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The National
3 days ago
- The National
The Ritz-Carlton, Perth review: Global brand's first Australian hotel boasts beautiful sunsets
Australia's east coast – home to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane – has traditionally been the country's visitor hotspot. But more than 2,000 miles to the west lies Perth, the country's most isolated city but also its fastest-growing in terms of air travel and tourism. There are three main contenders for a luxury getaway in the western Australian capital: The Ritz-Carlton Perth, the first of two hotels opened by the chain in the country; Crown Towers Perth, deemed one of the most expensive in the country; and Como The Treasury, a heritage hotel in a renovated 19th-century state building. The National checks in to The Ritz-Carlton, Perth to find out what's on offer. The welcome I am with a friend and her four-year-old daughter, which is a little more complex than solo travelling. Hence, we're grateful when we pull into the hotel and see that parking and unloading are quickly delegated to hotel staff so our holiday time can begin. The vast, high-ceiling lobby is beautiful. Pinewood floors with stone brick walls and a vibrant display of colourful dried flowers brighten one corner, while an intriguing Jenga-style rock sculpture sits in the other. Above, a gigantic wind chime-like chandelier hangs from the tall ceiling. Upon checking in, the smallest member of our party is offered a choice of soft toy to be her companion for the stay. It is a thoughtful touch and a good distraction for an excited child eager to jump into the hotel pool. The room For The Ritz-Carlton, Perth's central location and size, with 205 rooms and suites making up the hotel, I'm surprised by the ample space even a standard accommodation boasts. As we check into our King Studio, the floor-to-ceiling windows curve around the room to showcase both the lush green of Langley Park, where a lively festival was taking place as we checked in, and the sun reflecting from the silver high rises making up the city. The studio also features a round table for two to dine and chat, a mini bar and an armchair to wistfully soak in the view. The sizeable double bed looks on to the gorgeous view. Wardrobes and drawers are out of sight by the room entrance. As for the washroom, the giant stand-alone bath, complete with Philosykos goodies, gets put to great use during our stay. Like the scenery it overlooks, wood floors and wall panels, alongside plush autumn hues, give warmth and character to the space. It's stylish, spacious and scenic. The food The food offering here is a concentrated yet well-executed effort. By day, it's poolside nibbles. In the evening, we head to Songbird for dinner and drinks. More a spot for clinking glasses and chatting than an elaborate degustation menu, the offering is select. For meat eaters, there's a well-curated offering such as glazed Western Australian lamb ribs (AU$27, or DH64), Mexican spiced pork belly (AU$28) and prawns marie (AU$34). Vegetarians and vegans? Not so much. Luckily, the staff are happy to accommodate, switching up the tempura eggplant (AU$22) to make it vegan for me and putting together a Mediterranean meze board – the veggie take on the menu's charcuterie board (AU$36) – of hummus, felafel, fluffy flatbread, mixed olives and babaganoush. While it's reassuring to have friendly staff whip something together without a fuss, it leaves me pondering the same question I've had a hundred times before: isn't it easier to add at least one staple vegan dish to the menu? Breakfast for the next two days is served at Hearth, which prides itself on using local produce and indigenous ingredients in the kitchen. Guests can help themselves to everything from fluffy pancakes with ample drizzling options and apple crumble, to crispy sweet potato waffles and steaming vegetable gyoza. There are scrambled eggs and teriyaki chicken. Black bean basil and miso eggplant. And the following morning, a different selection of hot food for the taking. Cereals, yoghurts, cold cuts, cheeses, pastries, muffins and bread take over another station, while fresh fruit is hosted on one island and salad cuts on another. Family-friendly factor We spend a fair portion of our time at the pool. While loungers are consumed mainly by couples and small groups, we don't feel unwelcome with a child in tow, and sun-soakers look on laughing at the underwater games taking place. The following day, a family joins with a newborn and a small boy, so we're not anomalies. Later, we head up to the club lounge for a break from the midday sun. It's filled with kid-friendly snacks (Freddos included), games and even an easel surrounded by oil pastels, and the staff go on their way to make us feel welcome. From check-in to breakfast, every staff member goes out of their way to speak to and accommodate the little one. While dining at Songbird one evening, however, we do get a side eye from one couple who move to sit by the bar – but it's early in the evening and we're reassured that we're well within our rights to dine there, too. The neighbourhood The Ritz-Carlton, Perth sits on Elizabeth Quay. From there it's easy to walk along the promenade to check out bars, restaurants, public art and a water park. For those keen to soak in greenery and prepared for an uphill climb, Kings Park is worth a visit. It takes about half an hour by foot to get to the city centre, where cafes and shops await. There's plenty to explore, from a war memorial to a DNA-shaped tower to climb for the optimum view to a 750-year-old Gija Jumula (Giant Boab) tree. There's a busy shopping district nearby and many cultural institutes to visit, such as the Art Gallery of Western Australia and WA Museum Boola Bardip. A day trip option is to take bus 910 from Elizabeth Quay bus station to Fremantle and visit the former convict house, Fremantle Prison, the PS Art Space and the market from Friday to Sunday. The verdict This is a hotel for sunset chasers. There are views galore from the rooms and restaurants, down to the pool. Although the nightlife surrounding is plentiful, catching a sunset from the hotel itself is worth making time for. The bottom line The average room rate starts at $499 per night. Check-in is from 3pm and checkout is at 11am.
