Click on the pictures to get a larger sized one!

Perth, Western Australia, is one of the most isolated large cities in the world.
Perth's foundations as a thriving city were laid back in the 1820s when free settlers migrated
from England to some land near the Swan River.
There a colony was founded in 1829, called Swan River Colony.
The early years were years of struggling; and when convicts were accepted in 1850,
roads, bridges and buildings were built.
But it wasn't until later that century, when gold was found in Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie in 1890,
that the city of Perth really came to prosper. Many Victorian styled buildings were erected,
and at the beginning of the 20th century a telegraph cable was laid that connected
Perth with South-Africa and London. And in 1917, a railroad connected Kalgoorlie with the other States of Australia.
In less than a century, Perth has grown to a city with a population of just over 1 million.
And with today's ways of moving and flying around, Perth isn't as isolated as it seems to be from the outset.
Furthermore, it has a lot to offer to the visitor: beautiful beaches and parks, wonderful weather,
and an inviting downtown area, where many Victorian styled buildings have been left intact and
can be found amidst the modern skyscrapers that were built in the last 20 years.




Above: night and day shots of the skyline of Perth,
taken from Kings Park and from across Swan River.








Above: Central Park, Perth's tallest skyscraper (249m/817f, 52 stories, 1992).
The height is including its mast on top (without the mast the height is 226m/741f).






Above: BankWest Tower (214m/702f, 48 stories, 1988), Perth's 2nd tallest building.
The height here is without its spire (with: 247m/810f).
The building was Perth's tallest for 4 years (1988-1992),
when Central Park took over this title.


Above: QV. 1 Tower (163m/533f (with antenna: 183m/600f), 38 stories, 1991), Perth's third tallest.


Above: Exchange Plaza (146m/479f, 40 stories 1992).
The building is home of the Australian Stock Exchange.


Above: St. Martins Tower (140m/459f, 33 stories, 1978).
The city's tallest form 1978 tot 1988, when BankWest Tower took over.
The building has a revolving restaurant on the top floor, called C Restaurant Lounge.


Above left and middle: AMP Building (131m/430f, 30 stories 1976).
The city's tallest skyscraper for two years (1976-1978)
Above right: Allendale Square (132m/433f, 31 stories, 1977).


Above left: 240 St. Georges Terrace (aka Woodside Tower).
The tower was still under construction when the picture was taken (February 2003).
It was completed later in 2003 and is 137m/449f tall, with 28 stories.
Above middle left: Governor Stirling Tower (110m/361f, 28 stories 1978).
Above middle and right: Forrest Centre (110m/361f, 30 stories, 1990).


Above left: St. Georges Square (a.k.a Citibank Tower, 85m/279f, 20 stories, 1990).
Above middle left: 141 St. Georges Terrace (aka: Hartley Poynton Building, 87m/287f, 19 stories 1990).
Above middle right: Telstra Exchange (95m/312f, 17 stories 1979).
Above right: the circular shaped Mount Eliza Apartments (50m/164f, 17 stories, 1962),
one of Perth's most distinctive building landmarks, which can be found on top of Mount Eliza.
The apartments of this building give superb views over the downtown area, Swan River and Kings Park.


Above left: a vertical skyline view from Kings Park.
Above middle left: looking down St. Georges Terrace, downtown Perth's main street.
Above middle right: another vertical skyline view from Kings Park, with Perth's two tallest.
Above right: Allendale Square, AAPT Tower, and Exchange Square at dusk.


Above: a black swan, the animal that stands symbol for Perth and Western Australia in particular.
The state flag proudly features a black swan, and Swan River was named
by Dutch captain Willem de Vlamingh in 1696 after the black swans he found there.





Many thanks to the management and employees of Rydges Hotel Perth for their cooperation!


Perth's 10 tallest skyscrapers:
1. CENTRAL PARK 249m/817f, 52 stories, 1992
2. BANKWEST TOWER 214m/702f, 48 stories, 1988
3. QV.1 TOWER 163m/533f, 38 stories, 1991
4. EXCHANGE PLACE 146m/479f, 40 stories, 1992
5. ST. MARTINS TOWER 140m/459f, 33 stories, 1978
6. WOODSIDE TOWER 137m/449f, 28 stories, 2003
7. ALLENDALE SQUARE 132m/433f, 31 stories, 1977
8. AMP BUILDING 131m/430f, 30 stories, 1976
9. FORREST CENTRE 110m/361f, 30 stories, 1990
10. GOVERNOR STIRLING TOWER 110m/361f, 28 stories, 1978



The building data, the top 10 of tallest buildings and some of the building information are courtesy of
EMPORIS.COM, one of the world's leading architectural resources on tall buildings.

All pictures copyright (c) 2003 Patrick Beckers. All Rights Reserved.
Download of any pictures from this site without written consent is strictly prohibited, unless for personal use!
This personal use does NOT include using the pictures on other web sites.

Home