottle, wine lovers tend to take notice.

One of Australia’s most respected winemakers, Larry has spent decades getting to know Western Australia’s best vineyard sites and the wines they’re capable of producing. Chances are, if you enjoy a good bottle of wine, you’ve already come across Cherubino. But what if Larry himself picked the wines he thought you should have at home?

That’s the idea behind Larry’s Picks, a selection of six wines personally chosen by Larry as an introduction to Vendemmia, Cherubino’s new wine club.

They’re the bottles he’d pour for you first. Wines he knows, loves, and thinks belong in your cellar. And, having had a few recommendations from Larry ourselves over the years, we’re inclined to trust him.

More than just a wine club, Vendemmia is a community built around wine, food, and experience.

Created for those who want to enjoy more of the Cherubino world, the membership goes beyond the bottles delivered to your door. It opens up a collection of benefits across wine, dining, stays, and experiences, giving members more reasons to visit, taste, discover, and return.

At the heart of Vendemmia is the wine. Members receive 20% off Cherubino wines, making it easier to explore new releases, revisit favourites, and keep a considered selection on hand at home. With no joining fee, becoming a member is simple, and the benefits begin straight away.

Every three months, members can select six wines for their next delivery, giving you the freedom to build each box around what you actually want to drink. It means you can explore more of the Cherubino range each quarter, while keeping your favourites on hand for dinners, weekends, and the moments that call for a good bottle.

Not sure where to start with your first six? That’s where Larry’s Picks come in. Personally selected by Larry Cherubino, the collection offers an introduction to the styles, regions, and wines that define the Cherubino portfolio, making your first box an easy place to begin. Every quarter, Larry’s Picks change to reflect the time of year and to continually help introduce you to something new.

Larry’s Picks 2025 Cherubino Ovale Bianco

A vivacious blend of Arneis and Riesling from Pemberton’s cool, forest-fringed vineyards, layering pear and orchard fruit against zesty citrus and a whisper of spice. Crisp, full-bodied and clean on the finish, it’s the kind of white that wants a Perth summer evening and a plate of chilled oysters or a citrus-dressed salad.

2024 Ovale Pemberton Chardonnay Clonal

Made from a single, carefully selected Chardonnay clone grown in Pemberton, this one shows why the region has become a Chardonnay hotspot, with citrus and stone fruit, fine acidity, and a silky, textured finish. Pair it with pan-seared WA dhufish or a creamy risotto and let its long finish do the talking.

2023 Laissez Faire Field Blend

An aromatic white field blend that leans into its wild side, with rosewater, passionfruit, and mineral notes giving way to layers of pear, nougat, and Turkish delight. Soft, refined, and finished with a delicate drying acidity, it’s built for spiced or Middle Eastern-inspired dishes — think a fragrant laksa or a mezze spread.

2021 Cherubino Ovale Beautiful South Red Blend

A Cabernet-based red from Frankland River in the Great Southern, this is all black cherry, mulberry, and blackcurrant fruit wrapped around soft, complex tannins with notes of earth and licorice. Made for the table, it’s a natural match for slow-roasted lamb or a well-aged hard cheese.

2023 On The Fringe Pinot Noir

Sourced from Pemberton’s cooler pockets, this Pinot Noir offers the silky tannins and bright red-fruit character the region is known for, finished with an earthy, savoury edge. Serve it alongside duck breast or a mushroom risotto for a match made for a Perth long lunch.

2024 Pedestal Shiraz 

A perfumed, elegant Margaret River Shiraz with Morello cherry, black pepper, and charred cinnamon spice on the nose, backed by silky, light tannins and real length on the palate. It’s built for the barbecue — think a peppered steak or char-grilled lamb cutlets.

Win a Vendemmia membership

Here’s your chance to win a Vendemmia membership for 12 months, including four deliveries of Larry’s Picks. Everyone who enters also gets 10% off your next wine order or your next visit to Cherubino City Cellar in Subiaco.

