So Perth

Subiaco becomes Spookiaco this Friday to Sunday, October 30th to November 1st, for the City of Subiaco’s first Halloween festival. Giant inflatable monsters are moving into Market Square Park, four laneways off Rokeby Road are being haunted, and the Subi Fright Market takes over the park on Halloween night. Most of it is free.

“For a few days, we’re giving Subiaco permission to be a little bit spooky,” said City of Subiaco Mayor David McMullen.

Here’s what’s happening.

The monsters in Market Square Park

The big drawcard is Monsters Can’t Fly, a park full of inflatable monsters by Sydney artist Matthew Aberline and Beautiful & Useful Studio. Aberline was behind The Light Within, which ran in Subiaco in April. The monsters are bright and patterned in daylight, but they’re best after dark, when animated light sequences make them glow from within. The installation includes prompts that ask kids how they’d roar, walk, and dance if they were a monster.

“You might find yourself looking twice, but there really will be giant monsters right here in Market Square Park,” Mayor McMullen said.

They arrive this Friday and stay until November 8th, a week after the rest of Spookiaco wraps up.

Subi Fright Market

On Halloween night this Saturday, the Subi Night Market becomes the Subi Fright Market from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The usual stalls and food are still there, with Halloween characters and performers roaming the park, face painting, and a trick-or-treat trail for kids. Come in costume. From around 6:30 pm, Subi Voice of Youth is screening Monsters vs. Aliens outdoors. Entry is free.

Haunted laneways

Artist Lynzie Bremner has dressed four laneways off Rokeby Road for the three days. The entrance to Vampire Lane, Rokeby Lane between Quello and Shui, is a set of giant vampire teeth, with black bats, drapes, and candelabras waiting on the other side. Walmsley Lane, next to Bar Amelie, has become Killer Plant Lane, overgrown with giant Venus flytraps, oversized eyeballs, and moss-covered skeletons.

The other two are photo stops. Kannis Lane, next to Willie Creek, is now Pumpkin Lane, a pumpkin patch with pumpkin-headed scarecrows, and Postal Walk beside the post office has A Dead Wedding, with two coffins and a pair of skeleton newlyweds. All four are marked on the Haunted Laneways map.

Walking tours

Oh Hey WA is running two Spookiaco tours. Stories and Spirits is an 18+ walk through Subi’s laneways this Friday from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm, with ghost stories and riddles tied to the murals, nibbles, and a spooky cocktail. Tickets are $70.00.

Family Fright Night is the one for kids, on Halloween from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm. It’s a creature art hunt through the streets with ghost stories along the way, ending at the Fright Market and its trick-or-treat trail. Tickets are $25.00 for adults and $10.00 for kids. Bookings are through Oh Hey WA.

The cocktail crawl

Nine Subiaco bars and venues are pouring 11 Halloween cocktails between them for a self-guided Spooky Cocktail Crawl. Subi Hotel is pouring a Vampire’s Kiss, Mistelle is pouring La Veuve Noire, McNally’s Irish Pub is pouring a Cobweb Coconut Margarita, and BARK is pouring three: the Halloween Penicillin, the Blood Bath, and The Green Witch. Al Canto, Bar Amelie, Cafe Cafe, Refuge Small Bar, and Storehouse are in on it too.

Storehouse and Al Canto start a day early, this Thursday, while seven of the 11 cocktails finish on Saturday. Bookings are recommended. Check the Spooky Cocktail Crawl map for who’s pouring what and when.

Local businesses are adding best-dressed competitions, trivia nights, creative classes, and costume giveaways over the weekend, and the full program is on the Spookiaco website.

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Granny flats could grow from 70 to 90 square metres, and more could be built without council planning approval, under draft changes to the Residential Design Codes (R-Codes) the State Government released yesterday. The same draft would scrap average lot size requirements for R10 to R25 properties in Perth and Peel, making more than 70,000 existing residential properties eligible to subdivide. You can comment on the changes until February 26th next year.

“These reforms are a game changer for Western Australians, with property owners given greater flexibility to develop their land depending on their individual circumstances,” said Planning and Lands Minister John Carey.

“Whether it’s a granny flat for a young or ageing family member, or subdividing off the backyard to downsize, we are providing more opportunities for housing choice in existing suburbs.”

