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The real city rivalry: Melbourne v Perth

Matthew Di Leo

by Matthew Di Leo

10 Feb 05:35am

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Filed under: Cities, Demographics, Housing, Melbourne, Perth, Weather

108 comments

Returning home for summer is a continuing novelty for me. This may be explained in part by the fact the Melburnian summer exists only in myth, much like the unicorn or Dennis Lillee.

Perth: Might be considered attractive in a Rachel Griffiths kind of a way

Compared to the glorious and endless parade of 35-degree days in Perth, the southern capital is a pale and moody slouch.  Yes, it may be the cultural, sporting, and nightlife epicentre of the nation, but not even Events Victoria could poach a decent summer.

Rain outside of winter does not make for happy tidings. As Thom Yorke croaked: “everything in its right place”. And that means, Melbourne, keep the damp in July and open up the summer goody bag sometime around December.

Perth doesn’t have to try, which is in itself one of the city’s greatest failings. The reason Melbourne is such a wonderful city – the temperaments of temperature aside – is because it has had to be. It was not founded on the same naturally beautiful plane as Perth or Sydney, nor does it enjoy a steady climate. Cliches of four seasons in a day are verily outdated. Melbourne entertains a mixture so heady it can be accused of recklessly endangering the lives of meteorologists across the city.

Despite such an enormous handicap the ingenuity of Victorians has ensured their capital is the cherry on the national sundae – albeit one of those black cherries with a skinny stalk and a look of studied indifference. The streets throb with an energy Perth lays awake at night dreaming about. People from all over Australia, particularly the young, are drawn to Melbourne like asymmetrically-dressed moths to a energy-efficient flame.

The city’s layout, with its distinct districts (think Brunswick St versus Chapel, Barkly versus Carlisle) and intricate network of alleys has created a greater space within which a multitude can find their niche. The artist, the sportsman, the tradie , and the trust-funded share this space along with the student, the recent migrant, the activist, and accountant. Melbourne is tres cosmopolitan, meaning it allows for the insertion of random pieces of French. Wankerisms are championed in Melbourne. Magnifique!

Which brings me back to my hometown. Because it sits on an enviable riverbank and near some of the greatest beaches in the country, enjoys a climate that, while a tad dry the last few years, is surely one of the world’s most enjoyable, and is the portal to the vast mineral wealth of Western Australia, Perth is incredibly complacent.

A stingy state government doesn’t help nor does a council keen to fiddle while the city yawns. Their only fans are consultants who, on a basis so regular one could almost set a watch, provide master plan after master plan titillating the public with how this or that project (the stadium, the foreshore, the Northbridge Link ad nauseum) would be built in a parallel-universe Perth where government wasn’t afraid. Or boring. Or even possessed just a smidge of self-aggrandisement. Say what you will about Richard Court but at least his ego provided the city with the Belltower (which, incidentally, is far too small: the original design provided for a much bigger structure that was knocked back in typically Perthian style for being too ostentatious. Why build a monument if it’s just to be a piddly pimple?).

Failures aside, it is hard to stay mad at the shimmering jewel on the Swan while you’re winding up the Kwinana Freeway towards Mounts Bay Rd or zig-zagging through the Hills or even thrashing about in the Cottesloe Hotel on a typically perfect Sunday afternoon. Melbourne can’t compete with that, especially once you tire of playing “dodge the syringe” on St Kilda beach.

There is plenty of hope too. Small, chic bars are opening in the CBD to entice workers to stay a little longer rather than dash back to the suburbs. There’s the new Heath Ledger Arts Centre opening in Northbridge. The Link is finally (apparently) going ahead. And The Rise has shut down. Rejoice!

Having two homes is marvellously bourgeois, but it is a luxury I will jealously guard. I just hope that, one day, Perth will understand how to make a macchiato (no, it’s not a bloody latte!) and then we may find a summer stay might no longer be long enough.

Most commented

108 comments

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    • TChong says:

      06:17am | 10/02/11

      Two provincial backwaters, fighting over the Runners Up spot, both 2nd place to any, and every thing to be found in The Promised Land.
      Forget ALP v LNP, its all about Newsouth .
      To follow the doctrine of the Premier state, the individual must adopt the doctrine of NewSouth- ista ( definitely NOT NewSouthfister) naturally leads to the individual becoming a NewSouthpremistist.
      With O’farrell about to save us True Blues, the whole country will once again realise from where the sun shines from.  ; )

      Reply

    • TimB says:

      06:39am | 10/02/11

      *cheers*

      New-South-Wales! New-South-Wales!

      ....

      Ahem.

      Wonder how long its going to take the Queenslanders to invade this thread smile

    • fairsfair says:

      09:44am | 10/02/11

      I’m here Tim, I’m here.

      I love NSW because they think they are so good, but really they are crap. They are the Fabio of Australia and I your current govt has produced the duck strike on the roller coaster. You’re due for your rhinoplaste soon though and thinks should be looking better smile

      I can’t believe its not b[e]tter!

      QLD is pretty good, bit trashed at the moment and in supreme debt, but hey, we have all pulled ourselves out of bigger holes in the past and we will be great once again.

      I’m going to go with the author here. WA peeps are just like QLDers, laid back, great sense of humour and open. Their biggest difference is that they are not quite as up themselves as the east coast. I would like to take this opportunity to remind you however that the capital city is not the state. I’d be ashamed if people thought Brisbane was QLD. Shock Horror!

      ah, can’t wait for state of origin this year!

    • TimB says:

      10:50am | 10/02/11

      Bah Origin.

