Lanes of Perth, Western Australia

The lanes and arcades of Perth, Western Australia are collectively becoming culturally important to the city.^[1][2]

In 2007 changes to Liquor Licensing Regulations in Western Australia opened up the opportunities for small bars.^[3] This was followed in August 2008 by the City of Perth formally adopting a laneways enhancement strategy, "Forgotten Spaces – Revitalising Perth's Laneways".^[4]

Shafto Lane

Shafto Lane links Hay and Murray Streets. It was originally called Barratt Lane, named after Enoch Pearson Barratt, a convict who established Western Australia's first nursery. Barratt owned land on Murray Street, which ran through to Wellington Street. He was also employed as the gardener for the Government Gardens, now known as Stirling Gardens. In December 1929 the City of Perth resolved to rename Barratt Lane to Shafto Lane.^[5] The renaming recognised Thomas Alfred Shafto, who was a City of Perth councillor for twelve years, a failed mayoral candidate and owner of the Shaftsbury Hotel and Shaftsbury Theatre.^[6]

Wolf Lane

In 2001 the Perth City Council identified the potential for the redevelopment of Wolf Lane into a secondary and distinctive retail area within the King Street precinct. The Council spent $315,000 upgrading Wolf Lane. Wolf Lane includes small bars: Wolfe Lane Bar, Cheeky Sparrow and hairdresser Toni & Guy.

In 2014 FORM, a Western Australian art consultancy, staged a public art festival, which produced a number of large-scale urban artworks developed by International and Australian urban artists. Works in Wolf Lane included those by Maya Hyuk (New York, US), Alexis Diaz (Puerto Rico, US), Hyuro (Argentina), Luke Cornish aka E.L.K. (Canberra, AUS), ROA (Belgium) and Hurben (Perth, Australia).^[7][8]

Howard Lane

Howard Lane is a U-shaped laneway that runs parallel to and west of Howard Street, between St Georges Terrace to the north and The Esplanade to the south. Access to the lane is off Howard Street. Howard Lane was upgraded by the City of Perth in 2009, and features a series of artworks commissioned by Stormie Mills and Yok. In May 2010, the Council received the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (WA Chapter) Award in Design for the Howard Lane Upgrade.^[9] Howard Lane includes two small bars, Andaluz and Helvetica.

Prince Lane

Prince Lane connects Wellington and Murray Streets, parallel to and west of King Street. It was upgraded by the City of Perth in 2012-13 for $800,000 (AUS).^[10] The upgrading included new gutters, granite kerbs, lighting and a series of artworks along the length of the laneway,^[11] commissioned from well-known Western Australian artists: Clare McFarlane; Denise Brown; Stephen Genovese; Jae Criddle; Paul Caporn and Leanne Bray and Stormie Mills.

Grand Lane

Grand Lane runs between Murray Street Mall (north side), near the junction with Barrack Street, almost through to Wellington Street where it branches east to Barrack Street. The name of the lane relates to the former Grand Theatre, which used to occupy a prominent site on the south-western side of the laneway. It was upgraded by the City of Perth in 2011 for $500,000 (AUS), the works include a 99-metre mural on the western wall by Victorian artists Bonsai and Twoone, an artwork on the eastern wall by Timothy Rollin, and a mural by Chris Nixon.^[12] At the north end of the laneway is Foodchain's Light Locker Art Space, a peer-curated exhibition space for emerging Perth artists.

Mercantile Lane

Mercantile Lane links St Georges Terrace and Mounts Bay Road, adjacent to the Brookfield Place development. The name of the lane reflects that it abuts the former MLC building on St Georges Terrace.

Munster Lane

Munster Lane is a U-shaped laneway that runs parallel to and west of King Street, between Hay Street to the south and Murray Street to the north. Access to Munster Lane is from King Street.

McLean Lane

McLean Lane links Murray Street and Wellington Street, running between a multi-storey car park (Pier Street Car Park) and a former gasworks building (which is occupied by arts group, Artsource, as studio space).^[13][14] In 2009 the City of Perth sought to rename the lane, Gasworks Lane.^[15]

References

1. "Perth Public Spaces Public Life" (PDF). Gehl Architects. 2009. p. 36. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
2. Romano, Mary-Anne (12 March 2012). "Perth CBD evolving to be more pedestrian friendly". Science Network WA. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
3. "Bars breathe new life into Perth Lanes". The West Australian. 23 February 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
4. "City of Perth Council Minutes" (PDF). 26 August 2008. pp. 45–49. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
5. "News and Notes.". The West Australian (Perth: National Library of Australia). 3 December 1929. p. 14. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
6. "Cr. T. A. Shafto". Geraldton Guardian and Express (WA: National Library of Australia). 20 June 1930. p. 3. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
7. Wynne, Emma (14 April 2014). "Perth City Streets transformed by Urban Art Festival". ABC News. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
8. Wilson, Laetitia (11 April 2014). "Ripper Street Art". The West Australian. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
9. "Perth Piazza wins Landscape Award". Architecture & Design. 24 May 2010. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
10. Thomas, Beatrice (31 January 2012). "A Little Love Lights Up Lanes". The West Australian. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
11. "Prince Lane". Perth Voice. 19 September 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
12. Thompson, Chris (2 December 2010). "99 metre Australiana Mural for City". OnePerth.com.au. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
13. Piesse, Emily (15 October 2008). "Bringing CBD Laneways to life". Business News. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
14. "Facelift for More Forgotten City Lanes". Eastern Reporter. 29 September 2009. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
15. "City of Perth Council Minutes" (PDF). 17 February 2009. pp. 47–53. Retrieved 3 January 2015.

External links

• "Forgotten Spaces – Revitalising Perth's Laneways" (PDF). City of Perth. Retrieved 9 June 2014.