The R-Codes are the rulebook for homes across WA, setting lot sizes, building heights, parking, setbacks, open space, privacy, and landscaping. These are draft proposals, so nothing changes yet; development and subdivision applications will continue to be assessed under the current rules while the review is underway. Feedback will shape the final codes before they go to the Western Australian Planning Commission, and the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage expects any changes to begin coming into effect later in 2027. The draft is part of the wider R-Code reforms the Cook Government announced in July.

Under the current rules, in place since April 2024, a granny flat of up to 70 square metres that complies with the R-Codes doesn’t need planning approval on a residential lot of any size, only a building permit. That change also removed the old 350 square metre minimum lot size, dropped the rule that the flat had to match the main house’s design, and allowed granny flats on grouped dwelling and strata lots. You don’t need a parking bay for one, except at some densities and in locations further from public transport, where a car is more likely to be needed. If you’re planning one now, the State Government advises you to contact your local council about building it.

Under the new draft, the maximum floor space would rise to 90 square metres, minimum car parking requirements would be removed altogether, the rear lot boundary setback would be reduced in lower-density areas, and more granny flats would be exempt from council planning approval.

“By adjusting the standards for granny flats, more developments will avoid a two or three-month planning approval process, saving time and money with only a building permit required,” Mr Carey said.

The subdivision change applies to existing residential land coded R10 to R25 across Perth and Peel. R20 is the code that generally applies to the most common suburban residential properties across the Perth metro area, so the change reaches a lot of ordinary suburban blocks. You can usually find your property’s density code by searching your address in your council’s online mapping system.

How to have your say

You have until 5:00 pm on February 26th next year to comment.

You can comment online through Have Your Say WA, which has two forms. The Short Feedback Form is a quick survey on the key changes and takes about five to ten minutes. The Detailed Feedback Form lets you comment on the specific parts of the draft codes that are relevant to you. You can attach a written submission through the online form, or post one to the Western Australian Planning Commission.

The department is also running community pop-ups across Perth in December, plus one online session, and you’ll need to register your interest through the Have Your Say page:

• December 2nd, 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm: Swan Active Midland and a southern suburbs session
• December 5th, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm: Stirling Libraries Karrinyup and Bay View Community Centre in Claremont
• December 8th, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm: online on Microsoft Teams
• December 10th, 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm: Beatty Park Leisure Centre in North Perth

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The new Fremantle Traffic Bridge will officially be named Walyalup Bridge, and you can walk across it next Sunday before it opens to traffic. The State Government announced the name today, a week before the free community opening on November 1st, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

“We’re proud to announce Walyalup Bridge as the official name for this iconic new landmark that will be a part of Fremantle’s identity for generations to come,” said Transport and Major Infrastructure Minister Rita Saffioti.

“This river crossing has a rich history and so many people have their own stories of its past, whether it be its Noongar heritage and culture, connections to the Fremantle community, or what it represents as a feat of engineering and critical transport link to the Port City.

“Its name, Walyalup Bridge, will now become part of that continuing story, connecting the past, present and future of this important place.”

Walyalup is the traditional Whadjuk Noongar name for Fremantle, and the place holds strong social, spiritual, cultural, and historical significance for the Whadjuk people. The name comes from walyo, the Noongar word for the woylie, a small kangaroo rat that was once abundant in the scrub and low trees around the coastal plain.

The name is already used around Fremantle, including at the Walyalup Aboriginal Cultural Centre, the Walyalup Fremantle Arts Centre, and the Walyalup Civic Centre, and the Fremantle Dockers adopt it during the AFL’s Indigenous Round.

“Walyalup Bridge is a fitting name for where the Swan River meets the Fremantle Harbour and the gateway to Fremantle,” said Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk.

Bridges have stood at this crossing since 1866, and Walyalup Bridge is the fifth at the site, according to Main Roads. The one it replaces opened in 1939 as a temporary structure and carried traffic until it closed on February 1st this year.

The design incorporates heritage and culture through public art and feature lighting that draws on the river’s history. The project has retained timber piles from the old Fremantle Traffic Bridge, and will interpret remnants associated with earlier crossings in the surrounding area. Lighting testing and finishing works around the bridge will continue after the opening.

