Perth Ferris Wheel takes locals for a Spin
In an effort to enjoy some fresh air whilst trying to remain cool in the 33 degrees heat, I decided to walk down to the Swan River this lunchtime to enjoy a sandwich.
One of the great things about working in a CBD the size of Perth’s is that the river is less than a 10 minutes walk from most office buildings and the cool breeze provided by the fremantle doctor was especially welcoming today.
My normally uneventful trip from our offices down to the foreshore was made a little less so when I caught site of a 60-metre high Ferris wheel that has been erected right next to the Bell Tower. It must have been put up pretty quickly to as there was nothing there but grass less than a couple of weeks ago.
I’d heard about the wheel on the radio a few weeks ago. Apparently it was 10 meters shorter than expected and I was surprised by the laid back attitude of the counsellor being interviewed. It was only 10 meters shorter than expected after all.
Back at the office I thought I’d utilise my time doing a little ‘Googling’ and have since found out a few additioanl facts about the wheel.
The “Wheel of Perth” consists of 42 gondolas which take paying passengers around once every 12 minutes.
Although the wheel appeared to be doing only a few test runs this lunchtime, at full capacity it’s capable of earning the owners, a London based company creatively called “World Tourist Attractions” a tidy $315 per minute! Some serious dosh in anyones books!
You may have some childhood memories of the more traditional fairground Ferris wheel however the man bringing it here, Nigel Ward, assures us it’s no simple fairground attraction.
“Our wheels are state of the art, a million miles away from the traditional fairground Ferris wheel most people might imagine. These are truly stand-alone visitor attractions [with] fully enclosed gondolas [and are] air conditioned, very graceful, multi-million dollar investments designed to fit into a wide range of environments …. Because of the location on your waterfront, you’re going to be able to see for miles and miles,” Ward promises.
“All of our market research shows that when people have friends and relatives visiting, they have a go, and a repeat visit is very common. Also, because the wheels are open normally from 10 in the morning ’til 10 in the evening, you’ve two different experiences, a daytime visit and also looking at the city at night from that height is a spectacular thing to do.”
In Perth “we have an initial three month term but, if everything goes well, we hope to be able to extend that,” he notes before adding, “we’re very excited, we think it’s a beautiful city, the views across the waterfront are spectacular and we think it’s ideal for a wheel.”
Personally, I don’t see what the hype is all about. Especially as the most spectacular views across the water can be had for free only 10 minutes away at Kings Park.
Still, it’ll have it’s place I guess and I’m sure the kids would enjoy a quick spin on the wheel during it’s initial three month stint here in Perth.
I think this Ferris wheel is very trashy and tacky! I hope it doesn’t last and it get’s taken down after the 3 months!! Perth does not need an amusement attraction on the foreshore. The foreshore is a place you can go to relax, read a book, take in the beautiful view o get a cup of coffee not ride ferris wheels! We are not America.. why are we trying to be? Why can’t we be PERTH! Simple and quiet Perth! I say take down the ferris wheel. stop polluting our foreshore with metal!
Wow, you sound like a lot of fun Heather. Are you saying that there seriously isn’t enough places in Perth for you to read your book?? Nobody is asking you to use the wheel as a backdrop. If it’s such an eyesore for you, then don’t look at it! Face the other way or utilise a different part of our extensive underdeveloped foreshore & coastline. Some of us like to have fun. Especially tourists.
I’m with you Amazing Perth. Let’s get this city out of the stoneage!
Dude you’re such an old fart. Get with it. If you think a ferris wheel is causing too much stimulation for the people then you need to get out more often. Get a life. Everyone else in Perth has!
Hi left Perth 2 years ago and was sorely disappointed to hear about a ferris wheel on the foreshore. One of the beauties of Perth is that view, with more and more converted buildings turned into swanky inner-city living why would you want that as your view??? I miss Perth and its gorgeous, clean, contempory, look and laidback feel and thats exactly why tourists love Perth and Australia as a whole. Keep its beauty, natural, clean, friendly…. Trust me a break from smog, dirty streets and rude a-holes is the best holiday they can get. Spend money on maintaining what Perth has, Art, culture, blues skys and wind sailing on Swan. Thats my 2cents!!!!
It’s narrow minded people like yourself that are stopping Perth from moving on and gaining tourism etc, there are many places you can go and have a quite read of a book… honestly, some people whinge at anything. And btw the wheel has been likened to the “eye” which is situated in London – England, not America.
