What's happening in Perth

In the hours after the Bondi Beach terrorist attack, Martin Glynn, 39, made a post in support of the gunmen and their actions in targeting the Jewish community.

I’ve watched what happens when governments let water extraction get ahead of science, enforcement and common sense.

The state government says the draft plan to increase groundwater extraction is science-based and supportive of both industry and the environment. These experts are not convinced.

WA could become the third state in Australia to begin manufacturing military missiles after the government announced it was seeking expressions of interest to build a weapons hub. 

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A Perth builder is offering flexible hours for parents. The overwhelming response has exposed a massive blind spot in the industry.

Car Park One at Cottesloe Beach is being torn up and turned into a public plaza, with grass terraces, an event space, and a proper pedestrian and cycling thoroughfare running alongside the beach.

The federal government has committed $10 million through its Urban Precincts and Partnerships Program, with the Town of Cottesloe putting in $5 million of its own. That $15 million covers Stage One of a redevelopment plan that’s been sitting on the shelf since 2018, when Council first adopted the Foreshore Revitalisation Masterplan. Detailed construction drawings were approved back in 2021. The funding has now finally been secured to make it happen.

Credit: City of Cottesloe / Supplied

Stage One of the redevelopment concentrates on the strip of foreshore most visitors are quite familiar with — the part directly opposite the cafés and restaurants on Marine Parade. The main car park will be replaced by terraced seating, a landscaped community space, and an event plaza for events such as Sculpture by the Sea, summer markets, and council-run events. Footpaths along Marine Parade will be widened, and the road layout will be reworked with traffic-calming measures so pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers aren’t competing for the same patch of asphalt.

Universal beach access for people of all abilities is part of the brief, along with new tree planting and active transport upgrades. Mayor Melissa Harkins described the project as ready to go.

“This funding allows us to move forward with a project that has strong community support and has been years in the making,” Mayor Harkins said. “It is shovel-ready and will deliver lasting social, economic and environmental benefits.”

A project years in the making Credit: City of Cottesloe / Supplied

The Foreshore Revitalisation Masterplan was adopted by Council in 2018, with detailed construction drawings approved in 2021. What’s followed since has been the long wait for someone to write a big cheque. The federal contribution, announced yesterday at the foreshore by Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman, closes that gap, at least for Stage One.

“Cottesloe beach holds treasured memories for generations of Australians and for our international visitors,” Gorman said. “We are working with the Council to ensure it is protected, celebrated and enjoyed by future generations.”

“Cottesloe Beach is one of Perth’s most recognisable and loved destinations, attracting visitors from across Australia and around the world,” Mayor Harkins said.

The economic case sits on tourism numbers. The foreshore draws year-round visitors who flow through to cafés, restaurants, and accommodation in the surrounding streets, and the redesigned precinct is meant to make those connections more seamless.

Stage One covers roughly half of the overall project, which is costed at just over $30 million. With the federal piece secured, the Town has turned its attention to the WA State Government for the rest.

“Delivery of Stage One represents 50 per cent of the overall project and the Town looks forward to continuing discussions with the State Government to secure outcomes that may deliver the remainder of the project,” Mayor Harkins added.

Stage Two would extend improvements north toward Eric Street and redesign Car Park Two on Napier Street, including the addition of a mezzanine level.

A construction timeline hasn’t been formally announced. After eight years of plans, drawings, and waiting, Cottesloe’s foreshore is finally moving past the masterplan stage.

The post Cottesloe Foreshore Redevelopment Gets Green Light With $15 Million Funding Package appeared first on So Perth

Upstairs at 413 Murray Street, five comedians work the room for 90 minutes while you and your date eat pizza and try not to make eye contact with the one doing crowd work. This is where you want to be for a first, second, or fiftieth date. Here’s our argument for why…

There seems to be a lot of public discourse lately about what the best, or even acceptable, options are for a first date. Some are arguing for a simple coffee or a walk to casually get to know each other. While others suggest it has to be more intentional and planned, like dinner somewhere nice. Both are right; both are wrong. There’s also another option — do something fun where there’s no pressure, more closeness, and laughs aplenty.

Comedy Lounge is one of the few Perth venues that ticks the box for a perfect date night. You laugh, you eat, you drink, and a professional handles the conversation for an hour and a half.

Credit: Comedy Lounge

Here is how you make the most of a date night at the Comedy Lounge.

Better than dinner because…

Look, we love dinner. And usually we’re suggesting everyone go out to a fancy restaurant with a perfect Italian wine list full of names you struggle to pronounce and are fun to say, like Montepulciano.

