So Perth

Perth Zoo’s Native Species Breeding Program has reached its 30th anniversary. Established in 1996, it has bred or reared more than 6,000 animals across 11 species for release into the wild, run in partnership with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and other conservation groups.

“Western Australia is home to some of the most unique and extraordinary wildlife in the world, some of which would be in considerable trouble without the zoo’s efforts,” said Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn. “It has played a critical role in protecting these species for generations to come.”

Mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds have all come through the program over the three decades. It now concentrates on four priority species: the numbat, western swamp tortoise, white-bellied frog, and hairy marron.

The numbat is the one most Western Australians know, and Perth Zoo is the only facility in the world breeding them. More than 325 zoo-born numbats have been released to bolster existing wild populations and establish new ones elsewhere in Australia. In July the International Union for Conservation of Nature moved the species from endangered to near threatened on its Red List, naming the zoo’s breeding work as a key factor. The numbat is still listed as endangered under national environment law, with an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 left in the wild.

“The recent downlisting of the numbat highlights the value of long-term conservation partnerships and the important role Perth Zoo continues to play in species recovery,” Swinbourn said.

The other three priority species the zoo has bred and released include 1,148 critically endangered western swamp tortoises, Australia’s rarest reptile, which survives in a handful of ephemeral swamps on the Swan Coastal Plain. It has reared and released 1,553 white-bellied frogs, a species confined to a small pocket of the South West. And since a breeding program for the critically endangered hairy marron began in 2022, more than 286 craylings have hatched. The hairy marron lives in the upper reaches of the Margaret River and nowhere else on earth.

The work goes well past breeding. Zoo science staff and wildlife conservation specialists handle genetics-based breeding management, reproductive monitoring, habitat design, and species-specific care to prepare animals for release, and the research coming out of that has fed into recovery plans and improved care techniques across the state.

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Major events held across Perth and regional Western Australia in 2025-26 injected close to $223 million into the state economy, according to figures released by the Cook Government. The State Government backed close to 100 events across the year, which together drew more than 2.1 million attendees and close to 132,000 visitors.

“Events are an incredibly valuable investment for the Western Australia tourism sector, bringing a huge $223 million in impact from major events alone, plus the huge social, community, and media value,” said Premier and Tourism, Trade and Investment Minister Roger Cook.

“We know that hosting blockbusters raises the profile and reputation of our State, showcasing Western Australia on a global stage and helping bring even more visitors here, injecting valuable dollars into local tourism, hospitality, and accommodation businesses.”

The WWE Takeover Weekend in October 2025 brought over 40,000 fans into RAC Arena across three nights of Friday Night SmackDown, Crown Jewel: Perth, and Monday Night RAW, with more than 12,500 of them travelling from interstate.

The opening Test of the Ashes at Optus Stadium in November attracted around 8,500 visitors from the United Kingdom and 11,000 from interstate. More than 100,000 people came through the gates across the first two days of play, making it the highest-attended Test match ever held at the ground.

February brought the first Perth SailGP, which sold out with a crowd of over 15,000. AFL Origin returned to Optus Stadium after a 27-year absence and also sold out, and in May, UFC Fight Night drew close to 14,000 to RAC Arena for a card headlined by Perth’s Jack Della Maddalena. North Melbourne’s regional home game at Hands Oval in Bunbury returned for a second year, bringing thousands of out-of-region visitors south.

What the events cost

What the State Government paid to secure any of it isn’t public. Individual event fees are held as commercial-in-confidence, and leaked documents reported in July by 9News Perth and Business News put the total spend at around $33 million, including $4 million for the AC Milan and Perth Glory friendly. Roger Cook disputed those figures at the time, saying they didn’t match the government’s own record keeping, and the Opposition has been pushing since for event costs to be published.

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Brandon Knight has signed with the Perth Wildcats for NBL27, ending their search for a point guard, and filling the last spot on John Rillie’s roster. Perth open the season against South East Melbourne Phoenix at RAC Arena on Saturday night, though Knight isn’t expected to be in a position to play in that game.