Getting to the opening day

You can walk onto the bridge from either end between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm. The Festival Hub is under the bridge on Beach Street, with a free sausage sizzle, activities, and family-friendly entertainment. Thousands of people are expected, and Main Roads is asking people to register to help it plan catering, transport, and festival activities.

There’s no event parking, so you’ll need to walk, ride, or take public transport; if you’re riding, bike racks will be set up at the event. Transperth travel is free every Sunday with a SmartRider or contactless payment (tag on and off as usual), and parking at Transperth stations is free on weekends. Catch the train to North Fremantle or Fremantle station, and it’s about a 15-minute walk from either to the bridge.

A free shuttle bus runs from Stand 2 at Fremantle Station every five minutes between 8:30 am and 12:30 pm, with buses back from the bridge to the station every five minutes from 8:35 am to 1:30 pm. 

The bridge opens to traffic later that evening, and once it does, the temporary road changes made for the closure will be lifted, including access to and from Fremantle via Canning Highway.

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The tenth 16 Days in WA campaign against family and domestic violence runs from November 25th to December 10th, starting with a silent march through the Perth CBD. This year’s theme is “Stopping Family and Domestic Violence: Play your part”, and the campaign calls on all Western Australians to help create safer families, workplaces, and communities.

“Every person deserves to feel safe, respected, and valued in their relationships, their workplace, and their community,” said Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Jessica Stojkovski.

“Creating that future requires all of us to play a part.”

“The change we need will not come from government alone. It comes from people who choose respect over control, from communities that refuse to stay silent, and from men and boys who lead by example and challenge attitudes that can contribute to violence.”

This year’s focus

The campaign has run every year since 2017 and is inspired by the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence. This year it keeps its focus on engaging men and boys, and on raising awareness of coercive control and the impact that patterns of intimidation, isolation, and manipulation have on victim-survivors.

“Do not ignore the trace of control when you see it. Act before it escalates,” Ms Stojkovski said.

The campaign asks you to learn to recognise the signs of abuse, speak up against disrespectful attitudes and behaviours, support someone who may need help, and start a conversation at work, at school, at your sporting club, or in your community.

Three organisations have each received $25,000 for campaign activities, including Aboriginal Family Legal Services for the Ochre Ribbon campaign, a grassroots movement that promotes healing, respect, and safety in Aboriginal communities.

The State Government says it has invested more than $817.5 million since 2017 in prevention, early intervention, and support for victim-survivors, while the WA Police Force’s annual report for 2024-25 says reported family assault and family threatening behaviour offences both increased over that year.

“While significant progress has been made, family and domestic violence remains one of the most serious challenges facing our community, which is why prevention continues to be such an important focus,” Ms Stojkovski said.

The silent march through the CBD

In Perth, the campaign opens with the 36th March Against Domestic and Family Violence, hosted by the Centre for Women’s Safety and Wellbeing (CWSW) at Forrest Place on November 25th. Stalls from services supporting victim-survivors open at 10:00 am, with information on crisis support, refuge accommodation, financial hardship, and legal support. Speeches start at 11:00 am, and the silent march sets off at midday and finishes at about 12:45 pm, following a route along Murray Street Mall, William Street, Hay Street Mall, and Barrack Street, then back to Forrest Place.

The march is held in silence to honour those killed by domestic and family violence and to show respect for their families, and marchers are asked not to talk during the march or the speeches.

Where to get help

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 000. If you or someone you know is experiencing family and domestic violence, these lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• Women’s Domestic Violence Helpline: 1800 007 339
• Men’s Domestic Violence Helpline: 1800 000 599
• 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732
• Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800

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The Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, better known as the Aussies, will return to Western Australia in 2028, with nine days of competition at Scarborough and Trigg beaches. The Cook Government announced the event yesterday, and it’s expected to bring more than 4,500 athletes to Perth, along with around 9,000 volunteer surf lifesavers, officials, and supporters from across Australia.

“Scarborough and Trigg Beaches are true Western Australian gems, offering an ideal setting for competitors, spectators and the wider surf lifesaving community, and I’m excited to welcome them back to Perth for what promises to be a memorable event,” said Premier Roger Cook.

First held in 1915, the championships are the biggest event on the surf lifesaving calendar. In 2028, competitors from Australia’s 316 surf clubs will contest national titles in the Youth, Masters, and Open age categories, across more than 550 beach and ocean events.