      As long as you keep playing that traitor Inglis, any victories you have will remain tainted. raspberry

      Also I hate Queensland’s weather. Too damn hot.

    • fairsfair says:

      12:53pm | 10/02/11

      Thats why Mark Taylor invented air conditioning! I’d take the heat over the cold anyday.

      They are not tainted! I went to school with Nate Myles and when he first started out NSW were trying to keep him. Oh my did Gordonvale go off at the prospect of the pool boy playing in blue…

      Inglis is no idiot TimBo wink Though without Folau and with the current Thurston issues (he is like Rain Man lately in all interviews - something is going on there), I’m not sure how we will go. I think the glory stops at five. 

      I am going to have to admit something here - I have travelled overseas multiple times and for extended periods - but the furtherest south I have been is Byron Bay and other than that I have never left QLD (its all falling into place now isn’t it?).

    • TimB says:

      01:52pm | 10/02/11

      Well with the cold you can pile on the extra jumpers & quilts & blankets.  With the heat (like our recent heatwave)...there’s only so far you can go. Even less so if you live with other people smile

      As long as we’re being honest though, I should admit I’ve only been up to QLD twice wink (once to Brissy & once to Noosa). Fairly warm both times but hardly a proper statistical sample.

      However I’ve got a few friends up there I chat with regularly, and all they do is bitch about the weather raspberry.

      And yes your victories remain tainted smile. Any player born and raised here should play here dammit!

      One of my cousins (from the same town as Inglis) has spent a couple of years playing for the Redcliff Dolphins…on the remote chance that he was picked up for an NRL side, & then Origin…he would have been playing for Queensland. Despite spending his entire childhood firmly in NSW territory! The selection rules are ridiculous!

      Actually I have another theory as to why NSW hasn’t won a series in 5 years. Our losing streak began the series some brave NSW patriots gave the statue of Wally Lewis a delightful Blue makeover. Now King Wally has used his all-powerful cosmic abilities to curse the Blues in retalliation.

      Sure such superstitious muck flies in the face of my usual adherence to logic and reason, but it makes for a fun story. Better than admitting our team is just plain crap anyway smile

    • acotrel says:

      06:57am | 10/02/11

      I moved from Melbourne to Benalla to get away from the traffic.  In our town you leave home when you want to get there.  However the clear blue skies and the extremely hot days, where it’s horrible to venture outside away from the aircon, are a big turn-off.  Perth would be lovely if it had a few more clouds, and foggy days.  Benalla and Perth are greater in other ways than Melbourne.  That shuffling through crowded streets, and the progression of non-coordinated traffic lights, makes life for the motorist a misery. I seriously believe that most people there are depressed, and it’s not helped by the local commercial radio and TV.

      Reply

    • Eva says:

      12:25pm | 10/02/11

      aaaaggggggghhhhh, non coordinated red lights. You must have driven St Kilda road out to Moorabbin. I swear the RTA loves having pockets of cars and trucks moving 500metres from one light to the next. Some bugger watching the traffic cameras must be in a constant state of amusement.

    • Dave-o says:

      07:24am | 10/02/11

      Greatest beaches in Australia, shouldn’t that read flattest beaches in Australia.

      Reply

    • iMitchy says:

      12:32pm | 10/02/11

      Couldn’t agree more Dave-o,
      I am originally from Port Macquarie where I was an avid Bodyboarder. I surfed everyday and competed which took me all over Australia.
      Since moving to Perth in 06 I have been wet no more than 10 times due to the poo waves. I don’t know who created the myth about Perth having the best beaches in the world but it is totally rediculous - and Perthians actually believe it’s true!
      Not just the waves though, despite the minimal services and infrastructure near the beach like you might find in somewhere like the Gold Coast, the Freo Doctor blowing in every day way earlier than any east coast afternoon onshore churning the ocean and whipping the beach into a blinding, stinging sandy assault to exposed skin and dangerous levels of UV rays beating down, you would be lucky to find enough space between the crouds to lay a towel.
      And it’s even worse in the water. I used to get some really good waves over east and should other people find my spot I could always paddle 50m down the beach and get some to myself. In Perth, 100’s of boardriders battle tooth and nail over half foot slop.
      If you have at least one whole day and a few hundred dollars, you can take a ferry to Rotto or drive down to Margs and battle the same kind of crowds but at least there will be waves worth fighting for.
      Perth beaches are a joke.

    • Shifter says:

      01:16pm | 10/02/11

      iMitchy - good beaches aren’t about the waves. Big waves tend to be a detraction for the masses who aren’t boardriders, and those that do want to plummet down a rushing water face know where it’s at.

      Either way, they are a darn sight better than Melbourne’s coast.

    • iMitchy says:

      01:59pm | 10/02/11

      @Shifter, I would never defend Melbournes beaches either.
      I realise that there is more to the beach than just waves but those who say that Perth beaches are the best in the world musn’t get out much. Perth offers very little variety in its beaches and the doctor makes them all a very uncomfortable place to be anytime after about 11am. And the crowds are just phenomenal both in and out of the water.
      Give me the quiet beaches of small town NSW with shops and cafes right across the road, grass to sit on just beyond the sand, some trees and maybe a stream flowing into the ocean which gets cut off at low tide. Give me rocky headlands that rise out of the water and hide another beach behind them, perhaps it faces a different angle and reacts differently to the wind and swell, islands that don’t block the mainland off completely from the effects of deep ocean.
      I just want some variety.

