It’s a busy few months for the city’s new favourite destination and meeting place

 Since the completion of the short-term activation of the Perth Cultural Centre in July, the area is enjoying a new lease on life.

Students, workers, visitors to the city and city shoppers are choosing to stick around for a while and enjoy the revitalised public space rather than just wandering through it. Tables and chairs under bright yellow umbrellas in the urban orchard are a new favourite place for lunch while ambitious gardeners admire and identity the 2,000 varieties of fruit trees, vegetables, herbs and companion plants.

The refurbished bench seats, made from recycled materials featuring the names of the trees they are made from, are throughout the area and more often than not have someone sitting on them using the free wifi provided by EPRA, eating their lunch or people-watching.

Over the next few months the Perth Cultural Centre will be a destination for some of Perth’s favourite festivals and events. EPRA is supporting the Perth Fashion Festival’s POPSICLE! Pop up Shop and the Sunday Best - art markets by Unwrapped.

From 17 – 19 September the city will become a botanical wonderland as City in Bloom opens across the CBD including the Perth Cultural Centre. Some of Perth’s best artists will create five outdoor floral-themed installations to adorn the open space over the City in Bloom weekend.

Visit the events calendar to find out more.

A celebration of the completion of works happened on Sunday 18 July at a planting day in the urban orchard. 

Watch the PCC community planting day in action as Planning and Culture and Arts Minister John Day joined EPRA CEO Tony Morgan, Perth Cultural Centre organisations, community members, City Farm volunteers and landscape designer Josh Byrne to put the finishing touches on the urban orchard.

Another milestone was the introduction of the native species of fish, frogs and invertebrates into the wetland to mark the start of National Science Week in August. View the gallery and read more.

Sitting on the grass in the urban orchard or on the steps in the wetland or PICA amphitheatre watching a performance, you might have to remind yourself what the area used to look like and take stock of how much our city is changing every day.

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