But a first date at a restaurant can often be like a two-hour interview where one person typically has to carry the conversation, and you’re forced to commit for the evening with no easy out. You sit across from each other, taking turns asking surface-level, boring interview questions under the guise of conversation. The waiter awkwardly (or thankfully) interrupts every nine minutes or so to top up your drinks. The struggle is real.

Comedy Lounge does the opposite. You sit beside each other, which is already a better option for a date. You react to the same things, or you don’t, which gives you an easy in for a bit of banter and light teasing, especially when you think a joke lands, and they just miss it. 

The comedian does all the hard work and carries the night, while you get all the credit for suggesting it. You’re just two people sitting in a dimly lit room, along for the ride. When eventually the comedian hands the reins back to you, you have the comedy show to talk about — even if you usually suck at conversation, you got this easy.

The Showcase: Definitely book this one Credit: Comedy Lounge

The Showcase runs Friday and Saturday at 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm. Five professional comedians, 90 minutes, a fresh lineup every weekend. Need we say more? We’re going to anyway.

It’s the same philosophy that’s brought Chris Rock, Jim Jefferies, Sacha Baron Cohen, Russell Peters, and Arj Barker through over the years. International touring comedians sit alongside established Australian names and Perth comics good enough to share the stage and get some laughs. You can book a Friday and end up watching someone who headlined arenas the week before, or whose Netflix show you’ve watched on repeat. You won’t get that at the Italian restaurant you were going to pick.

The programming for the night does the heavy lifting for you. No single comedian carries the night, so if one set isn’t for you, the next one might land. By the time the Showcase closes, you’ve watched five different styles of laughs, all in the time you would have spent arguing about mains and dessert. 

The 6:30 pm show leaves the rest of the evening open so if things are going well, you can move on to dinner and drinks somewhere nearby. The 8:30 pm show suits dates where pre-drinks come first.

For a first date, this is the safest booking on the calendar. The variety means no flat nights, and the 90-minute runtime gives you a clear window without committing the whole evening.

Thursdays: the third date stress test

The Gong Show, every Thursday at 7:00 pm, is the unpolished version. Comedians take the stage knowing the audience can gong them off if their material doesn’t land. Some sets leave the room in stitches. Some get pulled mid-bit. The unpredictability is what makes it fun. I’m pretty sure you would have seen this style on many movies and TV shows over the years.

It’s also a good way to find out early whether the person you’re seeing has a sense of humour and whether yours matches theirs. A second or third date works better here than a first — by then you’ve hopefully established enough common ground to laugh at the same things, or to disagree about them without it derailing the night.

Sundays, starting June

In June, Comedy Lounge launches Sunday Sesh, a new Sunday afternoon slot. A 5:00 pm session where you can sit back, watch the professional comedians do their thing, grab a bite, and still be home early enough to get a good night’s sleep so you’re ready for Monday morning. This is the more relaxed date night option with the person you’ve been seeing for a while. 

Can you think of a better way to close out the week and welcome a new one than by sharing a few laughs?

Front row or back?

When you walk in, whoever you’re with will ask it: should we sit at the back? The answer is no.

Crowd work is part of what you’re paying for. The comedian might ask what you do, what you’re drinking, or why you’re there. None of it’s designed to humiliate you. And it can often be the funniest part of the whole evening. It also gives you something to talk about afterwards, and a fun memory that you’ll remember for ages. 

If your plus-one is genuinely allergic to attention, the room’s design means you don’t lose out in the experience by sitting further back. Every seat has a table. Every table has a great view.

How to book Credit: Comedy Lounge

The Showcase runs Friday and Saturday at 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm. The Gong Show is on Thursday at 7:00 pm. Sunday Sesh launches in June with the first show on Sunday, June 21st.

Tickets are available on the Comedy Lounge website; walk-ins are subject to availability. The venue is upstairs at 413 Murray Street, Perth.

Keep an eye on the calendar or subscribe to the mailing list for special events and solo shows.

The post Five Comedians, A Full Bar, No Awkward Silences: Why Comedy Lounge Is The Best Date Night In Perth appeared first on So Perth

A Pemberton winery has claimed back-to-back honours at the Top Up Wines WA Wine Awards, with Ampersand Estates’ 2024 Pinot Noir tying for the title of People’s Choice award alongside Margaret River producer LS Merchants.

The result is almost the same as the results at the inaugural awards last year, when the Ampersand Estates’ 2022 Pinot Noir took the top spot. This time, two wines finished level after more than 25,000 votes were cast online across more than 1,000 local WA wines — a dead heat that award founder Jamie Burnett says he had to verify repeatedly before accepting the numbers were right.