Wildcats fans have been quite vocal about their need for a strong point guard as the piece that’s been missing since Bryce Cotton left for Adelaide. 

Mason Jones, signed as Cotton’s replacement, lasted five games last season before the club released him, and the position was the obvious weak point in a campaign that ended in a semi-finals exit to the eventual Champions, the Sydney Kings. General manager Danny Mills said earlier this month that Perth would be strategic about the replacement rather than sign someone to fill a hole. Knight’s name had already come up once, in January, when the club looked at him as an injury replacement for David Duke Jr.

Knight’s NBA career

Knight went eighth overall to the Detroit Pistons in the 2011 draft, out of a single season at Kentucky, in a draft class that also produced Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, and Kawhi Leonard. He made the All-Rookie First Team the following year and played 451 NBA games across Detroit, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Houston, Cleveland, and Dallas, averaging 14 points, 3.9 assists, and 3.1 rebounds.

The best of it came at Phoenix. In 2015-16, he averaged a career-high 19.6 points a game. In November of that season, he dropped a career-high 38 points and 11 rebounds on Denver, scoring 17 in the fourth quarter to drag the Suns back from a 17-point deficit, on an ankle he’d sprained before halftime. Two weeks earlier, he’d posted his first triple-double against the Lakers: 30 points, 15 assists, ten rebounds, and four steals. 

His last NBA game was with Dallas in 2022, and he’s played in Puerto Rico and Greece since. He won the BSN MVP award and the Puerto Rican league scoring title in 2023 at 23.3 points per game, and most recently averaged 18 points, 6.3 assists, and 3.7 rebounds across 20 appearances at 47% from the field.

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From July 2027, a new health service provider will take statewide responsibility for maternity, neonatal, and child health in WA. The Child and Adolescent Health Service will merge with King Edward Memorial Hospital, and the new Women and Babies Hospital will be under one organisation, a change the Cook Government says follows clinical consultation carried out in 2023 and 2025.

At Perth Children’s Hospital, an additional $95.4 million will fund 19 new neonatal beds, along with two new rooms for mothers who need hospital care themselves while their baby is at PCH for specialist treatment.

A dedicated Newborn Emergency Transfer Service hub will be set up at the new Women and Babies Hospital in Murdoch, with a smaller expansion of the existing NETS service at PCH. NETS runs a mobile intensive care unit that moves about 1,100 sick newborns and young infants each year from the hospital where they were born to another one for urgent care. Paediatric services at Fiona Stanley Hospital will also expand, with more paediatric specialists available to residents in Perth’s south and east.

“Following consultations with clinicians and Western Australian families, we’ve identified a need to align our State-wide maternity, neonatal and paediatric services under one umbrella,” said Health Minister Meredith Hammat.

“A new dedicated health service provider will provide enhanced coordination and oversight, and support continuity of care for families from pregnancy, to birth and the childhood years.”

What doctors are still objecting to

The new Women and Babies Hospital is being built next to Fiona Stanley Hospital in Murdoch, about 20 kilometres from PCH, where some newborns will need to be transferred for specialist surgery and care. Doctors, families, and the Opposition have argued since 2023 that it should go on the QEII campus in Nedlands instead, alongside PCH and Sir Charles Gairdner. The Government says building there would either disrupt the hospitals already on site or delay the project unacceptably.

Australian Medical Association WA president Kyle Hoath told the ABC the upgrades were welcome but didn’t resolve the problem, with services that need to sit side by side still separated. The AMA estimates that between 100 and 200 babies a year would need to be moved between the two hospitals. The Government’s own response to the consultation report says there is no consensus on how large that group would be. Opposition health spokesperson Libby Mettam described the plans as flawed. Merging the services under one provider changes how they are run, not where they are.

