Latest news with #AdrianFini
The Age
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
The Weekly Special: Which Perth dining icon is celebrating its 10th birthday?
Could you imagine Perth without the Siamese hedonism of Long Chim? The buzz and morning ritual of Telegram Coffee? The assured polish of Wildflower? The triple-threat of Petition? Dare we even try? In short, it's hard to imagine Perth without State Buildings standing tall on the Terrace, just as it's hard to imagine that, for almost 40 years, these historic buildings remained derelict until Adrian Fini and co resurrected them in 2015 as Perth's finest food and culture precinct (while simultaneously bringing Australia's first COMO hotel to Perth). To celebrate its 10th birthday, State Buildings is hosting a month-long celebration throughout October that, as you'd expect, features a big food focus. Collaborations with COMO's Singaporean venues are a key part of the program, from the team at Cedric Grolet Singapore staging a week-long afternoon tea residency at Cape Arid tea rooms – Grolet's reputation, and strong social media presence, is the result of artful, trompe l'oeil pastries – to Post hosting a pop-up starring Torno Subito, COMO Dempsey's retro-Italian restaurant opened by Massimo Bottura of Osteria Francescana and Netflix Chef's Table fame.
Sydney Morning Herald
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
The Weekly Special: Which Perth dining icon is celebrating its 10th birthday?
Could you imagine Perth without the Siamese hedonism of Long Chim? The buzz and morning ritual of Telegram Coffee? The assured polish of Wildflower? The triple-threat of Petition? Dare we even try? In short, it's hard to imagine Perth without State Buildings standing tall on the Terrace, just as it's hard to imagine that, for almost 40 years, these historic buildings remained derelict until Adrian Fini and co resurrected them in 2015 as Perth's finest food and culture precinct (while simultaneously bringing Australia's first COMO hotel to Perth). To celebrate its 10th birthday, State Buildings is hosting a month-long celebration throughout October that, as you'd expect, features a big food focus. Collaborations with COMO's Singaporean venues are a key part of the program, from the team at Cedric Grolet Singapore staging a week-long afternoon tea residency at Cape Arid tea rooms – Grolet's reputation, and strong social media presence, is the result of artful, trompe l'oeil pastries – to Post hosting a pop-up starring Torno Subito, COMO Dempsey's retro-Italian restaurant opened by Massimo Bottura of Osteria Francescana and Netflix Chef's Table fame.
ABC News
26-06-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Controversial ramp labelled 'seawall' dropped from Smiths Beach tourism village proposal
The proponent of a $280 million tourism development in Western Australia's South West has dropped plans for a controversial beach access ramp amid staunch community opposition. The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) announced today that Smiths 2014 Pty Ltd, a company of Perth businessman Adrian Fini, has requested to remove the universal access ramp from its proposed luxury beach development at Smiths Beach, about 250 kilometres south of Perth. The access ramp drew significant criticism from members of the community, who labelled it as a "seawall" that would impact coastal erosion and visual amenity. The proponent has denied it was a seawall, insisting the ramp would have replaced an existing limestone ramp used by visitors, lifesavers and emergency services to access the beach. The proposal is currently being assessed by the EPA for environmental impacts. A spokesperson said the amendment would result in a small overall reduction in the development envelope. The proposed development envelope is nearly 42 hectares, with around half of that to be impacted by buildings. According to developers' documents, the ramp would have been 88 metres long, 2.5m high and 4m wide, with a 10m rock wall on the ocean side of the ramp. In a statement, a spokesperson for the Fini Group said the ramp was intended as an upgrade for the foreshore to improve beach access. "Feedback received clearly indicates a strong community preference to retain the current informal beach access and avoid physical changes to the beach front," the spokesperson said. The decision follows years of advocacy and protests from the Save Smiths Beach Action Group, with WA's Liberal and Greens parties also forming an unlikely alliance against the controversial proposal. Save Smiths Beach Action Group spokesperson David Mitchell said the removal of the ramp was a "great victory". "Against all odds, they stood up against a very powerful group of WA businessmen, knowing they were doing the right thing." Although happy with the outcome, Mr Mitchell said the group will keep campaigning against parts of the development. "It's great the EPA has come out after doing an investigation and said 'Nope, that is actually correct' and pressured the developer into an alternate solution," he said. "We're all very glad the beach will be saved, but it doesn't negate the fact that this development is larger than allowed under the current planning and environmental rules. The EPA will publish submissions received during its eight-week public review in the coming weeks. Its report and recommendations will then go to the WA Minister for Environment Matthew Swinbourn for review.