News.com.au
21-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Singular house paints upsetting picture of Perth's property crisis
While housing prices skyrocket and desperate Australians are pushed to the financial brink, thousands of homes across the country are sitting empty. The brutal paradox is especially obvious in the world's most isolated city Perth, where there is desperate demand on one side, and wasted supply on the other. Large swathes of Perth properties are gathering dust – uninhabited and unaffordable for the average local. About 1400 public housing properties in Perth are sitting vacant while 19,000 people sit on a waitlist for access to one. The problem isn't just stark on paper; it's obvious in almost every pocket of the city. All over Perth, vacant housing is impossible to ignore, from boarded-up terraces, giant abandoned warehouses and commercial blocks covered in graffiti that haven't been touched in years. A complex owned by a wealthy businessman was one example of the depressing reality captured recently in a Brooko Moves YouTube video. It was estimated to be available for lease for about $15,000 a month, however according to a neighbour, it had been sitting vacant for years and the owner wasn't remotely concerned. Whether these types of properties are held by investors looking for a tax break, are unfinished or caught up in bureaucratic red tape, the result is the same: there are people with nowhere to live while homes sit empty. Great Australian Dream slips away The Perth property market has also experienced one of the biggest jumps in prices in the country, going up a whopping 19 per cent in the last 12 months, with the median price now $775,000. The capital city was once an affordable location where first homebuyers could manage entering the property market and still living comfortably. Buyers could easily snap up a house for between $400,000 and $600,00 between 2000 and 2021 – prices were relatively low and interest rates hadn't surged yet. But between 2022 and 2024, the median price surged from $520,000 to $660,000 and has continued to climb. In May 2025, a homebuyer can count on one hand the volume of houses available for $400,000 and expect them to be either demountable shacks in a retirement village or caravan park. The latest round of government incentives for first homebuyers won't be helpful for most people either. For first homebuyers, wanting to utilise the latest 5 per cent deposit scheme – applicable to properties worth up to $850,000 – repayments would be more than $1200 a week. Given wages have not risen in line with inflation or property prices, this option would be unaffordable for most. The median salary in Perth is about $150,000, but that's largely influenced by Fly In, Fly Out (FIFO) workers earning big money on mine sites up north. An alternative is to take up the scheme in regional parts of the state, where the cap on property prices was recently lifted from $400,000 to $600,000. The main issues being that even regionally, that price doesn't guarantee you an attractive home, and buying there would come at the cost of lengthy commutes for city-based employment and disconnection from family and social networks. It's a bitter pill to swallow for aspiring homeowners, many who feel they've done everything right, only to be locked out. Still, with the potential for further interest rate cuts on the horizon, there's cautious optimism that the tide could eventually turn. Barefoot Investor weighs in Meanwhile, Barefoot investor Scott Pape said that while the Tuesday's rate cut would help those trying to pay off their mortgage, it would also see more of the 'wrong people' get into the housing market. 'If I was a young person right now I would be pretty pissed off,' Pape told 'Every time a young person gets close, it just keeps getting more expensive.' Pape also slammed the Albanese government's five per cent deposit scheme – which will come in from January 1 next year – saying it would do 'a lot of damage'. 'It's stupid, totally stupid,' Mr Pape said. 'People shouldn't be buying a home in one of the most expensive cities in the world if they can't afford it. 'I don't understand how a responsible government can stand by and say this is a good thing.'
Perth Now
25-04-2025
- General
- Perth Now
Public asked to avoid area in CBD after flag mechanism fails
Perth City have asked people to avoid an area in Perth's CBD after a mechanism failed in one of the giant flagpoles. Credit: Perth City The City of Perth has asked people visiting the City for today's Anzac Day commemorations to avoid an area near Narrows Bridge after a mechanism failed in one of the giant flagpoles. 'Safety measures have been put in place after staff tried to lower the flag to half-mast this morning, but a mechanism failed,' the City posted on Instagram. The City is working to find the cause of the issue, and have blocked off the area. 'We acknowledge that it is disappointing to have such a prominent flag flying at full mast on this important day but want to ensure everyone that all other city flags have been lowered to pay respects to our service personnel,' Perth City said. If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide.