That consultation report, dated November 2025, was only tabled in parliament this week. It records that clinicians considered and rejected a smaller satellite birthing facility at PCH on safety, workforce, and service fragmentation grounds. The PCH upgrades will also require moving admin staff out of the building and relocating a surgical ward.

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Happy Quokka Birthday! Just when you thought a quokka couldn’t get any cuter, the next generation of joeys have emerged from their mother’s pouches, taking the adorable factor to the next level.

This weekend (September 12th–13th) is Little Quokka’s Big Birthday Weekend on Rottnest Island.

“The return of Quokka’s Big Birthday Weekend celebrates the arrival of quokka joeys with two days of wildlife encounters, outdoor activities, live entertainment and hands-on fun,” said Tourism, Trade and Investment Minister Roger Cook.

“I’d encourage families to get along to the Quokka birthday celebrations, and this is made easier through free same-day travel and island admission for kids.”

What’s on across the weekend

Celebrate the wonder of nature and new life on Wadjemup / Rottnest Island with a weekend program of workshops, activities, and festivities for the whole family.

Around the Thomson Bay settlement, children can build native bee hotels from recycled and natural materials, make maps of Wadjemup from found objects, add to a collaborative 3D quokka sculpture, and take part in sensory play activities. Island rangers are running quokka talks and guided nature sessions across both days, and the event precinct has live entertainment, children’s shows, storytelling, yoga, and mindfulness activities.

Children aged between five and 12 can also collect a Wadjemup / Rottnest Island Nature Passport from the event information point, which replaces the Nature Play book handed out in previous years. You can download the full program and event map here..

Getting there Credit: Rottnest Island Authority

Getting to the island has never been easier, with free same-day travel and admission to Rottnest Island for children 16 years and under.

Ferries depart from Fremantle, Barrack St Jetty, and Hillarys Boat Harbour multiple times per day. The main operators are Sealink, Rottnest Fast Ferries, and Rottnest Express.

Where is it?

On Rottnest Island, obviously…The event is located in the heart of the settlement, across Thomson Lawn and the terraces in front of the Visitor Centre — just a two-minute walk from the main jetty.

Register for a free ticket

Join the celebrations on Saturday, September 12th and Sunday, September 13th. The event is free, but registration is required.

The famed quokka

Rottnest Island’s photogenic ambassador skyrocketed to international fame after high-profile celebrities, including Roger Federer, Margot Robbie, and Chris Hemsworth, posted selfies with the adorable marsupials on social media. 

Native to Western Australia’s Rottnest Island, a Class A Reserve with pristine beaches, abundant wildlife, and plenty of sunshine, it is no wonder the quokka is world-renowned as the happiest animal on earth.

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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 →

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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Voltage Lodge has opened in central Collie, a purpose-built adventure lodge inside the 90-year-old Collie Co-op storeroom building, sleeping up to 30 guests a night.

Rooms range from private ensuites to shared and family bunk rooms, and you can book a bed, a room, or the whole lodge. The communal kitchen, dining, and lounge spaces sit at the centre of the building, designed for the groups most likely to be attracted to Voltage Lodge: mountain bike clubs, hiking groups, sporting clubs, and touring parties who’d rather stay together than split across separate motels.

For riders, there’s secure storage for up to 30 bikes, e-bike charging, a wash-down bay, and a repair station.

“Voltage Lodge is an ideal base for mountain bikers, trail walkers, and outdoor enthusiasts, and it’s fantastic to see this purpose-built accommodation open in Collie, giving visitors even more opportunities to experience the region’s world-class adventure offerings and stunning natural attractions,” said Premier Roger Cook.

“Investing in quality accommodation, particularly in our regional areas, is an integral part of my government’s vision to diversify Western Australia’s economy, which is creating local jobs.”

“That’s why initiatives such as the National Park Tourism Experiences Development Program play an important role in bringing projects like this to life.”

“Tourism infrastructure such as the Voltage Lodge encourages visitors to stay longer, explore more of the South West, and inject valuable tourism dollars into local businesses and communities.”