The program combines running, paddling, swimming, and rowing. The beach sprint is a straight 90-metre dash on sand. Beach flags start with competitors lying face down, facing away from batons buried 15 to 20 metres behind them; there are always fewer batons than people, so someone is eliminated every round until one remains. Board and ski paddlers race around a set of buoys, surf boat crews of four rowers and a sweep row to a turning buoy about 400 metres offshore and back, and the Ironman and Ironwoman combine swim, surf ski, and board legs before a sprint to the finish.

“For the thousands of young Western Australians involved in local nippers and surf lifesaving programs, this event is an amazing opportunity to watch the best of the best in action and inspire the next generation of lifesavers,” said Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti.

What happened last time

The 2023 championships used the same two beaches. According to the City of Stirling, 5,841 surf lifesavers competed in 505 water and beach events across 18 categories, from under-13s to over-75s, and more than 10,700 people attended.

The lower promenade at Scarborough became a festival zone, with marquees, sponsors, merchandise, and food and drink stalls, while the upper square hosted an Aussies edition of the Sunset Markets. The Aussies Ocean Swim was open to the public and drew more than 700 entrants.

“The 2023 Aussies were a huge success, bringing thousands of competitors and supporters to our coastline and delivering a real boost for local businesses,” said Scarborough MLA Stuart Aubrey.

“Trigg Island and Scarboro Surf Life Saving Clubs are at the heart of our coastal community, and it’s fantastic that the Aussies will return in 2028 to once again showcase our clubs, our community and our incredible coastline to the rest of Australia,” Mr Aubrey said.

Scarborough has hosted the Aussies 11 times since 1951, according to Scarboro Surf Life Saving Club, and 2028 will mark the club’s centenary; it was formed in January 1928.

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Phoebe Tonkin’s new crime series, The Dark Lake, will film on location in Perth’s metropolitan area in 2027. The adaptation of Sarah Bailey’s award-winning novel will star Tonkin as a rural town detective who must confront dark secrets from her past when she investigates the murder of a former high school classmate. The State Government, which confirmed the shoot yesterday, expects the production to inject more than $8.5 million into the state’s economy and create an estimated 300 local jobs.

“I’m pleased Western Australia has secured the adaptation of Sarah Bailey’s The Dark Lake to film in our State next year,” said Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk.

Tonkin is also an executive producer on the series. Her screen credits include The Vampire Diaries, Babylon, Safe Harbour, and Boy Swallows Universe.

Brouhaha Entertainment, the Sydney and London company that also produced Boy Swallows Universe for Netflix, is making The Dark Lake as a six-part series. Troy Lum and Andrew Mason, the company’s producing partners, will produce it. Between them, their credits include The Matrix, Dark City, and Saving Mr Banks. Becca Johnstone wrote the series and is an executive producer alongside Tonkin, Giorgia Stawaruk, and Katarina Mandic.

“After visiting Perth for an initial location scout earlier this year, we knew we’d found the perfect home for The Dark Lake,” said producers Troy Lum and Andrew Mason.

Bailey set her novel in country Victoria, but the series will be set in a fictional wine region, according to Screenwest.

“Brouhaha Entertainment have a track record of producing evocative and powerful Australian stories, and I look forward to seeing our incredible local talent, crew and wine regions shine on the global stage in this new series,” said Screenwest CEO Rikki Lea Bestall.

The State Government’s Western Australian Production Attraction Incentive, which Screenwest administers, attracted the series to WA, with Screen Australia as major production investor and Screen NSW also helping to finance it. Local crew will gain skills through Screenwest’s Below-the-Line Crew Capacity Program.

“We look forward to working with Western Australia’s talented local practitioners,” said Lum and Mason.

The Dark Lake is the latest in a run of productions filming in WA. Antony Starr’s Breakers was the first Netflix series to film in the state, shooting in the South West. Two Birds, a Stan and ITV series led by Sheridan Smith with Judy Davis, was the first major production to film on the lot at Perth Film Studios in Malaga, and SBS and NITV’s Saltwater Cowboys also shot in WA.

What The Dark Lake is about

The Dark Lake was the Melbourne author’s first novel, a police procedural published by Allen & Unwin in 2017. It became a worldwide bestseller and drew comparisons to Gillian Flynn and Paula Hawkins. In 2018, it won Best First Novel at the Ned Kelly Awards and Best Debut at the Davitt Awards. It was the first in the three-book Gemma Woodstock series.