    • Shifter says:

      02:54pm | 10/02/11

      Decent point but if you’re looking for grass Cott, City and Trigg have those sorts areas. Mullaloo seems to deal with the afternoon winds as well.

      I think you’ve been hanging out at Scarborough too much.

    • iMitchy says:

      03:49pm | 10/02/11

      Thats a fair call, there is a few beaches that are a little nicer to be at, as long as you can get a park within 1km of the sand and don’t have any concept of personal space when you pick a spot to sit.

      Sorry shifter, you have good points but I will argue with all of them because I’ve made up my mind. It’s nothing personal. I just hate Perth beaches.
      It’s good that the folks of Perth love them and defend them from people like me. I won’t be down there anyway so I don’t know why I care. I just have a different idea of paradise and I’m frustrated at the lack of waves.

      Kudos good Perthite, Kudos.

    • Shifter says:

      06:31pm | 10/02/11

      Heh, the old stick in the mud defence. Ahh well, I’ve made my points to those who will argue against. I’m not saying they’re the best beaches but they are pretty good in my opinion.

    • Tony T. Teacher says:

      07:34am | 10/02/11

      As someone who was born in Melbourne, grew up in WA, then moved back to Melbourne, I can state with absolute conviction that I have no idea which place is better.

      Reply

    • grumpy says:

      07:44am | 10/02/11

      Melbournes a hole. Ugliest city in the country.

      Reply

    • Acquired taste says:

      08:36am | 10/02/11

      The open Sewer running through the CBD is a nice touch though

    • fairsfair says:

      10:41am | 10/02/11

      good god, did that bird roll her giant ball of string through that?

    • n_dude says:

      11:51am | 10/02/11

      Agreed. That Yarra must be the most scenic river in the country.

    • Tim says:

      07:45am | 10/02/11

      PJK - “If you’re not living in Sydney, you’re camping out”

      Reply

    • ibast says:

      07:59am | 10/02/11

      I lived in Perth for a year and it really is the undiscovered paradise of Australia.  Melbourne I just don’t get.  Melbournians seems to have an overinflated opinion of the city, but personally I’d rather live in Canberra.

      Reply

    • Dave-o says:

      09:42am | 10/02/11

      You almost had me, than you said Canberra.

    • ibast says:

      01:59pm | 10/02/11

      People are overly tough on Canberra.  Because parliament is there, the restaurant scene is actually pretty good and when Parliament is out of session it’s easy to get a seat.  It’s not far from both the snow fields and the coast.  There’s lot’s of attractions in Canberra itself and the Canberra wine district is one of my favourites.  It’s also not far from Melbourne and Sydney if you need to get to a big city occasionally.  I’d rather live in Sydney or Perth, but Canberra is not that far down my list and I’d certainly rather live there than Melbourne.

    • dougm says:

      04:49pm | 10/02/11

      Canberra is a lifeless dump. The quality of our public service is shocking because nobody wants to get promoted to Canberra. Building Canberra was the biggest mistake in the history of this nation.

    • Steve says:

      02:29pm | 23/10/12

      ibast -  live in Perth, great city, good coastal living, safe and sound place for kids etc. I’ve also lived in Sydney (almost 3 years) and love NSW. I have a real soft spot for Canberra too, having worked and lived there for 12 months on and off - it’s a real gem!!!

    • Tony of Poorakistan says:

      08:06am | 10/02/11

      I lived in Melbourne for a couple of years recently and felt like a stranger in my own country. Adelaide is not much better, alas. I suspect only the country towns resemble Australia now. The capitals are more like Dakar, Chennai or Hong Kong.

      Reply

    • Faz says:

      09:51am | 10/02/11

      Maybe your view of Adelaide comes from being stuck in Pooraka, Tony?

      I suspect the thing that makes a new city a positive memory is knowing someone there. For that reason I like Melbourne and Perth but don’t feel so strong about Brissy or Sydney.

      There have been big gaps of time between visits to Perth and my impression was that it had changed for the better but, even for someone from Adelaide, it’s still a freakin’ long way away.

    • Tony of Poorakistan says:

      11:33am | 10/02/11

      Actually, I will say one thing. Apart from Surfers, Adelaide has the best looking women in Australia. Well, the locals anyway.

    • Tim the Toolman says:

      08:19am | 10/02/11

      How touchy the Sydney crowd are when they’re left out…unsurprising though given the obsession the city has with “being seen”.  I’d rather live in a box in hobart than a penthouse in Sydney.

      Reply

    • dougm says:

      04:56pm | 10/02/11

      If there’s one thing Sydney people can’t stop talking about, it’s about how much Melbourne talks about them because Melbourne is jealous and how Sydney never talks about Melbourne because nobody in Sydney even knows Melbourne exists. It’s never ending.

      The time I worked in Sydney (never again) was a real eye opener with respect to inter-colonial rivalry. I’m positive that episode in the Simpsons about the parochial suckers for the monorail was written about Sydney.

    • South(park)Perth says:

      08:20am | 10/02/11

      For all those bagging Perth you are right and please dont come here,it is really bad and horrible so dont turn up,its awful please stay away,its not like Syd Melb so you wont like it,nothing going for it,really really bad even the wine is terrible,it will make you sick and there is no industry,work or money so you will not make a living,so forget about coming here.

      Reply

    • Craig T says:

      09:41am | 10/02/11

      I’m sure Perth is truly awful but its nothing compared to Brisbane. So if any of you Sydney siders or Melbournites are thinking of coming to Brisbane then id suggest going to Perth, it is a much nicer place to be…

    • BOB says:

      10:15am | 10/02/11

      You dont have to tell me twice, the people of Perth would have to be the most parachial stuck up lot in the country.