The Lodge is aimed squarely at what Collie has become. The Wambenger Trails now run to more than 170 kilometres of single track through Wellington National Park and Westralia Conservation Park, making it the largest mountain bike network in the State, and the town holds accredited Premier Trail Town status.

“The transformation of the former Collie Co-op storeroom into a modern adventure lodge has given new life to an important local building while creating a valuable asset for the region’s tourism industry,” said Acting South West Minister Jackie Jarvis.

Next door, Adventure Connections hires out pedal-assist e-bikes and kayaks and runs guided tours, so guests who arrive without gear can still get on the trails or the water. Bookings for the lodge are open now.

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Father’s Day is rapidly approaching (it’s this weekend), leaving many people scrambling for ideas on what to do to make it a special day and earn some extra brownie points with Dad. 

With many places booking out fast, it’s a final rush to lock something in for the big day (which is Sunday, September 6th, if you were wondering). 

Luckily, we have a variety of venues that you can choose from to book in for Saturday or Sunday.

ClosedIschia RestaurantRestaurantItalianPizza📍 155 Claisebrook road, Perth 6000Printed on the Ischia menu is a line that translates to: where you eat, drink,...$$View Venue →ClosedLe VivantRestaurantWine BarEuropeanFrench📍 489 Beaufort St HighgateYou could dine across Perth and not find anywhere quite like Le Vivant. Styles, ornaments,...$$View Venue →ClosedOtherside of NowhereBarBreweryModern Australian📍 25 Harrogate St, West Leederville WA 6007There’s a warehouse on Harrogate Street you’ve probably driven past a hundred times. Big shed,...$$View Venue →ClosedYiamasRestaurantGreek📍 26 Denis St, Subiaco WA 6008At Yiamas, you are invited on a culinary journey where ancient Greek tradition meets modern...View Venue →ClosedCeasun Thai Modern CuisineRestaurantThai📍 144 Scarborough Beach Rd, Mount Hawthorn WA 6016We’ve all said the words, “I feel like some really good Thai food.” Well, here’s...$$View Venue →ClosedCibo Bar & KitchenBarPizzeriaRestaurantItalian📍 323 Charles St, North PerthA modern Italian Restaurant in the Heart of North Perth Wood-fired pizzas prepared with the...View Venue →ClosedHQ Bar + KitchenBarRestaurantAsian Fusion📍 Rooftop, 18 The Esplanade, PerthPerched on the hotel’s 10th-floor rooftop, HQ Bar + Kitchen is a stylish dining and...View Venue →ClosedThe Lucky ShagBarRooftop BarModern Australian📍 Barrack Square, Perth WAThe word institution gets thrown around plenty in Perth. The Lucky Shag has earned it....$$View Venue →Open NowSamuels on MillBarCafeCocktail BarRestaurantWine BarAustralianBar BitesCharcuterie📍 14 Mill St, Perth WA 6000Samuels on Mill is a contemporary brasserie and bar located in the heart of Perth...View Venue →ClosedIntuition Wine & KitchenRestaurantFrenchMediterranean📍 279 Rokeby Rd, Subiaco WA 6008Intuition Wine & Kitchen offers a fusion of Modern French cuisine infused with a Mediterranean...$$View Venue →ClosedCoccodrillo Pizza & Wine BarRestaurantWine BarItalianPizza📍 29 Napoleon St, Cottesloe WA 6011Coccodrillo Pizza & Wine Bar on Napoleon Street in Cottesloe has built a reputation for...$$View Venue →ClosedHiss & SmokeBarRestaurantJapanese📍 Yagan Square, Perth WA 6000Inspired by Japan’s gastropub culture, Hiss and Smoke specialises in Japanese street eats. Engage all...$$View Venue →

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Rockpool Bar & Grill Perth has just announced that it will close its doors on October 4th for a $3 million overhaul, the most significant change to the Crown Perth restaurant since it opened in 2011. 