Live Competition Win A 12-Month Cherubino Vendemmia Membership 1 x 12-month Vendemmia membership, which includes four deliveries of the introductory Larry's Picks… Enter now →

The post Vendemmia: Larry Cherubino’s Hottest New Wine Club appeared first on So Perth

It’s been six slow, footy-filled months since we last saw the Perth Wildcats take the court, going down to the eventual NBL Champions, the Sydney Kings. 

It wasn’t quite the ending the Wildcats — or us, their faithful fans — had in mind, but after finishing fourth on the ladder with a 21-12 record and a strong run to the Playoffs, there’s a solid foundation to build on, and perhaps a little unfinished business to fuel NBL27.

Now, with two-time championship winner Angus Brandt back in the squad and a few fresh faces joining the mix, the Wildcats are looking to turn last season’s near miss into a championship-winning campaign. 

The Wildcats’ 2026-27 season starts at RAC Arena on Saturday, September 19th against the South East Melbourne Phoenix, kicking off a colossal season of big rivalries, high-stakes basketball, and plenty happening beyond the court. 

Wilbur, the Wildcats’ well-dressed mascot, is back. As are the mesmerising Wildcats Dancers and The Y Fan Zone, where families can get stuck into some pre-game face painting, photobooths, and more. Everyone’s favourite game-day ritual returns, too, with the roaring, raucous Red Army March. Led by Junkadelic Brass Band, the march winds from Murray Street Mall to Pirate Life Perth for a craft beer to help calm the nerves, before finishing at RAC Arena ahead of the tip-off. Everyone’s welcome to join at any part of the march — it’ll be loud and a fun way to support the team. 

Less than a week after the season opener, the Wildcats will face arch-rivals the Adelaide 36ers on Thursday, September 24th, for what promises to be a particularly spicy early-season clash. It’s a pretty compelling excuse to clock off, gather the crew, and swap your usual Thursday night plans for a few fun hours of on- and off-court action. 

A few nights later, on Saturday, September 26, the New Zealand Breakers will fly into town just in time for Perth to make a seamless transition from one kind of ball to another. Once the siren sounds on the AFL Grand Final, head to RAC Arena for a 7.30 pm tip-off and keep the sporting spirit going long after the premiership cup has been lifted. 

That’s the beauty of a Wildcats game: you don’t necessarily need to be able to explain a travelling violation to have a very, very good time. Bring the kids, meet your mates, come straight from the office with your colleagues or stroll in solo, draped in red, for the spectacle of a packed arena, electric fans, and a game that can turn on a dime. 

After six months away, it’s about time. 

The opening home game schedule & how to get tickets OpponentDateTicketsSE Melbourne PhoenixSaturday, September 19th, 2026Via TicketekAdelaide 36ersThursday, September 24th, 2026Via TicketekNew Zealand BreakersSaturday, September 26th, 2026Via TicketekSE Melbourne PhoenixFriday, October 2nd, 2026Via TicketekNew Zealand BreakersSaturday, October 10th, 2026Via TicketekMelbourne UnitedFriday, October 23rd, 2026Via TicketekSydney KingsWednesday, October 28th, 2026Via TicketekIllawarra HawksSaturday, October 31st, 2026Via TicketekCairns TaipansSunday, November 8th, 2026Via TicketekTasmania JackJumpersThursday, November 12th, 2026Via TicketekIllawarra HawksSaturday, November 14th, 2026Via Ticketek

Tickets to individual home games are available through Ticketek, or make a season of it with a 2026-27 Wildcats membership.

The post The Perth Wildcats Are Back, And The New Season Is Looking Like A Slam Dunk  appeared first on So Perth

Mental health check-in: when was the last time your career made you feel like you were making a real difference?

Not just paying the bills and filling your days, but doing work in a role that challenges you, rewards you, and leaves the world — or at least the little corner of it you occupy — better than you found it. 

Those already working in the community services sector will know that careers built around supporting, connecting with, and advocating for others can offer plenty of those moments, but of course, even the most rewarding careers can leave you wanting to learn more.

And for eligible West Australians, there’s an opportunity to do exactly that before the year is out, with available funding covering the course fees for Activ Pathways’ 10-month Certificate IV in Mental Health.

