Shopping

Most major shops are downtown on the parallel Hay Street and Murray Street malls, and in the network of arcades running off them, such as the Plaza, City, Carillon, and Tudor-style London Court arcades. Off Murray Street Mall on Forrest Place is the Forrest Chase shopping complex, housing the Myer department store and boutiques on two levels. The other major department store, David Jones, opens on to both malls. Add to your collection of international designer brands on posh King Street, in the west end. Harbourtown, at the western edge of the city, is a large complex housing "factory outlets" of numerous retail chains.

If you want to avoid the chains, spend half a day in Subiaco or "Subi," where Hay Street and Rokeby Road are lined with smart boutiques, galleries, cafes, antiques shops, and markets. The Colonnade shopping center at 388 Hay St. showcases some groovy young Aussie fashion designers.

Fremantle's shopping is mostly limited to a good selection of crafts, markets, and Aboriginal souvenirs, with several galleries in High Street.

Shops are open until 9pm on Friday in the city, and until 9pm on Thursday in Subiaco and Fremantle.

Local Arts & Crafts

Two shops showcase contemporary ceramic, textile, glass, and jewelry products: Form, at 357 Murray St. just round the corner from King St. (tel. 08/9226 2161); and Aspects of Kings Park, behind the Visitor Centre (tel. 08/9480 3900).

Aboriginal Arts & Crafts -- Creative Native, Shop 58, Forrest Chase (tel. 08/9321 5470, www.creativenative.com.au), stocks Perth's widest range of Aboriginal arts and crafts. Upstairs is a gallery selling original works by some renowned Aboriginal artists. There's another branch at 65 High St., Fremantle (tel. 08/9335 7438).

Indigenart, 115 Hay St., Subiaco (tel. 08/9388 2899), and 82 High St., Fremantle (tel. 08/9335 2911), stocks works on canvas, paper, and bark, as well as artifacts, textiles, pottery, didgeridoos, boomerangs, and sculpture, by Aboriginal artists from all over Australia.

Aboriginal Fine Art -- Japingka Gallery, 47 High St., Fremantle (tel. 08/9335 8265), is dedicated to encouraging and exhibiting Aboriginal art from around Australia. It has a large stock of certificated art, covering a broad cross section of areas and styles. There's an ongoing exhibition program, which usually involves having the artist present for discussion and explanation. The gallery is based over two floors in a historic building in central High Street.

Jewelry

Western Australia is renowned for farming the world's best South Sea pearls off Broome, for Argyle diamonds mined in the Kimberley, and for being one of the world's biggest gold producers.

Artisans of the Sea, corner of Marine Terrace and Collie Street, Fremantle (tel. 08/9336 3633), sells elegant South Sea pearls and gold jewelry.

Some of Perth's other leading jewelers, where you can buy opals, Argyle diamonds, and Broome pearls, are Costello's, Shop 5-6, London Court (tel. 08/9325 8588), and Linneys, 37 Rokeby Rd., Subiaco (tel. 08/9382 4077).

For opals to suit all budgets, head to the Perth outlet of Quilpie Opals, Shop 6, Piccadilly Arcade off Hay Street Mall (tel. 08/9321 8687).