Elizabeth Quay & Swan Bells

A waterfront precinct on the Swan River beside the Swan Bells, a glass spire housing historic church bells.

The area has a playground, a carousel, ferries to South Perth, a pedestrian bridge, public art and tall buildings, so it works as a front yard for the whole city. The project was planned to include about 1,700 apartments, plus large amounts of office and shopping space.

Building a harbour in a city

Before it was built, the site was a park area called the Esplanade Reserve. Work began on 26 April 2012, and the name Elizabeth Quay was announced a month later. The water inlet and its surroundings were finished in January 2016, and then buildings were added bit by bit.

In the middle of the mouth of the inlet is a small island with a kiosk, a statue and a playground. A bridge for walkers and cyclists crosses the water. The first towers opened in November 2019, including a hotel, the Ritz-Carlton.

The Swan Bells

The Swan Bells tower holds 18 bells, one of the largest sets used for change ringing in the world. Twelve of them are old bells from St Martin-in-the-Fields church in Trafalgar Square, London, which were given to Western Australia for its 1988 bicentenary.

Six newer bells were added, cast in London with metal mined in Western Australia.

On the globe

The model shows the waterfront inlet and the glass spire of the Swan Bells beside it.