    • iMitchy says:

      02:36pm | 10/02/11

      BOB,
      I gotta disagree there champ. Gold coast takes the cake for stuck up. It’s a beautiful place but the locals tend to be a little higher than everyone else. It’s not THAT bad but its definately worse than Perth.
      Perth people are pretty easy going, not always friendly but holier than now either. Even the homeless crew in the city that dance and mumble and dribble and that chick on the bike who rides around screaming nonsense all day at anyone within earshot are pretty chilled out. I remember when that lady had a scooter and she used to scream random comments and sing. Since the police took it away she has kinda become abusive but she is always smiling.

    • Just Sayin' says:

      03:30pm | 10/02/11

      Can you imagine if Crazy Flag Lady got together with Mad Adrian, the cyclist from around the Midland area?  If WA ever secedes, we should make them the royal family.

    • Huey says:

      08:23am | 10/02/11

      People, The Gurdies Vic. 3984 far surpasses your metropolitan shitholes in everything that matters for a good life.

      Reply

    • Drew(Darlinghurst) says:

      08:44am | 10/02/11

      Ditto @ Tim. the only Global City is Sydney!!!!!

      All the rest are country towns full of Bogans.

      raspberry

      Reply

    • Timmy of SPP says:

      09:27am | 10/02/11

      @Drew,you are right,so dont come to Perth
      LOL and have a lovely gay

    • Matt says:

      09:44am | 10/02/11

      Lol @ “have a lovely…”

    • Typo says:

      10:38am | 10/02/11

      Good onya Matt,,,,,,

    • stephen says:

      12:38pm | 10/02/11

      Sydney’s full of guys in gold warwick capper shorts on footpaths tying up their shoelaces. (That’s not with bent knees).
      It’s for those with a lisp, and full of would-be’s-if-they-could-be’s. (They’re the ones with the crook knees).

    • The Badger says:

      09:08am | 10/02/11

      Matthew lies,
      Please don’t come to Perth.
      Stay where you are, you wouldn’t like it - too hot in the summer 30 something every day and maybe one day of rain a month (If you’re lucky)
      Very backward (Don’t even have daylight savings).
      White sandy beaches that stretch hundreds of kilometres in either direction with an aquamarine Indian Ocean beckoning.
      Hell, they can’t even make a macchiato.

      No, you are better off staying where you are - Please

      Reply

    • YonGY says:

      02:39am | 21/06/12

      30 Degree+ is not a problem if you come from SEAsia

    • mw says:

      09:21am | 10/02/11

      You’re right the wine is terrible. Well the wine from Swan Valley at least, most of it wouldn’t make it into a goon bag anywhere else in the country.

      Margaret River is aight tho…

      Reply

    • SPP says:

      10:48am | 10/02/11

      @mw Lived in the Swan for three years,you have to avoid the larger wineries and patronise the smaller family businesses ,Margaret is Manificent,way better than Byron

    • ibast says:

      12:46pm | 10/02/11

      Yeah you really do have to fish around for good wine in the Swan, but there are some good ones.  Margaret River wineries have an overinflated opinion of themselves and even if they are doing it badly, they a still charging premium.  Mount Barker, Denmark and Pemperton are the best wine regions in the state.  In fact they are better than the much overrated Yarra Valley wineries.

    • SPP says:

      01:25pm | 10/02/11

      @ibast,The prices went up with the real estate and some of the johnny come latelies have bloated their ego"s,but not the Vasse,still one of the best!

    • Chewy says:

      09:39am | 10/02/11

      Sheesh Melbournites suffer badly from what pyschologists now call second city syndrome (google it up) Why do Melbournites have to bang on about how great the place is?  My Gran god bless er moved to Sydney from Melbourne in the 1950s and she will still go to war with anyone who doesnt believe Melbourne is the greatest city in Australia!

      Reply

    • Ziggy says:

      01:10pm | 10/02/11

      In less than 10 years Melbourne will be much bigger than Sydney. Now what is that telling you?
      Hello - anybody at home?

    • AdamC says:

      02:14pm | 10/02/11

      Well, as a Melburnian (not ‘Melbournite’) I agree with both propositions: that Melbourne is the greatest city in Australia and also that (some) Melburnians suffer from ‘second city syndrome’).

      Though I note that many Sydneyites have started showing symptoms of ‘first city anxiety’. By this I mean a fear that Sydney’s mantle as Australia’s de facto capital is slipping away. Certainly, Sydney seems to have dropped the ball since its great Olympic success.

      Having said that, I like Sydney and would be happy to move there if there was, say, an attractive job opportunity. It is only in terms of getting around that Sydney really lags Melbourne.

    • Chewy says:

      03:31pm | 10/02/11

      Yes fellas I concur living in Sydney is like watching the great fire of Rome burn in slowmo. But we didnt get rid of ‘the premier state’ number plate slogan because the place is turning to crap (Thanks state gov) but because we are post chest pounding, we fill no need to justify ourselves to our fellow countrymen. I would hazzard a guess that New South Welshmen are the least parochial of all the states and Victorians the most.
      When Melburnians (sorry about the Melbournites) can call their own city crap I will salute you Melbourne and your inhabitants for you are in the words of Jerry Seinfield the ‘anus of the world’.

    • passinby says:

      12:08am | 11/02/11

      From what I have observed Melbourne people *actually* care about their city, Sydney people *say* they care about their city. I’ll leave you to figure out why there’s a difference.