“This investment is about making sure Perth feels every bit as contemporary as Sydney and Melbourne, while remaining unmistakably Rockpool Perth,” said Frank Tucker, CEO of Hunter Street Hospitality, which owns the restaurant. “We’re not changing what people love about the restaurant. We’re giving it a setting that reflects Rockpool today.”

“The three Rockpool restaurants in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth have always shared the same DNA, but because they opened at different times, they’ve each evolved differently,” he said.

The redesign is by SGB Group, the team behind the recent update of Rockpool Sydney. The most dramatic change is to the bar, which has been a narrow, linear space since day one. It becomes a destination in its own right, with seating going from 24 to 41, leather stools, and a black marble-clad bar topped with natural titanium granite. It’s been designed for pre-dinner drinks, a nightcap, or for those who love to have their entire dining experience at the bar.

In the dining room, custom joinery, bespoke wine cabinetry, and upgraded Rockpool furniture arrive alongside green marble, warm timber, and tan leather. A reworked floorplan makes better use of the existing footprint and lifts capacity from 238 to 261 guests. The two existing private dining rooms are being refreshed, and a third is being added.

The wood-fired grill, the open kitchen, and the menu will remain unchanged. Executive Chef Brendan Owens, who joined Rockpool Perth as head pastry chef in 2015 and took over the kitchen in 2021, keeps the dry-aged steaks — Cape Grim and David Blackmore Wagyu among them — and Western Australian seafood at the centre of it.

“The grill has always been at the heart of Rockpool, and that isn’t changing,” said Owens. “We’ll continue to focus on exceptional Western Australian produce, carefully sourced beef dry-aged in house and the precision of cooking over wood fire. Those are the things that have always defined the way we cook here.”

This announcement follows a series of other new restaurants that are coming soon to Crown Perth, with Khao San Sek and Brasserie Astoria the first to be announced. It’s also part of a bigger project at Crown Perth, where the central atrium in the Crown Metropol lobby is being turned into an elevated bar and entertainment space. You’ll notice a lot of activity happening in that area. All the other surrounding restaurants will remain open throughout the renovations.

“After 15 years, Rockpool Perth has become part of the fabric of the city’s dining scene, and we’re incredibly proud of that,” said Tucker. “We’ve been there for plenty of celebrations and memorable occasions over the years, and we want it to continue being a place people return to.”

Rockpool Bar & Grill Perth will reopen on October 28th. In the meantime, you can find more of Perth’s best bars and restaurants with our Venue Guide.

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The Cook Government has released Western Australia’s first Perpetrator Response Framework, setting out a state-wide approach for how government agencies, community services, and specialist providers work with people who use family and domestic violence.

It arrives alongside updated Practice Standards for Perpetrator Intervention and the launch of WorkforceFDV, a $6 million entity funded over three years to train and develop the state’s family and domestic violence workforce.

The Practice Standards have been reviewed to reflect changes in legislation, policy, evidence, and practice, with a stronger emphasis on victim-survivor safety, perpetrator accountability, cultural responsiveness, and interagency co-ordination. The Framework is built on the position that ending family and domestic violence takes more than supporting victim-survivors, and requires a co-ordinated response that identifies, challenges, and addresses the behaviour of the person using violence.

“The new perpetrator resources will help provide strong, consistent responses to strengthen accountability and protect victim-survivors,” said Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Jessica Stojkovski.

The Centre for Women’s Safety and Wellbeing will deliver WorkforceFDV in partnership with Stopping Family Violence, the Council of Aboriginal Services WA, the Aboriginal Health Council WA, Community Skills WA, Professor Donna Chung, and WorkUP. It will build on the training already available to frontline workers, focusing on identifying risk and supporting victim-survivors.

“WorkforceFDV will boost the capability across the sector, providing a dedicated focus on consistent, quality service provision to victim-survivors and perpetrators,” Stojkovski said.

“Strengthening the capacity and capability of the people who work to prevent and respond to family and domestic violence is critical to the reform’s success,” added Centre for Women’s Safety and Wellbeing CEO Alison Evans.