The Age
24-06-2025
- Business
- The Age
Fremantle Press buys landmark first home with Fini, state support
Fremantle Press and CircusWA have together jointly purchased their first permanent home: the historic SEC Substation on Fremantle's Parry Street, with the support of prominent Perth property developer Adrian Fini. The state government will also on Tuesday announce $500,000 funding for the two organisations to secure their much-needed permanent home near the intersection of Parry, Quarry and Adelaide streets. The purchase will also preserve and activate the heritage building near Clancy's, DADAA and the Elders Wool Stores redevelopment in the soon-to-be reinvigorated East End of the port city. Known arts supporters Adrian and Michela Fini are making the ambitious plan possible with a low-interest loan to the organisations. Adrian Fini is also behind the Wool Stores project, which is touted as WA's biggest heritage redevelopment since the State Buildings were completed in Perth more than a decade ago and is likely to inject significant residential population and commercial activity into the area. Press chief executive Alex Allan said the Press had been looking for a permanent home for years, given their aged and cramped current space, but nothing had been quite right for their requirements, including 'the pure number of books that we take with us.' They had noted the substation vacant, for lease and finally for sale, 'peered through the windows' at the beautiful example of interwar industrial architecture, but dismissed the possibility, given the enormity of the building with the huge rear machine hall at the rear. Another year of searching later, Allan had a chance conversation with CircusWA artistic director Jo Smith, then Sarah Booth of Fremantle social enterprise Spacemarket, which is dedicated to realising value in under-utilised spaces, facilitated further talks between them and finally a joint tour. 'We thought, This is amazing. There's a perfect spot for Fremantle Press, and at the back a perfect spot for CircusWA. It felt like it was meant to be, especially because, ironically, the substation sits absolutely equidistant between our two existing offices,' Allan said. 'The magic was there. And the next challenge was, how on earth would two arts organisations like us manage to pull this off?'
Sydney Morning Herald
24-06-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Fremantle Press buys landmark first home with Fini, state support
Fremantle Press and CircusWA have together jointly purchased their first permanent home: the historic SEC Substation on Fremantle's Parry Street, with the support of prominent Perth property developer Adrian Fini. The state government will also on Tuesday announce $500,000 funding for the two organisations to secure their much-needed permanent home near the intersection of Parry, Quarry and Adelaide streets. The purchase will also preserve and activate the heritage building near Clancy's, DADAA and the Elders Wool Stores redevelopment in the soon-to-be reinvigorated East End of the port city. Known arts supporters Adrian and Michela Fini are making the ambitious plan possible with a low-interest loan to the organisations. Adrian Fini is also behind the Wool Stores project, which is touted as WA's biggest heritage redevelopment since the State Buildings were completed in Perth more than a decade ago and is likely to inject significant residential population and commercial activity into the area. Press chief executive Alex Allan said the Press had been looking for a permanent home for years, given their aged and cramped current space, but nothing had been quite right for their requirements, including 'the pure number of books that we take with us.' They had noted the substation vacant, for lease and finally for sale, 'peered through the windows' at the beautiful example of interwar industrial architecture, but dismissed the possibility, given the enormity of the building with the huge rear machine hall at the rear. Another year of searching later, Allan had a chance conversation with CircusWA artistic director Jo Smith, then Sarah Booth of Fremantle social enterprise Spacemarket, which is dedicated to realising value in under-utilised spaces, facilitated further talks between them and finally a joint tour. 'We thought, This is amazing. There's a perfect spot for Fremantle Press, and at the back a perfect spot for CircusWA. It felt like it was meant to be, especially because, ironically, the substation sits absolutely equidistant between our two existing offices,' Allan said. 'The magic was there. And the next challenge was, how on earth would two arts organisations like us manage to pull this off?'