Rather than pausing your career, Activ Pathways’ nationally recognised qualification is designed to complement the experience and skills you already have. Across 50 sessions delivered remotely, you’ll cover areas including effective communication, risk assessment, and crisis intervention. Over the course of the program, you’ll build a deeper understanding of mental health, feel more equipped in the work you’re already doing, and potentially open up a new direction for your career.

There are very good reasons why those skills are feeling particularly relevant right now. We’re living through a period where the world can feel, quite frankly, a little bleak. From the aftershocks of the pandemic to the everyday pressures piling up, a better understanding of mental health has taken on a new relevance. For anyone whose working life involves supporting others in any capacity, that knowledge can be an incredibly useful tool to have on hand.

There’s a bigger purpose behind the organisation delivering the course, too. Activ Pathways is a Registered Training Organisation supporting more than 500 graduates in Perth each year, but its work doesn’t stop at the classroom door. As part of genU — a profit-for-purpose organisation — the money generated through its training work helps support the wider services genU provides to people living with disability. 

Limited funded placements are available with an October 2026 start, so if you’re ready to take the next step in your career, find out more about the CHC43315 Certificate IV Mental Health and apply through Activ Pathways. 

The post This Fee-Free Mental Health Course Could Be Your Next Career Move appeared first on So Perth

Look up at the night sky from the verdant green grass of Kings Park and you might see gum trees swaying overhead, a bat darting between the branches, or, if you’re lucky, a shooting star. Come October, you can add several hundred drones to the list. 

For three nights only from October 2nd to 4th, the Western Australian Botanic Garden will become the stage for Moortabiny (Becoming Family), a new after-dark experience exploring the environment that surrounds us through Noongar storytelling, science, sound, and light. 

Crafted by two-time Miles Franklin Literary Award winner Kim Scott in collaboration with Walter McGuire OAM, Moortabiny unfolds in three acts: a twilight wander through the gardens, an original soundscape inspired by botanical research, and a choreographed drone display above the Pioneer Women’s Memorial.

Start With A Stroll To Meet The Trees

The evening begins beneath the canopy, with visitors invited to wander through the gardens at their own pace, following a series of bespoke sonic storytelling stations hidden amongst the flora.

At each stop, Kings Park scientists and horticulturalists spill the secrets of the plants around you, from research helping them thrive to the painstaking work involved in protecting WA’s extraordinary botanical heritage.

It’s a chance to meet the locals, so to speak, in a garden that has spent six decades doing serious work for our state’s flora and conservation.

Credit: Kirli Saunders, First Lights Ngununggula and Fremantle Biennale. Photo Brian Ramsey Stop and Listen

In a one-of-a-kind experience at Kings Park, the gardens get a soundtrack of their own, composed from the almost imperceptible rhythms of life unfolding within them. 

Through a fascinating process known as data sonification, Kings Park scientists have transformed data gathered from the natural world into music: the comings and goings of birds, the rise and fall of sap through the trees, and other subtle signs of activity all become notes in an original score.

The resulting soundscape will echo through the gardens surrounding the Pioneer Women’s Memorial, turning the unseen activity of the park into a living soundtrack before the drones take flight.

Then, Look Up

Finally, all eyes turn to the sky. 

Hundreds of drones will take flight above the Pioneer Women’s Memorial, with captivating formations inspired by WA’s landscape and native flora. As they move overhead, light and narrative come together to illuminate the story of Country, biodiversity, and Kings Park, with an extended flight time allowing the aerial display to unfold at a more leisurely pace than many of its high-speed counterparts.

It’s the first drone show ever presented by Kings Park, and a fitting finale to an evening that moves from the ground, to the sounds, to the sky. 

Come early, claim your patch of grass and make a night of it, with grazing boxes available to pre-order through Ticketmaster, plus food and refreshments available on site all night long. 

Moortabiny (Becoming Family) runs from October 2nd to 4th during the school holiday period at the Western Australian Botanic Garden, Kings Park.

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.

