Posted on January 2, 2009 - Filed Under News
g'day Boz
here is something you may like to have a ride on when you visit.
following in the footsteps of other cities that have built observation wheels, such as London (135metres), Singapore (165m), Melbourne (120m), we have decided to have our own "
supersized giant Ferris wheel" on our Swan river foreshore. now, before you start thinking "wow, that would be neat, I could really get a good view around Perth from up there", be warned that it is a GIANT 50 metres high (it was supposed to be 60m when first announced, i don't know where the other 10 metres went). Considering the city is to the North with buildings such as Central Park (249m), BankWest tower (214m), the new BHP square (still being built, 270m) and a lot of other over 100 metres tall, you wont see much that way. Kings Park is to the west and is 70 metres, so you will see as far as Kings Park, so you can see south and east (as far as the Darling ranges at 260 metres approx). Supposedly you can see Fremantle, if Kings Park isn't in the way.
The wheel at least is a private concern rather than funded with public money (so far it seems) and is renting the land for a $1.00 a year, i dont know if the city gets a cut of the admission ($18 per adult (for 4 rotations i think) it cost $20 to go to the zoo for the day) so maybe there is some finacial benefit too.
The question now is how many people will go in it (the cabins are completely enclosed 🙁 not brilliant for photos). The population of Perth is not that big and do tourist come here to ride a "giant wheel" to see South Perth or go to Kings Park for the same view (you can see Freo from Kings Park too) for free? plus get the added benefit of the wildflowers, birds, memorials etc, or the lookout in John Forrest National Park.
we will see i guess, it will be here for 2 years supposedly .
anyway, i took some photos of it
heres a couple
from Kings Park
from South Perth
the rest are in my
Gumnuts world photos, if you cant find them try a search on Perth eye or Perth Observation wheel
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