Home in the World

Last Updated on February 11, 2024 by Home in the World

Perth, located on the shores of the Indian Ocean in Western Australia, has a coastline stretching for some 125 km (78 miles) north-south. And coupled with the fact that we enjoy more than 300 sunny days and a mild climate all year round, it’s safe to say that beaches play a huge part in the Perth lifestyle. Virtually every coastal suburb has its own stretch of white sand and turquoise waters, meaning there’s no dearth of city beaches for locals to choose from.

The most famous would have to be Cottesloe Beach, situated in the affluent south-western suburb of Cottesloe, about a 20-minute drive from the city centre. Known for its iconic Indiana Tearooms building, which stood as its main landmark for decades, but which is currently (as at 2021) closed as part of new development plans for the precinct (read about some of the grand designs here), the beach is a veritable magnet for Perth residents, tourists and even celebrities, who flock here to soak up the sun and watch some of the most stunning ocean sunsets you’ll see anywhere in the world.

Its biggest crowd-pulling attraction, however, is arguably the Sculpture by the Sea open-air art exhibition that is held there for about 3 weeks every March. It’s free, family-friendly, and features works by both local and international artists. Below is a collage of some of the photos I have taken at the exhibition over the years (2011-2015). Click on any of them to enlarge.

Another summertime beach sculpture show that has been growing in recent years is the biennial Sculpture @ Bathers exhibition at the Bathers Beach Art Precinct in the old port district of Fremantle, about a half-hour drive south of Perth. Fremantle itself is rich in history and heritage buildings, and I will be dedicating other entire posts to it later in this blog. This post centres purely on its beach sculptures.

Though perhaps not as well known as its Cottesloe counterpart, Sculpture @ Bathers never disappoints, and in many cases I have even preferred its exhibits (which are showcased both on the beach and inside the nearby Kidogo Arthouse) to those presented in Cottesloe. I believe they are all created by local Western Australian artists. The smaller crowds are a bonus too, and make for better photographs. I have no doubt this exhibition will continue to gain popularity – and deservedly so. Below is a collage of some of the photos I took there during its 2013, 2015 and 2017 editions.

So while Perth’s beaches are certainly great places to sunbake, surf, picnic, paddle, soak up the ozone or watch spectacular sunsets, who says they can’t also be creative spaces and unique stages for showcasing local and international art?! Cottesloe and Bathers have most definitely nailed this unlikely fusion. If you’re in town in March, be sure to add them to your calendar!