The City of Perth is divided into five distinct precincts: The Central Business District, Riverside, West Perth, East Perth and Northbridge. Each precinct has a distinctive character and is within easy reach of the city centre.
Central Business District
The CBD is the commercial core of Perth, with St Georges' Terrace at its heart. "The Terrace" is the home of big business, large modern skyscrapers, grand hotels, smart cafes and some of Perth's most historic buildings.
The main shopping areas of Hay and Murray Street malls are in the CBD, as are many arcades and shopping centres, including Forrest Chase and Carillon City. Many of Perth's major cultural institutions, such as His Majesty's Theatre and the Perth Concert Hall are also found in this precinct.
Riverside
The Riverside precinct is primarily dedicated to recreation, with dual-use paths surrounding the river encouraging enjoyment of Perth's stunning environment. The new wetlands at Point Fraser and the kangaroo colony at Heirrisson Island are two noteworthy areas within this precinct, which becomes a centre of focus for the city's Australia Day celebrations on January 26 each year.
Northbridge
Although Northbridge was only named in 1977, it has a colourful history marked by waves of immigrants who have made it the multicultural hub of Western Australia.
Northbridge is known as the centre of Perth's nightlife and dining and it also hosts a thriving backpacking industry. This is the place to enjoy a hearty meal of any number of international cuisines, swap stories with backpackers at the pub, hit the dance floor, or shop for hard-to-find ingredients.
Northbridge is also the home of Western Australia's major cultural institutions: the Art Gallery of Western Australia, the WA Museum and the State reference Library. Smaller innovative arts venues, including the Blue Room Theatre, the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art and the Bakery Gallery are also in Northbridge. Annual festivals including Chinese New Year and the Pride Parade are held here.
The Northbridge Experience
East Perth
East Perth is both one of Perth's oldest and newest precincts. The Perth Mint, the Catholic Cathedral of St Mary's and Australia's first purpose built fire station are amongst the historic buildings in this area.
Formerly made up of warehouses and light industry, East Perth today is a landscaped region of architecturally magnificent homes and well-kept gardens overlooking the Swan River. An abundance of public art combined with riverside restaurants has made East Perth an attractive location to work and play.
West Perth
West Perth extends from King Street to Thomas Street. King Street and its immediate surrounds are known locally as "the West End", forming a transition between the CBD and West Perth. King Street is one of Perth's most stylish locations, where designer shops meet sidewalk cafes for a little taste of Europe. Hay Street West is a business-oriented precinct where mining companies and medical specialists abound.
It's not all work in West Perth, though. Hay Street features charming cafes and bakeries, and in the streets running between Murray and Kings Park Road you can find some of Perth's best restaurants. All this is within close reach of King's Park, a favoured site for the lunchtime joggers and nature lovers.