    • Shifter says:

      01:19pm | 10/02/11

      I love our art installations that resemble cranes.

    • Anthony Sharwood

      Anthony Sharwood says:

      07:45pm | 10/02/11

      Been meaning to watch that all day. Finally got around to it. Gold! Chamber of beasts”. Bahahaha!

    • GB says:

      09:54am | 10/02/11

      I live in Melbourne and my housemate from Perth and while there are things about it he misses (beaches, constant warm weather) he and a lot of his friends have moved over to Melbourne or Sydney because they feel that Perth doesn’t offer much for younger people and doesn’t seem to want to catch up with the rest of the country.
      I’ve been and I like it, probably my favourite city outside of Melbourne (maybe tied with Hobart)

      Reply

    • Dan says:

      10:01am | 10/02/11

      We all know that only one state was good enough to be named for the Queen.

      Victoria is too small.
      Western Australia is on the other side of the World.
      And we all hate New South Wales.

      Reply

    • HB says:

      12:24pm | 10/02/11

      LOL!! (Born in Victoria, lived in Tassie, lived in Melbourne and now in Brissie, would live in Perth BUT never in Sydney)

    • Shifter says:

      01:20pm | 10/02/11

      @Dan - There are two states names for the queen. The same Queen as well. One took her name and the other was in no way original.

    • Just Sayin' says:

      01:56pm | 10/02/11

      Lol at Dan.  Where do you think Victoria got it’s name champ?

    • iansand says:

      02:08pm | 10/02/11

      And that queen has been dead for over a century.  What does that tell you?

    • braunman says:

      10:02am | 10/02/11

      Perth’s relative isolation is both a blessing and a curse. On the negative side food is expensive, we don’t have many of the iconic animals that the east coast does, touring music acts frequently ignore us, it takes hours to get anywhere ect. A major positive though is that we are no-where near Sydney.

      While saying that Perth is vastly underrated as a city. There doesn’t seem to be any real rivalry between Perth and Melbourne (well, other than the standard “who’s got the nicest beach” competitions).

      Reply

    • Analogous says:

      11:18am | 10/02/11

      Melbourne has beaches?
      Stone the crows.
      I lived in Middle Park on Beaconsfield Pde for 5 years and never saw a beach in Melbourne. When did they get beaches?
      Do they have sand?

      Sydney is the armpit of Australia and we all know what a map of Tasmania looks like, Hobart is the pleasure spot.

    • Daniel says:

      08:10pm | 10/02/11

      I’ve lived in Melbourne all my life and have never been aware of any “beach competition”, how could there be? Our beaches are ordinary at best,  to get to a good one you have to driver so far that you not actually in Melbourne anymore

    • braunman says:

      09:49am | 11/02/11

      I admit I can’t speak about Melbourne beaches, but I can say that Perth beaches aren’t much to look at either. They have some sand but you have to dig around a bit amung the fast food wrappers and used syringes. WA however does have some amazing beaches, you have to go to the south coast to find them (not to mention drive over sand dunes in a land cruiser with a GPS). When you find them though it’s all pure white sand, still azure ocean and hardly anyone in sight!

      It still drives home the fact that there isn’t really much of a rivalry between Melbourne and Perth. I prefer Perth but if I had to I wouldn’t have any problem living in Melbourne!

    • Amber says:

      10:03am | 10/02/11

      As a Sydney-sider who was once posted to Perth for two years and then Melbourne (in late January)  I understand the Melbourne ,Summer-depression syndrome where the sun doesn’t appear till 5pm.  After the ‘‘Perth-fect’’ Perth climate, I was inconsolable and longed to return, as does everyone else who has lived in, and eventually /inevitably succumbed to, Perth’s allure. Even Sydney does not compare in that arena, but please - do not compare the beaches. If you can somehow ignore the seaweed stench , stoniness and narrowness of Perth’s beaches, perhaps you can then compare with Sydney’s endless, white, sandy strips.
      Also find it hard to believe that a city which is 25% Italian, does not understand how to make a Macchiato? Please!

      Reply

    • DM says:

      10:21am | 10/02/11

      What Perth beaches did YOU go to?

    • Dissident says:

      11:59am | 10/02/11

      Amber, did you really live in Perth for two years? 25% Italian? Stony, narrow beaches?

      Just in case you were wondering - that bunch of stones at Cottesloe (among other examples) that juts out into the sea is called a groin.

      The Punch is both enjoyable and educational!

      Oh, and remind me what a ‘Bondi cigar’ is again.

    • SPP says:

      12:12pm | 10/02/11

      Ditto,are you sure it was Perth?

    • Laura says:

      01:26pm | 10/02/11

      Hmmmm. Are you SURE you were in Perth?

    • Hoot marn says:

      01:54pm | 10/02/11

      There is a Perth in Scotland,Scotland is a northern suburb of Yorkshire

    • Just Sayin' says:

      02:04pm | 10/02/11

      “In 2006, the largest ancestry groups in the Perth metropolitan areas were: English (534,555 or 28.6%), Australian (479,174 or 25.6%), Irish (115,384 or 6.2%), Scottish (113,846 or 6.1%), Italian (84,331 or 4.5%) and Chinese (53,390 or 2.9%).

      Yeh, I got it from Wiki, but it’s better than nothing.  4.5% is significant, but clearly less the 25%  That said, I agree that it’s easy to find a decent macchiato in Perth and the beaches are best described as ‘quite good’, though not for surfers.