“We know that to deliver sustainable long-term reform we must develop the specialist family and domestic violence and prevention workforces and grow the family and domestic violence capabilities of the broader workforces that intersect with family and domestic violence.”

Stopping Family Violence CEO Damian Green said the launch of WorkforceFDV alongside the Framework and the updated Practice Standards were important steps forward.

“We hope to connect these important pieces of work in implementation, ensuring we have the right foundations to embed high-quality, evidence-based responses for all workforces supporting families impacted by family and domestic violence in Western Australia,” he said.

Implementation is where the State’s last major perpetrator accountability measure came unstuck. Laws passed in 2024 made electronic monitoring effectively mandatory for serious and repeat family violence offenders granted bail, but within months the Department of Justice had conceded that monitoring was not feasible in parts of regional Western Australia, and at least three offenders were released on bail without a tracker. The State Government later committed around $23 million over four years for 38 extra full-time equivalent staff across the Justice Department and WA Police to manage the scheme.

Where to get help

The Women’s Domestic Violence Helpline is on 1800 007 339 and the Men’s Domestic Violence Helpline is on 1800 000 599, both 24 hours a day. 1800RESPECT is on 1800 737 732. In an emergency, call 000.

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WWE is coming back to Perth this December for a three-day weekend takeover at RAC Arena, with Wrestlepalooza: Perth on December 12th, SmackDown the night before, and Raw on the 14th.

It’s the first weekend under a new three-year agreement between WWE and the State Government through Tourism WA, which guarantees a Perth WWE takeover every year through to 2028. The festivities spill out of the arena and across the city again, with WWE Superstores, Superstar meet-and-greets, and community events running across the weekend.

“It’s fantastic news that my government has secured this three-year deal that has WWE returning to Perth through to 2028,” said Premier and Tourism, Trade and Investment Minister Roger Cook.

“Both times we have hosted WWE in Perth, the atmosphere was electric – the city came alive with fans from near and far, hotels were full, restaurants were buzzing, and there was an incredible energy wherever you went.

“I look forward to seeing that same excitement return over the next three years starting from this December.”

This will be Perth’s third run at WWE. Elimination Chamber: Perth at Optus Stadium in 2024 pulled more than 18,000 out-of-state visitors, and last year’s Crown Jewel: Perth weekend at RAC Arena drew more than 12,500. Together, the State Government says the two events have generated more than $58 million for the WA economy.

“This is a huge result for Western Australia and a major boost for our sporting events calendar, with WWE locked in for the next three years,” said Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti.

“Events like this bring world-class action to Perth while creating incredible experiences for local fans, families, and athletes who have a passion for wrestling.”

The State Government hasn’t made public what it’s paying for the three-year deal. Tourism WA has consistently declined to reveal what previous WWE events cost, with then Tourism Minister Reece Whitby telling the ABC in 2025 that disclosing the numbers would undercut WA’s position competing against other states and countries for future events.

How to get tickets

A pre-sale opens at 10:00 am on September 9th, and you need to register your interest with WWE beforehand to get access. Three-event combo tickets covering all three nights go on general sale at 10:00 am on September 10th.

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Good character references will no longer be able to be used by courts as a mitigating factor at sentencing in Western Australia, under reforms announced by the Cook Government today.

Drafting was already well progressed on a Bill removing the references in child abuse cases, acting on a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. That legislation will now be expanded to cover every offence.

The expansion follows the case of Jeffrey David Spinner, a Western Power manager sentenced in June to five years in jail for raping a colleague on a work trip in 2024. Three of his colleagues gave the court positive character references, one describing him as having a strong moral compass, and the sentencing judge found the rape was out of character. Three of those employees have since been stood down pending a review ordered by Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson.

The Government’s announcement makes no mention of that case, instead pointing to growing concerns that offenders with professional standing, community status, or strong personal networks are perceived to get more favourable treatment by arranging references from friends, family, and colleagues.

