In the heart of trendy Northbridge, this gallery is part of the modern Perth Cultural centre, with a Centenary Gallery building housed in an old police station. There’s an exhausting collection of art on show, but the main draw is the ongoing exhibitions of Western Australian art from the 1820s-1960s, and traditional and contemporary Indigenous Art. Entry is free, and the colourful Gallery Shop is a work of art itself, stocked with beautiful books, prints and cool design products.

Perth Cultural Centre, Perth WA 6000
www.artgallery.wa.gov.au/index.asp

Google map: tinyurl.com/qqjtb8

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The Mint was one of the places where Australia’s coinage was produced but now it mints mainly commemorative medals and the like – the 2000 Olympics medals for instance – but it stages a ‘Gold Pour’ half a dozen times a day. This is industry as theatre, as a bloke melts down gold (and they do use real gold, unlike other mints that have a similar attraction) and pours into a mould, plunges that into a bucket of cold water and then presents the finished article for the audience to admire – all of this done with an informative and witty patter. It was fascinating and the Mint also has a very upmarket gift shop and tea gardens.

This was, I reckon, the best cuppa I had for the entire nine weeks I was away from home – a fresh pot of Orange Pekoe made with leaf tea not bags, slices of lemon instead of milk, piping hot water for top-up and a plate of excellent scones with raspberry jam and cream - terrific.

On the excellent free tram circuit.
www.perthmint.com.au

Google map: tinyurl.com/m8rk28

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If rain stops play I wholly recommend the art gallery. It's not so big, so it doesn't take long to get around but it's air conditioned and quiet. There is always a gallery of indigenous art and the other galleries are rotated often. One really exciting exhibition is the Year 12 Perspectives; the state's best (equivalent) A-Level art pieces which are breathtaking.

It's right by Perth train station, quite close to the museum too (gold coin donation for entry there) and on the Northbridge side - so easy to get dinner afterwards!

www.artgallery.wa.com.au

Google map: tinyurl.com/owslht

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