“When I saw the results, I couldn’t believe it. I checked and re-checked a dozen times, but the numbers were spot on. To have more than 25-thousand votes and two wines taking it out in a dead heat is extraordinary. It really shows that anything can happen when you throw it over to the people,” said Burnett.

The 2024 Pinot Noir is made entirely from Pemberton fruit, handpicked and gravity-fed to open fermenters.

When talking about the wine, co-owner Corrie Scheepers said, “Our Pinot Noir is immediately aromatic and complex with red cherries, wild strawberries, paprika, and a subtle truffle-like earthiness. It is medium-bodied with fleshy plummy fruit, raspberry coulis, pomegranate and a hint of Moroccan spice. A beautiful tension between pithy acidity and fine structural tannins provides great length and interest.”

Ampersand Estates was inducted into Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia in January, a national collection of wine tourism operators. That followed distribution deals in Singapore and Sydney, and a dedicated membership program for wine enthusiasts in the US and Singapore.

Co-Owner Melissa Bell added, “Corrie and I have spent a lot of time sharing the story of our ancient soils with partners in the US, Europe, China and across Australia, so this is remarkable recognition of that hard work.”

National wine critic Ray Jordan also highly rates the winery, awarding the Homestead Syrah 96 points and the Pinot Noir 94 points.

Coming up next month, Ampersand Estates will launch the Rainfall Distillery Gardens, with chardonnay grapes forming the base spirit in what the winery describes as an Australian-first closed-loop spirits program.

The 56-hectare property sits in the Pemberton Wine Region, about three hours south of Perth, 30 minutes north of Pemberton township and 45 minutes east of Margaret River.

The post Pemberton Winery Wins WA’s Favourite Wine Title Two Years Running appeared first on So Perth

Fremantle has been confirmed as the host of the Australia Sail Grand Prix for a second year running, with the Cook Government confirming the event will return in February 2027 as part of a three-year agreement to bring SailGP to Western Australia through to 2028.

The announcement follows a sellout debut in January 2026 that drew over 12,000 attendees to Fremantle and generated significant tourism spending and global media coverage. Tourism Minister Reece Whitby said, “Following the highly anticipated debut event in 2026, where thousands of fans descended on Fremantle as part of a sell-out crowd, it’s fantastic to lock in the dates for the second year of this prestigious international competition in Western Australia.”

“SailGP is a truly global sporting spectacle that delivers major tourism and economic benefits for our State, attracting visitors, supporting local businesses and showcasing WA to millions of viewers around the world, and we’re thrilled to be welcoming it back to our shores.”

Similar results are expected in 2027, when Perth will be the second stop on SailGP’s expanded global calendar, the league’s biggest season to date, spanning 13 events across Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America, and the Middle East. New destinations, including Hong Kong and a yet-to-be-confirmed European city, join the 2027 schedule alongside returning host San Francisco. Fremantle will be the only Australian stop on the calendar, and the sole home race for the championship-leading BONDS Flying Roos team.

Economic benefits for Fremantle

The benefits of the Sail GP in January extended beyond the race itself. There was a strong economic flow-on from the event, with the main beneficiary being the local tourism and hospitality sectors, from hotels to bars and restaurants.

Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk added, “I am so pleased Fremantle will once again have the eyes of the world upon our shores when this event descends on Fremantle, a place with a rich sailing history.”

“This year’s event was a huge success for Fremantle with many travellers staying longer and spending more which is great for local businesses.”

“SailGP also generated enormous global media coverage showcasing Fremantle’s beautiful coast and historic town to millions of viewers around the world.”

The details

Final event dates for SailGP 2027 are still to be confirmed. Fans who want access to the exclusive pre-sale window can sign up to SailGP+ at sailgp.com.

The post SailGP Returns to Fremantle in February 2027 After Sold-Out Debut appeared first on So Perth

We’re all about turning a mundane Saturday into an extraordinary one.

A usual Saturday in the Swan Valley could include a long lunch at one of the wineries, maybe tasting one or two wines, and probably a stop for cheese and chocolate on the way home. It is a good Saturday out in the Swan Valley, but it’s the same Saturday that you’ve done a dozen times.

This weekend, there’s something very different to do. The City of Swan is launching the Swan Valley Show on Saturday, a free, all-day country event at the WA State Equestrian Centre in Brigadoon. You’d think a country show in the Swan Valley would be something the region has been running for decades, but this is the first of, hopefully, many years.

What is the Swan Valley Show?

