Suburb of Perth, Western Australia
Photo: The Logical Positivist, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Northbridge is a suburb in Perth. It's a place to go for the independent end of shopping, art, eating and nightlife.
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Adjacent to the Perth Train Station on the Northbridge side, this is the hub of cultural activity in Perth. Including the Art gallery, Museum, State Library and the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA) (See listings below). In addition, the amphitheatre (under the video screen screening ongoing visual confectionery) is an excellent vantage point for watching people flow between Perth's railway station and places of work and play around Northbridge. A 2-min walk from the Perth Train Station. Blue CAT Stops 7 and 15 both service the Cultural Centre, as well as Yellow 24 and Red 31.
The museum has an interesting collection of social and natural history from WA and beyond. The main building has an extensive display of marine creatures, minerals, butterflies and birds, as well as the shrivelled taxidermed bodies of mammals familiar to generations of Perth residents plus the revitalised Katta Djinoong Aboriginal history display. The Old Gaol building at the rear houses colonial artefacts, displays of life from the different periods and a couple of meteorites. Make sure to look into the creepy eye of the rare Megamouth shark whose preserved body floats in a subterranean tank next to the Old Gaol.
Rotating exhibitions of contemporary Australian, International and Indigenous art and design drawn from the state collection. Exhibitions can be a bit heavy on Indigenous art (though there are some fantastic Indigenous works represented) but you could easily fill a few hours here surveying 150 years of Australian Art.
PICA
Rotating exhibitions of local and international artists work that focuses toward the more experimental end of contemporary art.
Perth's little Chinatown, with its own Chinese gate, is a good spot for picking up Asian groceries and also the best place for late night dining in Perth. Most venues are BYO. Chinese businesses in Northbridge are not confined to Chinatown but can be found throughout Northbridge, and most visibly along William St.
An association of people involved in Northbridge's cultural and creative industries. The website has current news and events: there's always something happening!
Attached to the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, this venue has dibs on an extremely central and pleasant location in Perth's cultural centre. In summertime you can sit outside and watch the big screen.
A staple for university students, gays and coffee-house intellectuals. It has off beat interior design, an assortment of quirky lamps, retro lounges and board games. Hosts a Jazz band every Thursday. Also serves great alcoholic beverages, light meals and snacks.
The Bird
A major Perth venue for local and international acts of impeccable quality. Very reasonable drink prices on non-peak nights and intimate outdoor area with city views.
The Brass
A large venue with great comedy club on site and a good selection of beers and wines.
Claims to be the oldest gay night club in Australia and possibly the world.
Funky house and breaks fans will dig this one.
It hosts a weekly R&B/hip hop night but this enormous venue also hosts concerts and large dance music events. When heading into Perth by train from the west, Metro's is clearly visible from the window as its unique, palace-like exterior stands out amongst the multi-level carparks and other bland buildings which can be seen along Roe St.
Nomads Backpackers Hostel
Billabong Backpackers is relaxed and friendly, based in the heart of the Beaufort Street café district, a short walking distance from central Perth and the Northbridge nightlife.
5 minutes walk from the Perth city centre and the night life of Northbridge.
A wide range of international spices, flours, peas, dried fruits straight from big cloth bags.
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Perth · International · PER
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