Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

As a Perth resident, I have always been intrigued why the city centre is actually quite small in area.
I know of smaller towns in the UK that have a larger centre than Perth.

Im not knocking my new home town, but wonder why it hasnt expanded?

The suburban areas stretch out for miles in contrast.

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

One could hardly call Perth a visionary city. It's very local yokelised. And with that I will refrain from further negative comment as I think I have succinctly and adequately summed it up. Aren't I getting good ;)

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

'cause it does not take many to count the money when it comes in $billions?

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

Is it not that perth just seams small too you ? Are you infact very big ?

I find it nice that you can walk from one side to the other or the centre to kings park in no time.
Walking round Sydney gave me a blister :(

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

Because it stretches accross the state? :D

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

To minimise the POM's coming in ;) Only kidding.

M :D

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

May I ask what bodysize I have has to do with this post?

Maybe I am 25 feet tall and Perth is just a model village? :confused: ;)

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

:D :D :D :D I hope not!

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

Don't know Perth very well, but if it's like Sydney then almost all new development is out in other centres in the suburbs. In Sydney the CBD is the same size it was when I arrived 25 years ago. That's not to say that there's been no CBD development at all - but what there has been is just re-development of existing sites. The actual size of the CBD hasn't changed a bit.

Nowadays all new office blocks, shopping malls etc. are built away from the CBD in other regional centres - I guess that's for reasons of cost. Sydney CBD may not have changed in size but the regional centres here (like Bondi Junction, Chatswood, Hurstville, Miranda etc) have all changed enormously.

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

Hey, that sounds like it makes sense. I've noticed here in Melb that the CBD hasn't expanded much but there are these mini-cities springing up in the subs. I've also noticed that it's very pricey to actually drive into the city and park there. Maybe that's the new plan to prevent congestion on the roads?

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

Yup, here in Sydney you just don't drive into the city - particularly during the week - as it's impossible to find a park that costs less than about $20 (and you only get a couple of hours for that). Public transport is the only way in.

In reality, unless you're unfortunate enough to work there, there's very little need to ever go to the CBD. Almost all the city shops are duplicated in the large, suburban malls where parking is mostly free. The only reasons I need to go are for a couple of specialist shops, the occasional theatre visit and with visitors from overseas!

I'd imagine that it's the same in Perth and Melbourne.

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

I dunno but if you are the Wildcats could use you :D

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

What, Wakefield Wildcats? :D

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

If I compare to say Amsterdam, yes, it small, especially area size.
But don't forget all the malls underneith, and above.

And there's still also quite a few shops when you walk west.

Btw, they'll be redeveloping soon, the trainline will go in a tunnel, and that whole area around the Entertainment Centre will be redeveloped.

Anyway, it's big enough for me, and I hardly go there anyway.
And when you live in the outer suburbs you don't go, cos it could be an hours drive!! And you can find all the shops closer.

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

As a Trinity fan through thick and thin (or more accurately "thin and thin") I'd like to think you were on the right lines but its more likely that they mean the Perth Wildcats basketball team.

To comment on your question, as far as finance, banking, healthcare, ISP 's etc etc are concerned, Perth is a "branch economy". Big projects and big decisions are run out of the head offices over east and Perth's white collar economy is mostly there to keep things "ticking over". Hence Perth's CBD is fairly small.

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

coincidently I was driving into the city before and for some strange reason I started to count the sky scrapers, only got to about 11....

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

20 mins actually Simone from where I live (Northern Subs) so there :p :D

And I go all the time

Love Jill

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

It's 5 mins for me, and I go about once a month these days. Usually go to Carousel shopping centre in Cannington or Belmont Forum on the way home from work. And for Saturday shopping Innaloo or Dogswamp(both great names, huh?! :D )

It would be 45 mins from Armadale and Kalamunda.
And more than that from Butler I think?

:)

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

OOh Simone, not checked out all of those you mentioned, my fav so far is Garden City, can't believe there are ones I have not been to, I'm slipping !!!!!

Jill :)

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

I think Garden City will still be your favourite, it's definetly the nicest looking one!

Carousel is alright too, in Cannington on the Albany Highway(bit far for you, but, why not, petrols cheap(well, hopefully it will be again tomorrow!!)). It's the biggest one in Perth apparently.

Belmont Forum is quite small, I get groceries there sometimes.

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

I know its very sad only having 11 skyscrapers considering the Aussies are supposed to love them like the Yanks. :D

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

Ah, but it's all the perspective!

I thought there was only 5 or so (and only 3 or so big ones), so 11 sounds like a lot!!
And I think it's a lot, cos NL doesn't have any(except maybe a few in Rotterdam?)

