Jose was home for 5 days and we had a relaxing time going out to dinner, a movie - Mamma Mia (sweet of him as he hates musicals!)- some gardening (mainly pulling out weeds) and a wonderful walk around the new Stadium and pedestrian bridge near the Perth Casino in the suburb of Burswood .
On Saturday 28th July, we had a wonderful sunny and balmy day so after a late lunch we drove to Burswood and parked on the street leading to the stadium where the bus stands are. No parking is available on event days as the idea is that people should use public transport or the pedestrian bridge crossing into East Perth where they would park their car.
Officially opened on the 21st January this year Optus Stadium seats 60,000 people, the third biggest in Australia.
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| The "Message stick" outside the Stadium |
The Message Stick, a 4mt high bronze and concrete statue by Barry McGuire a Noongar artist, is an invitation to all nations to come together and celebrate in the Stadium Park.
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| The Stadium |
Running from the Station until the Bridge over the Swan River is a 400mt long arched arbour with boomerang shaped pieces of what appeared to be metal. The arbour will eventually be covered with growing vines that will provide shade. When there's a game they expect over 28,000 people will walk through the arbour to the station.
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| Arched arbour |
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| Convergence - statue by Jon Tarry between Stadium and Station |
The dedicated Stadium Station (two concourses) only had one of the lines opened, but when there are events it is fully functional with 6 platforms to evacuate the area quickly.
My husband's company together with another company (Laing O'Rourke/AECOM) were responsible for the construction of the station and the railway lines, Jose being the Project Manager for the railway project, so he was eager to see the finished product as he hadn't been to the area since he went to Sydney last October, to work on another rail project with the same company.
Ticket prices for events include public transport.
Just outside the station there is a bus hub with 22 bus stops to be used during events, and they will be able to transport 8,000 passengers; there's a jetty for private and commercial vessels and a ferry service from the CBD, cycling paths and 600 bicycle parking spots, and the pedestrian bridge of course. On event days there are 1400 parking bays reserved for staff, premium ticket holders and disability parking.
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| The Stadium station |
Just a short walk away from the stadium, the Matagarup pedestrian bridge was inaugurated just 2 weeks ago on the 15th of July.
It suffered big delays in constructions and massive price hikes as most of these projects do, and even though it's a striking design, looking a bit like 2 swans, when we walked across I was disappointed to find that there was a lot of work to be done still - uneven floor surfaces, rails that don't meet, unpainted surfaces, missing bolts, rust, pieces that were soldered on the spot... apparently it will take until the end of the year before the bridge is completely finished.
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| Matagarup pedestrian bridge |
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| Some of the bridge defects |
The surrounding area has been beautifully landscaped with native plants and succulents and there are lots of benches scattered through the area. There's a wonderful playground for the kids that was packed, and a huge pub - The Camfield.
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| The gardens |
Named after Henry Camfield (1799-1872), the first pioneer settler of the Burswood area in 1829, this 8000 sqm space, has the longest bar counter in Western Australia at 65mt, a beer garden that seats 1500 people, a function centre, 80 bar staff, 175 beer taps, 50 chefs, giant outdoor screen, and is open 7 days a week.
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| The Camfield, the kids playground |
As we were leaving the area the sun was setting over the Swan River, shortly after the bridge lights came on and it was just such a magical end to the day.
We got in the car and drove the short distance to the Casino to have a buffet dinner at Carvers. The restaurant was full, but being just 2 people we were seated quickly.
The food is reasonably good for a mass produced type of food and it's good value for money.
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| Burswood area with Crown Perth Hotel and Casino |
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| The sun setting over the Swan River |
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| After the sunset the bridge lights came on |
Hope you enjoyed this new area in Perth, I certainly loved it.
I loved your outing. Very well documented... as usual!
ReplyDeleteUm estádio imponente. Uma área onde parece nada faltar para agradar aos visitantes.
Também vi esse filme na semana passada. Simples mas que nos deixa bem dispostas. :)
Thanks Catarina, yes the stadium is very grand.
DeleteThe film was fun, probably a bit too much singing...
You have some intersting and spectacular new projects overthere. They often have a lot of problems to be solved during the building process. I know when Stef was still working in the building business. But everything is forgotten when the builing is finally finished.
ReplyDeleteThat's true, always a lot of delays and money losses but then things look good and it's all forgotten!
DeleteThe pedestrian bridge and the arbour sculpture are both show-stoppers. I usually have a fairly low regard for stadiums, but I do like this one's design.
ReplyDeleteThanks William, I loved the shape of the bridge and the sculptures too.
