If our streets could talk, what stories would they tell?

What a city has to offer will change over the years. This is evident in Perth’s own Hay Street Mall, from its beginnings as a vehicular inner-city road lined with ornate theatres and hotels, to its transition to a pedestrian mall in the 70s, and the evolution that is taking place today that will shape its future.

As part of Perth Design Week, Hames Sharley hosted an immersive walking tour, sharing memories from those who have experienced the city over the decades, hearing stories of the minutiae of everyday life and perusing forgotten ephemera.

More than a one-way presentation, it was an open conversation with our guests to share their own unique experiences of the city and how they continue to change over time.

Our own Nic Temov and Steph McGann led the conversation, which started in our Perth Studio and moved east along Hay Street, stopping at key sites along the way, and culminating with discussion and refreshments at the historical Liberty Theatre.

Throughout the evening, we discussed the ebbs and flows of the mall’s attraction over the years. Before the major regional centres dotted the suburbs, the CBD was the premiere place to shop, drawing people in from far and wide. But its offering went well beyond convenience – it was a dynamic place for revelry and fun.

We reflected on this at Carillon City, where Hames Sharley Director Derek Hays shared the legacy of the prominent retail arcade, which once bustled with activity from the food court to the cinema. It currently sits dormant ahead of a revitalisation project, which will include a retail and food precinct, a hotel and student accommodation.

For more than fifty years, a major drawcard to the mall was women’s clothing store Sportslane, opened by the Lane family after relocating to Perth from Latvia. Irving Lane joined us to share his recollections and thoughts on how retail on Hay Street has changed over the years, including the habits of shoppers and the ways they engage with brick-and-mortar stores. Spanning three buildings, Sportslane once wore an enticing window facade designed by eminent architect Iwan Iwanoff, with island windows and deep recesses for perusing shoppers. In a time before retailers had websites and social media accounts for perusing at leisure, these window fronts and intricate merchandise displays captured the attention of shoppers.

The space where Sportslane once stood now draws shoppers in with an immersive experience of a different kind. Streetwear brand Culture Kings creates a sense of exclusivity with its retail offering through unique activations such as celebrity meet-and-greets, and the ‘Culture Kings Claw Machine’ which offers the chance to win rare collector pieces.

We gathered on the rooftop of hospitality venue Espresso & Prosecco, where owner Frank Agnello shared his family’s insights, hewn from more than 40 years’ experience operating in the CBD. With alfresco dining spilling out into the mall, beckoning people to slow down and bask in life’s good stuff, Espresso & Prosecco is demonstrating how sharing food, wine and conversation can bring colour and life to Hay Street. Our group was treated to scoops of gelato as we strolled to our next stop.

The Hay Street district was once glittering with cinemas, theatres and hotels – a legacy that local property developer Randal Humich is continuing with his regeneration of the Connor Quinlan building. Randal took us on a journey through history, sharing treasures uncovered during the renovation project, which includes reacquainting the city with its long-forgotten Liberty Theatre. The redevelopment is prioritising heritage restoration, ensuring these spaces continue to serve the cultural life of the city.

Thank you to all who joined us for the event, and in particular to Irving Lane, Frank Agnello and Randal Humich for sharing their spaces and stories with generosity and insight.