The book follows Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock, a police officer in Smithson, the small country town where she grew up. When Rosalind Ryan, a young teacher Gemma knew at high school, is found dead in the lake, her body strewn with red roses, Gemma pushes to be assigned to the case and keeps her history with the victim from her superiors. As the investigation goes on, other secrets that were supposed to stay buried threaten to come out.

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Galleria’s new Fashion Mall opens on November 5th. It’s the first major part of the Morley shopping centre’s roughly $240 million redevelopment to open, and it comes with a new-look Myer, Perth’s north-east’s first MECCA, and a list of retailers the centre has never had before.

Talk of upgrading Galleria goes back to the mid-2010s, while Karrinyup and Carousel got their makeovers first. Vicinity Centres began main construction last September.

“Our next chapter is almost here. The transformation of Galleria’s Fashion Mall will deliver more choice, sought-after brands and an enhanced shopping experience for Morley and the wider north-east, creating a destination closer to home that our community can be proud of. We can’t wait to welcome everyone through the doors on Thursday 5 November,” said Galleria Centre Manager Allana Edwards.

Myer anchors the new mall, with a rebuilt beauty hall, a new store layout, and plenty of new stock.

“Our team cannot wait to open the doors and share this incredible new chapter with our local community. With over 120 new brands arriving on our shelves, including 50 must-have names across beauty and skincare, the new Myer Morley offers greater variety and inspiration than ever before,” said General Manager of Myer (WA/SA) Sanette Sam.

Beauty gets a big upgrade beyond Myer. MECCA is opening, along with W Cosmetics, which specialises in Korean and Asian skincare and makeup, and the Australian fragrance brand Joe Smith. Palermo Perfumes is opening its first West Australian store with more than 1,600 fragrances, mostly locally made, designer-inspired scents.

For fashion, Country Road, Seed, Witchery, Oroton, and Perfect Stranger all open on day one, along with jewellery label Harli + Harpa. JD Sports joins rebel, Adidas, and Perth-born City Beach for sneakers and streetwear. AJE, Nude Lucy, ThrillsCo, and Victoria’s Secret are coming later.

JB Hi-Fi and Miniso are also on the opening-day list. Shortly after the opening, Harry Hartog will open its first WA bookshop, with books, gifts, and stationery.

Some retailers returning to the centre will also open new stores. More than 20 of them will open new-to-market store designs, including Decjuba, Sheike, and Perth activewear label Rapid Wear. The mall will also get new floors, lighting, and furniture, plus plenty of greenery.

Nearly 100 new and returning retailers will trade at Galleria once the whole redevelopment is done. More Fashion Mall stores and the Entertainment and Dining Precinct, which includes The Terrace open-air dining area, are still to come.

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Two of the five remaining sets of traffic lights on Reid Highway, at Altone Road and at Drumpellier Drive and Daviot Road, will be gone about six months earlier than planned. The Reid Highway Interchanges project, which replaces both intersections with grade-separated interchanges, is ahead of schedule and is now due to be fully operational by mid-next year instead of early 2028, the State Government said yesterday.

“It’s been incredible to see how quickly these two new interchanges have taken shape on Reid Highway, with the project team working hard to minimise disruptions to road users while construction has powered ahead,” said Transport and Major Infrastructure Minister Rita Saffioti.

“Removing the traffic lights will make a real difference to the almost 40,000 motorists that use this stretch of Reid Highway every day, delivering a smoother flow of traffic and cutting travel time for residents, commuters and truckies.”

Reid Highway is an east-west route across Perth’s north between Marmion Avenue and Roe Highway. The $225 million project is funded equally by the Federal and State Governments, and the bridge beams are now fully installed on both new bridges, the one carrying Reid Highway over Altone Road and the one taking Drumpellier Drive over Reid Highway to Daviot Road.

What changes on the road, and when

Traffic is due to move onto the new Drumpellier Drive and Daviot Road bridge from December, according to Main Roads, with Altone Road traffic shifting to its new arrangement early next year. Both bridges will open under temporary traffic arrangements first, and some movements will stay restricted until the interchanges are fully operational.