DeleteThat's an incredible stadium, and the design is quite lovely. The arched arbor is beautiful and graceful, too. The Convergence sculpture/statue had me scratching my head. Not sure I get it, because to me it looks like a bunch of pipes.
ReplyDeleteThat bridge is spectacular until you get up close. You found some remarkable defects and these are scary ones, at that. Of course, from a distance and in the evening light, it is beautiful and almost ethereal. Thanks for taking us with you on this outing.
It looked like a bunch of pipes to me too Elizabeth, but artists interpret things in ways we don't, or at least I don't, lol.
DeleteThe bridge works will apparently last until the end of the year, I hope so as it is a beautiful design.
60,000, oh, my, that´s a lot of people in one place!
ReplyDeleteBut I really like the architecture and the idea of the Message Stick.
The bridge-idea is brilliant.
Football tickets came with free public transport, too, but no more (glad we live near by now).
Looking forward to see that then hopefully finished bridge - it sure looks very interesting!
The Camfield certainly screams for Ingo to visit!
Hope soon it´s not just 5 days in a row once in a while for you two but "back to normal"!
I'm sure Ingo will love the Camfield, we went inside just to have a look and it's massive and was almost full.
DeleteMarvelous sights despite some needed revisions.
ReplyDeleteThanks Cloudia, hopefully all will be sorted soon.
DeleteLots of exciting design going on in that area!
ReplyDeleteThanks Pat.
DeleteCrown tem aqui hotéis também.
ReplyDeleteE James Packer foi até há bem pouco tempo parceiro de negócios de Lawrence Ho.
A relação terminou sem que se perceba bem porquê.
Eu penso que era uma questao do Packer querer concentrar-se nos negocios da Australia so, mas sabe-se la? Ele recentemente demitiu-se do cargo de director do Crown Resorts por motivos de saude mental.
DeleteThe bridge is intriguing and I like it. There has been some good thinking by the planners. Public transport only and the cost including in your entrance ticket. All very impressive. Just to clarify, the arbour runs to the new pedestrian bridge from the station? Wouldn't it be better to run from the bridge to the stadium rather than the station? Sorry if I am missing something obvious.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I'm aware all big event tickets in other stadiums and at Perth Arena where most concerts are held all include public transport which is fabulous.
DeleteThe arbour runs from the station to the bridge, with the bridge on one side of the stadium and the station on the other, it means it runs in front of the stadium too.
Thanks. I am looking at the stats for a recent event there and how well the train and bus systems worked, as well as the bridge for those who walked there. I then remembered I asked you about it. Everything seems to have been judged as being very successful. Some are welded to cars and paid $20 for pre booked parking plus then they have to pay to enter the stadium, whereas the heavily discounted price was including in public transport tickets.
DeleteTo quote, and a big tick for Perth. "Basically 28,000 directly by train, 8,100 directly by bus and 22,900 walking to bus and train stations and carparks on the other side of the river, total about 59,000 people. The impressive thing about this one is that it's the largest in Australia to have absolutely no direct car access."
DeleteSou fascinado por esta bela e arrojada arquitectura, são verdadeiras obras de arte.
ReplyDeleteUm abraço e continuação de boa semana.
Andarilhar
Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
O prazer dos livros
Obrigada Francisco, ficou realmente uma obra de arte. Boa semana.
DeleteIt looks amazing Sami. We went to take some pics of the new bridge last week on the same day that the Chelsea game was on and couldn't get in 😀
ReplyDeleteThat would have been a crazy day with so many people.
DeleteWhat an incredible looking stadium, lovely seeing all of your photographs.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Thanks Jan.
DeleteThe overall effect of those boomerang shaped pieces is really appealing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your Haddock, the boomerang shapes look good.
DeleteWow! The photos are impressive. That's a gorgeous bridge -- but I would be TOTALLY freaked out to ride on it!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jeanie, it's not scary at all :)
DeleteTolle Bilder von der Brücke und vom Stadion.
ReplyDeleteNoke
Dankeshon Noke.
DeleteNice stadium, but the bridge was even more impressive. The design reminds me more of 2 snakes, but it’s probably better to think that it represents 2 swans :)
ReplyDeleteI have also seen Mamma Mia. I was disappointed to not see more of Meryl Streep, but I enjoyed the movie anyway. How did you like it?
Hi Sara, I took it as 2 swan since it's a bridge over the Swan River, but it could be 2 snakes which is a very Aboriginal sign.
DeleteI enjoyed the movie, but thought there was too much singing, and also sorry not to see Meryl Streep.