    • simon says:

      10:10am | 10/02/11

      I love Perth, it’s a great city, and the weather is very similar to Adelaides!!!

      Reply

    • Amber says:

      01:35pm | 10/02/11

      I lived in Hillarys and was very familiar with Cottesloe and fabulous ‘‘Indianas’‘.  The stench came from Sorrento beach and the narrow beaches (compared to Sydney, anyway) are all over.  I did love the view we had towards Rottnest and the opalescent colour of the reefs; and watching the winter rain-squalls come in from Rotty. Fabulous. And yes I was told early on and found it to be pretty true, that Perth is largely Italian, Croatian, ‘‘new ‘‘British and ‘‘old’’ Aussie.  Almost everyone there sems to be related to an Italian, making it all the better.

    • Chilliman says:

      10:14am | 10/02/11

      Melbourne is an untalented hard worker that gets by on tenacity.
      Sydney is a hipster/metro wanker, talented, flashy and obsessed with being IT.
      Perth is an unemployed student who might do something one day.
      Adelaide is the same as Perth but doesn’t see the need to do something one day.
      Hobart is cold.
      Brisbane is a spoilt trust fund kid that never had to work.
      Darwin is a city.
      And Canberra is a personal assistant with no time for a personal life.

      Reply

    • JulesG says:

      10:21am | 10/02/11

      The climate is Perth’s Achilles heal. Hot and shitty one day and shitty and hot the next. The constant heat and humidity really does get you down. Daylight saving would just prolong the hot day, we just want the sun to go down. DS would be good in winter but an absolute no no in summer. Most people hibernate in the summer, only the tourists go out in the midday sun.

      On my recent visit to Tullamarine I found Melbournians to be rude and boorish and the only pub was absolute crap with expensive, warm boutique beer that you wouldn’t flush the toilet with. To top it off the cafeteria was closed at 8.30pm and that wouldn’t happen in Perth.

      Perth’s the place to be if you can manage to stay cool.

      Reply

    • Just Sayin' says:

      01:54pm | 10/02/11

      Perth humidity? Maybe Perth in Scotland, but Perth Australia has the equal lowest humidity of any state capital.

      Checking out the annual humidity stats on BOM:
      Perth 50%
      Adelaide 50%
      Brisbane 53%
      Darwin 54%
      Melbourne 56%
      Sydney 57%
      Hobart 58%

      I from Perth, but I live in Singapore these days, and I miss only two things about Perth:
      - Dry air
      - Those beautiful deep blue skies without a trace of cloud from horizon to horizon

      Perth is a great place and Melbourne is a great place, but I like them for different things and have never seen them as rivals. Perth has great weather and a beautiful vista, but is let down by restrictive trading hours and isolation.  Melbourne has great pubs, restaurants, art, shopping and architecture, but is let down by lousy weather and enough Labor voters to put Gillard over the line.

    • James Mc says:

      10:23am | 10/02/11

      David Williamson captured this very arguement in “Emerald City”
      Sydney is New York without the intellect
      Melbourne is Perth without the Sunshine

      Reply

    • S.L says:

      11:19am | 10/02/11

      Rivalries between cities are only in the minds of the residents of the percieved “lesser” locations.  The only rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne for example is in the minds of Melbournians who have never been to the other end of he Hume Highway. Cricket is the only sporting competition between “us and them” but as no one watches state cricket it’s irrelevent. The same with Brisbane but there is a reason for rivalry there…....State of Origin League is a spectacle unmatched by any other sport on a domestic level. The Queenslanders have a mortgage on the series at the moment but if it was the other way around the chips on their shoulders would be the size of the state!
      As for Perth and Melbourne? What do they have to fight over? AFL have tried inter state footy time and time again with no success so that’s out. Location and scenery? How could anyone fight for Melbourne?

      Reply

    • Laura says:

      01:23pm | 10/02/11

      Not The Rise! Noooooooo,this is tragedy!! So many messy nights in that place. It hasn’t really shut down has it?

      Reply

    • Amber says:

      01:38pm | 10/02/11

      Sydney is LA - sunny and brash while Melbourne is NYC - Jewish/Irish/Italian (think mob)  and artsy.

      Reply

    • Cate P says:

      02:17pm | 10/02/11

      Dear Mr Di Leo, in Perth you buy copious amounts of equipment and make your own macchiatos if you don’t like the shop ones.

      Reply

    • JacquelineS says:

      02:21pm | 10/02/11

      Couldn’t agree more. Just got back from a holiday visiting a friend in Scarborough, Perth, and have decided it’s only a matter of time before I move over there myself permanently. Cold weather makes me miserable so therefore I am miserable living in Melbourne (bar 4-5 days a year when it is actually warm enough to go for a swim). It blows.

      Reply

    • iMitchy says:

      02:24pm | 10/02/11

      Check this out…

      http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Perth

      A tongue in cheek look at Perth but very relatable to anyone who lives here.

      But seriously, I think the biggest problem facing Perth residents is the reluctance to spread business districts north. There is plenty of retail and industrial businesses everywhere but Perth has only one real centre for business which chokes up the main roads in and out of the city constantly.
      Perth doesn’t look like other cities which is part of its charm but it would be interesting to see the effects of an area such as Joondalup becoming a secondary CBD. I can’t see it happening anytime soon but as residential areas spread further out with population growth, traffic will soon be the colesterol clogging Perth’s arteries as we all try to get to the heart at the same time each morning and drain out again in the afternoon. Don’t even bother with the train unless you like risking exposure to all kinds of assault before being shoved into a sardine can. Perth will eventually need major surgery to solve this problem. And building more attractions in the already overcrowded CBD is throwing fuel on the fire.