“I have had meetings with advocates for victim-survivors and heard how distressing it can be when a criminal’s professional standing and community reputation are used to try to reduce their sentence,” Attorney General Dr Tony Buti said.

“This is particularly distressing in cases of child abuse and sexual assault when a perpetrator’s friends and colleagues may be unaware of the perpetrator’s sinister behaviour.”

The change won’t prevent courts from weighing an offender’s prospects of rehabilitation, the absence of prior convictions, or their personal circumstances. The Government says it keeps sentencing focused on the offence rather than the offender’s reputation, and reduces the scope for well-connected people to gain an advantage.

WA is not the first state down this path. New South Wales passed an all-offences ban in June, after an earlier attempt was amended in the upper house to cover sexual offences only and had to be reintroduced. Victoria announced in February that it intends to scrap the references across all criminal cases.

The NSW Bar Association opposed the change there, arguing sentencing involves assessing the offender as a whole person rather than the offence alone, and that removing good character altogether makes outcomes less responsive to individual circumstances. The Law Society of NSW and Legal Aid NSW raised similar concerns.

Buti said the WA legislation is still being written.

“We have begun drafting these important reforms and will consult the profession and other key stakeholders during that process,” he said.

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Round two of the Kids Access All Areas Vouchers program opens this week through the ServiceWA app. Parents and guardians can reserve one $50.00 voucher per child aged five to 15, up to four children, for a maximum of $200.00 per household.

If you claimed a voucher in round one, you’re not eligible this time. The vouchers are limited to one per child for the life of the program.

Round one opened on December 11th, and every voucher had been allocated by early January. The program is budgeted to give out 50,000 vouchers over two years, with the first 25,000 issued in that opening round, and they go out on a first-come, first-served basis. 

The vouchers work at more than 100 venues and providers across the State, more than 40 of them regional, and cover paid ticketed events across circus, theatre, dance, music, opera, and visual arts. State Theatre Centre, Scitech, Crown Theatre, Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, and Mandurah Performing Arts Centre are on the approved list, with the full roll-call on the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport site.

“This program, along with initiatives like the WA Student Assistance Payment, is aimed at providing targeted cost-of-living relief to families, while also supporting WA based arts and creative organisations and helping to build a thriving creative sector,” Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk said.

“With more than 100 participating venues and providers across WA, including many in regional communities, families have plenty of opportunities to use their vouchers close to home or while exploring different parts of the State.

“Increasing participation in arts and cultural experiences provides important educational and wellbeing benefits for children and young people, helping to spark creativity, build confidence and create lasting memories while supporting their learning and development.”

You have until May 31st, 2027 to buy tickets and claim the rebate, which covers three school holiday periods.

How to claim one

Reserve your voucher in the ServiceWA app under the Offers tab, buy tickets to an eligible event from an approved venue or provider, then return to the app and upload the tax invoice to claim the rebate.

The rebate arrives after the purchase, so you will need to pay for the tickets in full and then get the $50.00 back afterwards.

If you can’t use the ServiceWA app, there’s an alternative claim form that takes ten to 15 business days to process.

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Two new safety camera trailers are now based in Bunbury full-time, joining WA’s existing fleet of eight operating across the Perth metropolitan area, the Mid West, and the Great Southern. They detect seatbelt, mobile phone, and speeding offences, and they can be deployed to any location in the South West at any time.

Great Southern cameras recorded an 82% reduction in the overall rate of offending between June 2025 and July 2026, including an 85% drop in mobile phone offences and 83% for speeding. Mid West cameras recorded a 72% reduction between July 2025 and July 2026. Across the State, seatbelt-related fatalities fell from a ten-year average of 23% of road deaths to 13.8% in the year after the cameras arrived, alongside education and awareness campaigns.

“Over the past five years, 32 people died in road crashes on average in the South West region,” said Road Safety Minister Jessica Stojkovski.