Reaching the finished layout will require several traffic changes and temporary local road closures from late this year through to April 2027, including the staged opening of the new interchange access ramps and the eventual removal of the temporary roundabouts. Main Roads says the planned closures will remove the temporary road alignments, build the new on- and off-ramps, and connect the interchanges to the permanent Reid Highway alignment.

For drivers who’ve been working around roadworks on this stretch since major construction got underway late last year, that’s another six months or so of changes. Main Roads will communicate them in advance through site signage and notifications to residents and road users. If you use Reid Highway, Altone Road, or Drumpellier Drive regularly, you can sign up for project email updates through Main Roads, or call the Main Roads Customer Information Centre on 138 138.

At Altone Road, the new bridge carries Reid Highway over the intersection, and Altone Road connects to the highway through ramps and roundabouts. At Drumpellier Drive, it works the other way around, with the new bridge over Reid Highway connecting Drumpellier Drive with Daviot Road, entry and exit ramps onto the highway, and an elongated “dog bone” roundabout. Main Roads says that the design is similar to the Roe Highway interchanges at Kalamunda Road and Karel Avenue.

The ramps and their connecting roundabouts will keep access to local roads and residential areas. The existing Tattler Way roundabout will be modified to allow left-in, left-out access to the residential area for southbound traffic, and Main Roads will also build a dedicated left-turn pocket into Luminous Boulevard.

For cyclists and pedestrians, a shared-path bridge will cross the Altone Road on-ramp and Reid Highway, and new underpasses will run beneath the Altone Road off-ramp and Daviot Road. Together with the other new path sections, they’ll create an uninterrupted route from West Swan Road to Malaga, with better access to the Swan Valley.

“We’re delivering new shared paths, bridges and underpasses that will better connect the Caversham, Middle Swan, Stratton and Jane Brook communities, making it easier than ever to move through our eastern suburbs,” said Midland MLA Steve Catania.

The new arched underpass beneath Daviot Road will carry a mural by Western Australian artist Paula Hart. Students in Years 1 to 6 at Caversham Valley Primary School drew native plants, animals, and local landscapes in a series of art workshops, and Hart will combine elements of their drawings into a single mural. At Altone Road, the bridge abutment walls carry a leaf motif inspired by Banksia attenuata, which grows in the surrounding area, including along Bennett Brook.

Work continues on the remaining shared path sections and noise walls, with precast concrete panels made locally in Herne Hill now going up along Daviot Road and Drumpellier Drive.

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Western Australia will have two new public holidays from 2028. State Parliament has passed the Cook Government’s overhaul of the public holiday calendar, the Premier announced yesterday. Easter Saturday and Show Day will become public holidays, Labour Day and King’s Birthday will align with other states, and WA Day will shift from June to November.

“My government has modernised WA’s public holiday calendar which will be better suited to modern life in WA, following clear, broad support from the Western Australian community,” said Premier Roger Cook.

“We’re creating two new public holidays, Easter Saturday and Show Day, and aligning three other public holidays with other States to help boost productivity.”

The changes follow a public consultation that drew more than 10,000 submissions. The two-year implementation period gives businesses and government time to prepare, so the current calendar stays in place through 2027. Next year, King’s Birthday still falls in late September and WA Day is still in June.

If you work Monday to Friday, only one of the two new holidays gives you an extra day off. Easter Saturday will be observed on the Saturday itself, with no substitute weekday, as Easter Sunday was introduced in 2022, and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet has confirmed there’s no additional public holiday for Monday-to-Friday workers. The Fair Work Ombudsman says you don’t get paid for a public holiday that falls on a day you don’t normally work. Your extra weekday off is Show Day, which takes over the late September long weekend as King’s Birthday moves to June. Easter Saturday matters most if you work weekends: most WA employees currently get no higher rate for working it, and from 2028 it’s a public holiday.

Easter Saturday is already a public holiday in every state and territory except WA and Tasmania, and the State Government says the change means WA workers are fairly paid for their time during the Easter long weekend. 

Show Day will be set by proclamation to fall on the first Monday of the September and October school holidays. It’s named for the day’s historical use for getting to the Perth Royal Show, and the timing means the Royal Agricultural Society can keep scheduling the Show around a late September or early October public holiday. Regional councils can apply to the Governor to hold Show Day on a different date, as some already do with King’s Birthday.