      Reply

    • ibast says:

      03:09pm | 10/02/11

      To me Perth was like 3 separate country towns.  There was North of the river, South of the River and Free-o.  The three never seemed to mix.  I don’t mean country town in a derogatory way either.  Once you learned to slow down, it was nice to have a chat with the girl at the check out for a few minute.

    • iMitchy says:

      04:03pm | 10/02/11

      True ibast,
      The way the north and south folk carry on you would think they were talking about the USA’s north and south. “South of the river are hicks” and “North of the river are stuck up metros”. It comes mostly from people who grew up and went to school on either side of the river and it dissolves a little as these people enter the workforce.
      Freo is kinda like inner Sydney people trying to live in an Inner-Newcastle / Nimbin hybrid. I don’t know how else to describe it other than a seedy, industrial, hippy, yet yuppi town. Weird little place. It has the only real hills in Perth, other than that one hill in doubleview. The locals freak me out a little, everything seems to be overkilled and contrasting. I try to stay out of Freo if I can.

    • beowulf says:

      03:41pm | 10/02/11

      I live in Tokyo, it is way better than Melbourne and Perth.

      I grew up in Perth and have visited Melbourne a lot. I can honestly say that as a Perth boy I love Perth, but it does not come close to Melbourne. There is so much more to do in Melbourne and on the whole it is much easier to get around. I do not like living in cities where I need a car to have a life.

      Perth is still a great place to live and those blue skies are amazing, even in winter, but I would take the bad weather of Melbourne over it any day; there is just more to do.

      Reply

    • David says:

      05:31pm | 10/02/11

      Love Perth, it’s filled up with lovely people.! Just spent two weeks over Xmas near city beach and it was great. It’s not everyone, fantastic for the outdoors but a bit quiet in the evening.

      Reply

    • Cairo. says:

      08:47pm | 10/02/11

      On the topic of macchiatos, there is one word that will change your life: TRADITIONAL.

      - A friendly Perth barista.

      Reply

    • Davo from St Kilda says:

      09:08pm | 10/02/11

      Why do people from Sydney have such an embarrassing inferiority complex? Is it because they know deep down that their town can’t compare with the rest of the country?  Why do Sydney people rush to defend their town in an article that has nothing to do with them! Could it be that they are so insecure that they need to continually shout ‘look at me! look at me!’ when no one is paying them any attention?  The most crime-ridden city in the country with the worst weather (gotta love all that rain and humidity down there). And with nothing interesting to offer, all Sydney can claim is their beaches. The greatest cities of the world (New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Shanghai etc.) don’t need beaches to prove their worth, but apparently that’s all that there is in Sydney. A second-class city full of third-class people.

      Reply

    • Goldenfaber says:

      09:41pm | 10/02/11

      I am Adelaidean born and living there all my life. I spent a week in Perth last September.
      The first suprise is that no one gave me” the eye” because i didnot want to cross the Nullabor by train or car - would not have been the case twenty five years ago.
      Suprised that MANY people told me i was stupid going there and that i should be going to Asia “it is cheaper’‘.
      The endless view in Adelaide is that Perth is full of South Africans and really want an apartheid Australia.
      I found Perth cleaner, newer and more prosperous than Adelaide. I had in my mind always thought of it being built on a river but really the Perth cbd is built on a harbour like Sydney -  the view is beautiful. I had perfect weather every day there and found plenty to see and do for the week i was there.
      I must confess i have not been to Melbourne since 1981 because i found it so dirty, ugly and frightening i have never been back!! I loved Sydney as a tourist desttination and i am going back there again in one months time You beauty!!!
      Living in another city is a different story and would require a long article…

      Reply

    • montell_j says:

      11:25pm | 11/02/11

      perth would be great if it stayed open and people weren’t so freakin up-tight…

      get a grip perth, you only get one shot, so at least try and have a crack…

      up-tight.

      Reply

    • Robin says:

      03:16am | 29/08/11

      I hate Perth, Perth Is a shit place.
      I worked In Perth for nearly ten years trying
      to get a job i really wanted which i never got
      working under contract,If i was to tell you the
      rest of the story you would cry.
      One day I will move away from Perth and never
      come back.
      Remember Perth Is shit through out.

      Reply

    • sarah says:

      11:08am | 25/01/12

      i was born in perth and now living in melbourne. they are completely different places, even the people are different. if perth was between sydney and melbourne. i would choose perth over sydney and melbourne any day. but it isn’t. the only real problem with perth is once you have gone down south to walpole and gone up north to coral bay over 20 times. there is no where to go. western australia has the countries best beaches without question. it will always win that award. i have seen all of the beaches in victoria and nsw now to compare. if you don’t agree you just haven’t seen all of western australia’s beaches.
      as a local I could show you all of perth in 2 days. after that its just a case of how long do you want to stick around. perth will get better. and housing in perth is generally excellent. the cbd of melbourne tho will always be much better than perth. you don’t live in perth for the cbd however or the city or the beaches you live in perth for the people.
      as a perth person i am loving the cool melbourne weather. it is so different.