:D

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

Perth CBD is small. Not necessarily a problem for those that live here as most businesses are duplicated in the suburbs where parking is free. A city should have some flagships and some special atmoshphere to draw you to it. Perth fails.

Tourists must feel let down by it. Go down to the river and all you have is car parks and a road.

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

Perth fails for you.

Others like the walk through the park near the court thingy, and have a drink in the pub near where the ferries go to South Perth/Zoo.
Others like biking around the Swan, it's got a good bike path going round, been there for at least 15 years.
Others like King's Park, which you can get to on a free CAT bus.

And then there's always London Court...! :D

Anyway, I don't find cities at all special, and I always see them as pretty much all the same.
What would be much better about Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne?
The Opera House? It's an ugly building(my opinion), and most people take a photo of it, and don't even take a tour inside(me included).

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

I rather like Perth.. it's nice and small, and easy to wander around the city... beautiful location. Thought when we were there it would be nice to work in the city and wander down to the riverside for lunch.. would please me no end!

it's pretty tranquil really for a city CBD...

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

Almost everyone would appreciate Kings Park, Simone. The free transport within the city on the bus is very welcome. A city needs more life and atmosphere than what Perth has to offer. Where are the pubs, buskers, interesting buildings?
It is small and it fails to make use of it's best asset - The Swan.

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

Zebra Zebra Zebra, has your patriotic flag slipped!!!!!!?????

You are the shoulder to lean on for all these in-coming Brits. Take a deep breath, a walk around the city centre and re write your Perth City reply...Please :D

I do have to agree though, it's small. Small compared to Adelaide,Melbourne and Sydney.

The park is beautiful though and just the right size :)

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

There's a few pubs, not in the actual shopping centre bit though, but a bit in the direction of West Perth. One is the Belgian Beer Cafe, and there's a few more.
And then there's Northbridge with the Brass Monkey etc.
And with the redevelopment that will be opened up more.

There's always buskers on the bit between Myer centre and Carillon City mall, and I always see violin players and guitar players too.

There's a few nice buildings/churches on St Georges tce in between the skyscrapers.
Then there's Barrack st arch thingy, Perth Mint, and some other things on the east side.
Then there's the WA Art Museaum, part of it is housed in the old Police Court, and you can see the old court room.

But no, there's not many old buildings in Perth city. Fremantle is better for that, with the Prison, round house, station, Customs house etc.

And I agree, they could make much better use of the foreshore, especially with that silly new convention centre!!!

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

True Perth CBD is small, but I like the swan river foreshore - one of the first things I was impressed with on arriving here was all the boats and guys parascending on the water... right on the doorstep of the CBD. When we flew to Rottsnest and back over to Perth (and around) it looked so tidy and it's so clean and well laid out compared to other cities I've been too.

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

when I said sky scrapers I didn't mean it in the sense of yankie sky scrapers, the best view of them is from the south beside the Narrows Bridge, there are a few bunched together...

On the CBD front there is also a bit of CBD thing going on in West Perth, or is that classed as being part of the main CBD??

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

If I had my way I wouldn't have any, they block the sun :D

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

I have a theory...

ahem...

Have you noticed that most modern skyscrapers are shiny, or reflective, so that they reflect the sun all the way down to street level? The sun bounces back and forth off each shiny builidng till it reaches street level. Is this a requirement to get planning permission?

I know there are other benefits like keeping the heat out of the buildings and privacy, but then why not just tint the windows, why make them like mirrors.

I first noticed it in Melbourne where I could be blinded by the sun reflecting of a couple of shiny buildings whilst walking along the street surrounded by skyscrapers.

Just a thought,

Cheers,
JTL

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

Out of interest, what is 'cheap' by Perths standards? Here if it gets around the 80cent mark its doing quite well these days, but the last couple of weeks it been mid-90's (sorry for going OT, just curious!)

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

Here, if it's below 95 I'd consider it cheap. It was around 98 lately, and this weekend was a bit above 100, long weekend I guess. A while ago it was around 110, but not long.
I still think it's really cheap compared to Holland, but then I have a really small economical car too. This weekend we drove 450 km (one way) to Albany, and that cost one tank of petrol, about $30!!
Way back a bit more, cos petrol down there around 114.

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

Around the $1 mark at the mo Michelle :(

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

petrol's been up and down like a yo yo lately.....

Re: Why is Perth CBD so small?
 

The Belgian beer pub gets my vote, almost impossible to find a pub in the uk that sells Hoegaarden on tap :beer:

For uptodate fuel prices check out http://www.fuelwatch.wa.gov.au/

Its normaly just under half of the price of fuel in uk and i still do loads of miles to go shopping , get to work, see mates or do most things !!!