King’s Birthday moves to the second Monday in June, matching every state and territory except Queensland and aligning with the King’s Birthday Honours.

WA Day moves to the second Monday in November, which the State Government says gives Western Australians a break ahead of the Christmas season and lets them enjoy celebrations outside winter. The government considered an October long weekend, which would have matched New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and the ACT, but people wanted WA Day to stay unique. 

Labour Day moves from the first to the second Monday in March, in line with Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and the ACT, so WA keeps a March long weekend. In most state election years, it moves again to the third Monday in March to avoid holding an election on a long weekend. 

What the 2028 calendar looks like

The March and June long weekends arrive a week later than they do now, the late September long weekend keeps its name, and you get a long weekend in November, a month that currently has no public holiday. Here’s how the five changes fall in 2028.

• Labour Day: March 13th
• Easter Saturday: April 15th
• King’s Birthday: June 12th
• Show Day: September 25th
• WA Day: November 13th

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AFL Origin is back at Optus Stadium on February 27th next year, with Western Australia taking on South Australia from 4:40 pm. Tickets go on sale through Ticketmaster to the general public on December 3rd at 9:00 am, and club members get early access from 9:00 am on December 2nd.

“Western Australia is the natural home of AFL Origin, and we’re thrilled to welcome it back to Optus Stadium on 27 February next year,” said Premier and Tourism, Trade and Investment Minister Roger Cook.

“Next year’s match will be particularly special as we celebrate 50 years since the first State of Origin match was played right here in Western Australia.”

The State Government announced in July that Perth would host Origin in 2027 and 2029, but until now the only timing for next year’s game was February.

This year’s match against Victoria, played on February 14th, was the first elite-level interstate showdown since 1999. It sold out and drew more than 58,000 fans to Optus Stadium, including thousands of interstate visitors. Victoria won by 24 points. According to the AFL, next year’s game will be South Australia’s first Origin appearance since 1999.

The first State of Origin match was played at Subiaco Oval in 1977, when Western Australia beat Victoria by 94 points. As the WA Museum notes, players were selected on where they learned their footy rather than the club they were contracted to.

“AFL Origin brings out a different kind of pride and passion from footy fans, and I can’t wait to see Western Australians get behind their team again when we face off against South Australia next year,” said Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti.

“Hosting this clash 50 years after the first State of Origin match at Subiaco Oval is a fitting celebration of WA’s proud football history.”

Glen Jakovich will stay on as Western Australia’s chairman of selectors for next year’s match.

Away from the game itself, the State Government says there will be open training sessions, a match-day footy fest carnival, and activations around the city. Optus Stadium has confirmed there will again be a football festival in Stadium Park, as there was this year.

Money from this year’s match is going back into WA football through AFL Origin legacy initiatives, including targeted school programs and regional talent development.

“We’ve seen more than $1.5 million reinvested into community football from this year’s AFL Origin and next year’s match will help even more young people participate in the sport,” Ms Saffioti said.

If you can’t get a seat, the match will be broadcast on the Seven Network and Foxtel, and streamed on 7plus, Kayo, and WatchAFL.

After Perth, Origin moves to Adelaide Oval in 2028 for South Australia against Victoria, before Western Australia hosts Victoria at Optus Stadium in 2029.

When tickets go on sale

Tickets are sold through Ticketmaster, with details on the AFL Origin ticketing page. If you’re a club member, the presale opens at 9:00 am on December 2nd. Everyone else can buy from 9:00 am on December 3rd. Premium match-day hospitality packages are on sale now through the AFL Event Office.

For this year’s match, members were emailed a presale access code by their club, and buyers could purchase up to ten tickets per transaction. Mobile tickets had to be loaded in the Ticketmaster app and added to a phone wallet before leaving home, as screenshots weren’t accepted at the gates.

This year’s tickets also included travel on all Transperth services for three hours either side of the game. There’s no public parking at Optus Stadium on major-event days, but Stadium Park has its own purpose-built train and bus station, more than 600 bike racks, and a taxi rank next to Victoria Park Drive. Rideshare pick-up and drop-off is across the Matagarup Bridge. Leave the car at home and catch the train.

The post AFL Origin Returns To Optus Stadium On February 27th, With Tickets On Sale In December appeared first on So Perth