“Every seatbelt not worn or worn incorrectly, every mobile phone used behind the wheel and every kilometre over the speed limit creates an unnecessary risk and puts lives in danger.

“A little risk-taking is never okay — receiving a fine pales in comparison to the devastating impact on a community when a life is lost.”

The trailers were funded through the $80 million Road Safety Reform Package announced in December 2025, which draws on the Road Trauma Trust Account. All safety camera fine revenue goes into that account, which is legislatively required to be spent on reducing deaths and injuries on WA roads. 

“I get frequent requests from constituents to advocate for improved road safety outcomes,” said Bunbury MLA Don Punch. “This investment will help support safer roads for the South West and I am delighted to be part of a Cook Labor Government delivering for the local community.”

Fines, appeals, and a review

Between October 8th, 2025, when enforcement started, and May 4th this year, 192,229 infringements were issued across WA, and 6,114 of those were later withdrawn for 3,413 drivers, according to figures from the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure. Around 60% of drivers who challenged an infringement had it withdrawn.

More than half of the review requests have related to seatbelts. Drivers carry legal responsibility for passengers, so they have been fined for children and adult passengers who removed or incorrectly adjusted a belt mid-trip. Parliament was told in March that the department had actioned 2,194 requests to review seatbelt infringements, and that 934 appeals relating to passengers had succeeded. The Road Safety Commission is reviewing the legislation, processes, and systems behind driving offences, including whether a passenger seatbelt infringement should be issued to the passenger rather than the driver.

Western Australians are forecast to pay an extra $440 million in traffic fines over the next four years, largely because of the cameras.

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$2.00 oysters at a rooftop bar at Elizabeth Quay, a $12.00 chicken katsu at Yagan Square, and a $20.00 express lunch on the water at Barrack Square. August has been a good month for eating out cheaply. Here are some great deals around Perth for you to try before the end of winter.

Oyster Hour at HQ Bar + Kitchen

Freshly shucked oysters are $2.00 each from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm every day except Sundays at HQ Bar & Kitchen’s rooftop on The Esplanade, looking out over Elizabeth Quay. 

Beer Buffet at Hiss & Smoke

Two hours of flowing Sapporo Premium Lager at the Yagan Square venue Hiss & Smoke costs $40.00 a person from Tuesday to Thursday, and $60.00 on Friday and Saturday. It’s perfect for groups, so book a table.

$35.00 Express Lunch at Samuels on Mill

Five seasonal mains to choose from and a house beverage, for $35.00 on weekdays, at Samuels on Mill, inside the Parmelia Hilton on Mill Street. It’s perfect for a quick lunch break on days when you want something nice but still gotta get shit done.

The Quickie

The Lucky Shag’s new express lunch menu is $20.00, served Monday to Friday from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm at Barrack Square. You can also add a small house wine or a house middy for $8.00, or a soft drink for $5.00.

Wednesday Chicken Katsu Kare

Hiss & Smoke runs one of the best lunchtime specials in the CBD: Godzilla Kare for $12.00 every Wednesday from midday. That’s a crisp chicken cutlet, Japanese curry, and rice, and we can confirm, it’s good.

Escape Menu Tuesday to Friday

Intuition Wine & Kitchen in Subiaco serves an Escape Menu at $79.00 a head for midweek dinner, Tuesday to Friday, with a regularly changing menu. You can also BYO, so grab your favourite and head down.

Sammy’s Hour

It’s the after-work drinks excuse you’ve been looking for. House wine, tap beer, or a spirit for $9.00 at Samuels on Mill, weekdays between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm. 

$35.00 Pizza and Beer Special

Any pizza on the menu and a four-pack of Otherside’s Festive for $35.00 at Otherside of Nowhere in West Leederville. Get this deal from Wednesday to Sunday each week.

Winter Wine Series with Vasse Felix

Parmelia Hilton has built a stay package around Vasse Felix for the winter: a curated wine experience for two, breakfast at Samuels on Mill, and complimentary valet parking.

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