Please sign this petition to take the ferris wheel down
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/take-down-the-perth-ferris-wheel
The petition will be taken to Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi of Perth
I agree with “amazing perth” Perth needs more attractions like this. More attractions means more things to do in this small un eventful city! Give the kids that roam the streets and cause trouble somthing to go and do! Grow up people i hope they tear up your silly patition.
At lest the ferris wheel is a nicer addition to the foreshore than a 20 story building would have been. Perth is growing, and more buildings are going to pop up…I think it’s a very practical way of preserving the foreshore. It’s a neat toy too; being able to go 60m up or so
lol the ferries wheel will be the safest place to be on sky works
at least the drunks cant start on you lol
I think its a wonderful addition to the foreshore, it looks amazing at night with its bright lights! Makes driving down mounts bay road even better with the ferris wheel in your sights.
Does anyone know how much is costs to ride it?
I am not one much for ferris wheels however we need as many atractions as possible to encourage tourist to visit Perth. Perth is not trashy in any way and this small attempt at increasing Perth’s appeal has not changed my perception of this lovely laid back city. Keep up the good work and continue to let Perth grow and keep up with the rest of the world.
Perth need a seriously cool, Kick-ass Roller-coaster along the foreshore. Man that would be awesome!!!!
the london eye is a tourist attraction but this thing in perth is a peice of rubbish. you go on it once you never go on it again, you need something simalar to the london eye.
just say your from america and your deciding to go to london or perth just to ride a fairest wheel where you going to go?
my point is if your going to build a attraction make it the best in the world.
the ferris wheel is the ugliest piece of crap perth has ever wasted money on. seriously, the one in mandurah looks better. and whats with the vip carriage having a dvd player in it? i thought the idea was to waste money on enjoying the river views, not watch a movie for 5 minutes? idiots.
Yeah, the wheel sucks. It’s a great idea, but 15 bucks for 13 mins is a total waste of money. It’s not gonna be keeping any kids off the street, and besides, it’s cheaper to see a movie and that keeps the li’l delinquents busy for MUCH longer, although the very notion that a stupid wheel is going to keep kids in line is absurd and frankly shows complete ignorance on the part of the people suggesting such ideas. What would be great would be a wheel at least twice as big, 50 m in my opinion is nowhere near high enough, especially since you get a better view from king’s park.
its lovely and we need more of everything perth is slow hurry up
who cares if it doesnt keep kids off the street it isnt there for that its there for tourism and even if its only a ferris wheel we have to start somewhere why not have a total amusement park on the foreshore at least then people from the north side of the river will go and enjoy it cause then they don’t have to go all the way down to bibra lake and who cares if we are gonna be like america there are certain things that are still good to take from what they have done and by the way heather just ponder this for a second you worry about us being more like america but i bet you eat kfc mc donalds and hungry jacks oops i mean burger king grow a brain cause its obvious you dont have one otherwise you would of thought about your comments more KEEP GROWING PERTH WE NEED MORE STUFF LIKE THIS
YOL!!! now look here, i say bring on the wheel, nick off and read ya book up the river in guilford some-where, perth needs a little boost and YES we are behind with a whole lot of stuff, so come on lets wake this state up and make it the best god damn state there is in aussie, Im with N8OR bring on a huge mother of all mothers of a roller coaster, man that would be awsome…oh why would you put a dvd player in it, thats dicky Never mind I guess some people just dont get it do they….
I think this is a fabulous attraction for Perth. I also didn’t think that the $15 was bad when you look at it per minute. The views are amazing at night. And Heather i think there is more than enough space for you to read your book at the foreshore. AND i’m totally for the roller coaster idea… GO PERTH
I have only just seen it. I drove past the other night and I thought it was just spectacular. I’t looked fantastic with the lights on and I will be going back to go for a ride. Perth is so dreary compared to other states it needs someone with insight and imagination to make it more alive. Bring back Alan Carpenter.
Interesting reading!!! I wonder…..do the people who are totally against the ferris wheel also against daylight saving! or is that another argument… about how we should move on but are afraid of change…just putting it out there, the wheel looks amazing at night and compliments this beautiful city. I LOVE IT!
Perth needs cool stuff to look at. The Ferris Wheel is great. Gives us something to do on a day out. Brings suburbians into the city to spend some money. $15 is pretty good. Its not something you’d do all the time, the kids love it and it keeps them well contained
do we need adults to go on the ferris wheel? if were 13 years old?
cheers
I don’t recall seeing any signs stating as such Tonii
Cheers
Mark