The Swan Valley Show is a new entertainment concept being built on the grounds of WA’s premier equestrian facility, a 66-hectare property in Brigadoon. For one day, it becomes an outdoor arena with axemen chopping on stage, free amusement rides, monster-truck rides, motorbike stunts, a licensed bar, and the Eagles-Collingwood game on the big screen, starting at 2:35 pm.

Credit: Swan Valley

Local talent will be taking the stage throughout the day. Emily Joy, a Perth-raised, WAAPA and Berklee-trained country-pop artist who has played The Muster and Tamworth, opens with a country set at 11:20 am. Lisa Woodbrook, the Perth singer and cabaret performer best known for sold-out Fringe runs, closes the main stage with a Dolly Parton tribute at 5:00 pm. In between sits a Morgan Wallen tribute at 12:55 pm, a Luke Combs tribute at 2:50 pm, Fliptease’s whip and lasso show at 12:10 pm, and Hardwired motorbike stunts three times across the afternoon.

Credit: Swan Valley

Then of course it wouldn’t be a country show without line dancing with Boot ‘n’ Booty Slappin runs between sets.

Around the stages, there will be market stalls, food trucks, woodcarving demonstrations, sideshow games, showbags, an animal farm, and championship showjumping in the indoor arena. Plus free amusement rides for the kids and a main bar serving throughout the day, which will no doubt keep the adults happy.

What to know before you go

It is plastic-free, so bring a bottle. Refill stations are dotted around the grounds. This is a dog-friendly show, so dogs on leads are welcome. Parking is on site, with accessible parking available. One thing worth knowing if you are wheeling a pram or a mobility device, most of the attractions sit on turf, with some provisions in place.

The details

For those not familiar, Brigadoon and the WA State Equestrian Centre sit at the northern edge of the Swan Valley, just past Upper Swan and tucked into the foothills near Walyunga National Park.

It is about 35 minutes north-east of the Perth CBD by car, and roughly 15 minutes from the heart of the wineries around West Swan and Henley Brook. The WA State Equestrian Centre sits on Cathedral Avenue, signposted off Lord Street.

Date: Saturday, May 23rd 2026
Location: WA State Equestrian Centre, Cathedral Ave, Brigadoon
Entry: Free
Dogs: Welcome on leads

For all show details, visit the official website.

The post The Swan Valley Is Getting Its Own Royal Show — And It’s This Weekend appeared first on So Perth

Thirty minutes from Perth, in the park that was the state’s first, a 250-metre stretch of corten steel and reclaimed spotted gum has just opened to the public. The Glen Brook elevated walkway began operating in mid-May 2026 and is the first elevated structure of its kind in John Forrest National Park.

The walkway was fabricated and installed by local company Advanteering Civil Engineers. It runs over Glen Brook itself, with views taking in the surrounding granite outcrops, Jane Brook and the Railway Reserve Heritage Trail.

How to get to the walkway

The walkway is currently accessible from one direction only. With construction about to begin on the West Ridge amenities plaza at the western end, the only way on is via a newly installed ramp and short access trail on the eastern side, branching off the existing Glen Brook Trail. The Glen Brook Trail itself starts at the main picnic area.

That eastern access is temporary. Once the wider project is finished, the walkway will form an accessible walking and cycling link between the West Ridge carpark and the future Park Hub.

What you see from up there Credit: DBCA

The new walkway adds a different perspective and an accessible section to John Forrest National Park. It crosses over Glen Brook, with the surrounding granite outcrops, Jane Brook and the Railway Reserve Heritage Trail all visible from the elevated walkway. Glen Brook itself only flows in winter and spring, so the view changes substantially with the season. Wildflower season runs from roughly August through November, when the park is also at its busiest.

The wider Glen Brook Trail was already on the short list of Perth walking trails that work with kids. The main picnic area at the trailhead is a good spot to stop and relax, and there’s a nature playground nearby for the kids to stretch their legs even more.

Further development at John Forrest National Park

The walkway is part of a project worth close to $11 million, funded by the state government with $2.5 million from the WA Recovery Plan. The next stage is the West Ridge amenities plaza, a $2.1 million Advanteering build that will include toilets, a sheltered trailhead, seating, bike racks and accessible paths linking to the walkway. Completion is expected in early 2027.

Beyond that, the planned Park Hub will become the central visitor area, with the walkway as the link between it and the new carpark. For now, the walkway is open from the eastern side, and the rest of the park, including the waterfalls, the Swan View Tunnel and the older trails, is still there to add to your itinerary on your visit.

The post Perth’s Oldest National Park Lifts Visitors Into The Canopy For The First Time appeared first on So Perth