The post Kings Park’s Debut Drone Show Is Taking Over The Night Sky This October appeared first on So Perth

The knots in the stomach will again be present for players and fans alike on Friday. But becoming immortals as the first Dockers to claim a premiership was never going to be easy.

Follow our live coverage here.

Lower than average rainfall was recorded across the majority of Western Australia this winter, Bureau of Meteorology data shows, even in the state’s South West – usually known for higher rainfall levels. 

Australians spent more than $4.2 billion on gaming during the 2025 calendar year, a 12 per cent increase over the previous 12 months. So how can WA get a share of the action?

The extinction of the crested-tailed mulgara is a stark example of how failures in environmental policy and inadequate resources for comprehensive conservation management can allow species to slip through the cracks.

A wheat field has been installed on an empty office floor in the Perth CBD. No, we’re not running out of agricultural land. It’s an art installation called there is nothing you need to do in here by Wongan Hills Arts Co., also known as WHAC. 

We sat down with one of the team behind it, Alex Miller of WHAC, to talk about the story and creativity behind it. 

How do you come up with an idea like this?

“The site was pretty unique to activate culturally with something, and the scale of it was pretty intimidating, so we tried to lean into that a lot to come up with something to put in here. We wanted to bring a bit of the wheat belt to Perth because we’re going to be doing some projects out there, and so we thought, playing on the scale, let’s bring a giant commercial environment from the wheat belt into a very large commercial environment in the middle of the city.”

Miller grew up in Perth but has spent a lot of time in the Wheatbelt, and he’s candid that sometimes there isn’t much of a creative process behind an idea. Sometimes the idea just hits you, and your gut just says this is the idea to run with.  

“I think everyone experiences this, whether you’re a creative or not. You just have a moment of clarity when you’re thinking about something, and you’re like, that’s just it. And that’s kind of how we landed on this.”

Coming up with the idea is often the easy part, believe it or not. The real work is turning that idea into a finished product: getting financing for the project and, in this case, setting up the wheat field ready to open to the public. It took 29 days and a small team to set up this office floor and turn it into a wheat field.

What do you want people to take away from the art installation?

The title of the exhibition tells you what you should do while there — nothing. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t walk away thinking or feeling something.

The space is eerily quiet, given that right outside are the busy streets of the CBD, with traffic flowing and people hustling. That’s part of the point.

“We’ve created a really contemplative, reflective kind of space,” Miller said. “We’re just hoping people can come in and switch off before they go back out into the city. It’s so loud and hectic, and there’s so much movement out there. So we’re really hoping that people can just switch off, recalibrate for a second before they leave.”

What you make of it after that is up to you, and Miller is happy for that to be a strong opinion in either direction. He likes art that gets a reaction.

“I really enjoy art that makes people think and complain,” he said. “I think art is a great discussion starter.”

That’s been a new experience for him. This is the first time he’s presented something on this scale, and opinions have already started coming in, sparking discussion and debate on social media. He takes that as a positive sign that people will be really engaged when the exhibition officially opens this week.

Perth’s art scene, and the artists who inspire him

Miller has worked in the Perth arts world for years and calls the question of whether the city does enough for its artists highly debatable. It’s a competitive scene, and he said there could always be more support and grant funding from the government, but he also understands the reality of how competitive the grants space is for projects like this.

But many artists have inspired him over the years. Two in particular that he mentioned are Stephen Brameld and Jay Staples. They’re a Fremantle-based self-taught duo who paint and sculpt, both working on the same artwork until they reach a point where they both agree that it’s ready for the world. 

They regularly host exhibitions and galleries of their work. Keep an eye on their social media to know when the next one is (@j_staples_ and @stephenbrameld).

How to see there is nothing you need to do in here.?

there is nothing you need to do in here. is at 1 Mill Street, off St Georges Terrace, from September 11th to October 11th. 

Book a time to see it here.

The post A Wheat Field Has Popped Up Inside A CBD Office Building & It’s A Sensory Experience appeared first on So Perth

The Dockers will host Geelong in a semi-final at Optus Stadium on Friday night, with the winner to face the Swans in Sydney in a preliminary final.