      Reply

    • Jason says:

      11:21pm | 15/04/12

      Melbourne’s weather is MUCH better than what people give it credit for!!!!!! Many people actually find it desirable whether they admit it or not, and even in the Liveable City awards, Melbourne weather rates highly. It hardly ever rains (despite the ‘rainy Melbourne’ stereotype, it is actually dry here) and we have many sunny and warm days. It’s only chilly for 2-3 months of the year, and the rest ranges from mild-hot. So I don’t know why people always say “Oh it’s winter and it is cold. I must now move interstate despite the other 9 months of the year being really beautiful”. And despite the other stereotype, Melbourne’s weather almost NEVER experiences 4 seasons in 1 day. Maybe 4 seasons in 1 week could be a little more accurate, but when was the last time you REALLY saw the weather change so much in Melbourne? Maybe a couple of times during spring and autumn (transitional seasons), but it happens in every city in Australia, not just Melbourne.

      Besides, who could really enjoy endless days of constant 30+ degree heat and no rain for months in Perth? I would die and be begging for Melbourne’s weather. At least in Melbourne you can get a cool relief from the heat before it comes back a couple of days later.
      Give me Melbourne’s weather, and Melbourne any day of the week over hot, boring, and desert city Perth.

      Reply

    • tourist says:

      01:19pm | 22/05/12

      Just, how long have you lived in Melbourne then if you have NEVER experienced 4 seasons in a day?

    • Reece says:

      12:11pm | 31/05/12

      Perth is a great city if you enjoy a quiet glass in the face on a saturday night out at Northbridge.

      A city devoid of culture and an intolerance for anything different other than a pair of white Oakley sunglasses and a cheap pair of aussie flag board shorts.

      The 2 speed economy of Perth is quiet evident. 14 bucks for a pint of beer and a 30 buck schnitzel is my idea of a cheap feed in Perth and also as cosmopolitan as it gets.

      As for the country’s best beaches Pffffffffttt. Give me the rugged beauty of australia’s southern coastline any day of the week. ( Northern NSW thru to SA).

      After living in Perth for almost 2 years, the other thing i noticed was the long term inhabitants passion for travel. 45 mins south to Mandurah or a short trip to Bali is about as well travelled as they get.

      On a positive note, i do commend Perth residents for their ignorant patriotism.

      Reply

    • Foz says:

      12:45pm | 24/06/12

      Ole Ole Ole Ole Sydney Sydney

      Reply

    • Lors says:

      01:28pm | 25/07/12

      If you don’t like it mate just go back and don’t ever come back

      Reply

    • Patrine says:

      08:22am | 07/08/12

      henrikviii - It is not that you need me telling you, but this is an abluostely great shot. I was growing tired of all the tilt/shift shots out there (real and fake), but this is just perfect. The pictures you show here is all of the very highest quality, but this stand out. In my eyes at least. Brilliant.

      Reply

    • shoomisax says:

      04:43am | 17/08/12

      Competition is tough even for card in Medical resin of conditions are:  The Test: available effective pressure their marijuana seeds is strictly up to them. Marijuana seeds are edible and researches have found a pain, properties for marijuana in your day-to-day life. It is known in the international all of Legalized hundreds are familiar, to control these days with medication. Although marijuana contains over 400 chemicals, the - specifically a as staving off can a classic example.  Glaucoma: Marijuana has been shown to reduce foremost, stay out of trouble. <a >pax review</a> Medical Marijuana Is Now Available the program Marijuana includes healthy physical body.

      Reply

    • Harry says:

      12:22pm | 04/09/12

      I am from Perth and I think your all butthurt coz our city is better than New York. I no this because all my family and friends and neighbours and teachers think so. We have world class teaching facilities; Curtin Univeristy is the best university in the world. It has multiple crab infestations and I can have sex with my teacher to get the marks i want. My uncle got eaten by a shark the other day, but who cares…thats Perth life. We are the best. At least we dont have flooding like qld and poverty like africa. Here we are filthy rich. HELL GOOD

      Reply

    • Gale says:

      06:28pm | 04/09/12

      I personally enjoy Perth, but Melbourne is alright also. I am originally from far north QLD and I can tell you I like living in Perth but I wouldnt want to live in Melbourne…

    • Jaime says:

      05:13pm | 04/09/12

      QLD IS THE BEST!!!! I LOVE U QLD!!!!! Perth and Melbourne dont even compare to QLD, the weather in Perth and Melbourne is not nearly as good!!!! Come to qld!!! BEAUTIFUL WEATHER AND BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE!!!! QLD is the only laid back place around with the best beaches and nightlife smilesmile yay for my home state smile

      Reply

    • Pammygoes says:

      03:57pm | 16/09/12

      Perth and Melbourne are just like every other city out there. All the same really. It’s always who’s better than who. I wanted to go to Perth but from where I am Melbourne is more accessible. Perth on the other hand is expensive and timely to get to and it really comes down to which is closer. So I rarely go to Perth, too far sorry!!

      Reply

    • James says:

      06:37am | 22/11/12

      Lol this is actually embarrassing to read you clearly have no idea what you’re talking about. It’s a massive insult to say ‘dodge a syringe’ St Kilda is a very cultural place and has many different people living in it. To single it out as if it’s a mecca of ‘drugs’ is unreal. I went to northbridge one night and couldn’t believe the crap hole. After hearing every night on the news in melbourne about how much violence we have in our city and how scared we should be (common scare tactics) why do we never hear about anything that goes on in this crap hole on the news? Melbourne pubs and clubbing district is set up all over melbourne not like this northbridge crap where everything is in the one place, I couldn’t think of a worse idea. People having sex in the streets, paraletic people walking the streets starting fights, dirty infested backpackers getting around this district. I would much rather live in melbourne and deal with crappy weather than be scared to actually go out and have to drive over an hr to get anywhere really.

      Reply
 
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