Top Perth activities
Top Perth landmarks
Beyond Perth
Perth trip ideas

Boom-and-Bust: self-guided historical walking tour of Perth

3 Reviews 4.33 out of 5 stars Based on 3 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor | Perth, Australia

Loading Options
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 20 (0) days in advance.

1 to 4 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Instant confirmation
Offered in: English

Overview

Explore 200 years in an afternoon! This tour tells Perth’s story from the struggling Swan River Colony to its coming of age as the City of Light.
Each stop on the tour progressively tells Perth’s story decade-by-decade. The tour includes current-day and historical footage to show how each shift in the State’s fortunes has driven waves of demolition, development and social change.

Boom-and-bust showcases quintessentially Western Australian stories such as:
> The City’s strange obsession with heritage balconies
> The ancient science of indigenous farming practices
> Perth’s ‘scandalous’ modernist art movement
> London Court: the first place in Perth to have air-conditioning
> The rise, fall and rise again of Alan Bond

Rushed itineraries miss the magic. Stories Unseen is the clever way to experience places differently. Our curated, self-guided tours seamlessly bring locations to life with audio & immersive narration from our charismatic companions.

What's Included

  • Extended stays: Savour hidden history & wide open spaces. Spend more time where your interest lies.
  • Social media integration: capture and share moments with immersive media
  • Turn-by-turn navigation: seamlessly guided with maps, media & commentary, on-demand, on any device
  • Private transportation
  • Self-Guided Tour - uses your phone or tablet
See 1 moreSee 2 more

Meeting Location

Meeting point

Elizabeth Quay
The Esplanade, Perth WA 6000, Australia

Show on Google Maps

Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

Barrack Square
Riverside Drive, Perth WA 6000, Australia

The latest stop on the tour, The Bell Tower, is located in Barrack Square in Perth's CBD. It is easily accessible from The Esplanade Train Station and the FREE Blue CAT Bus route.

What To Expect

Book Online

Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
Read more

Safe & secure • Easy breezy • Hassle-free

Perth

The Boom-and-Bust tour tells Perth’s story from the struggling Swan River Colony to its coming of age as the City of Light. From First Contact to the present day, each stop on the tour progressively tells Perth’s story decade-by-decade. The tour includes current-day and historical footage to show how each shift in the State’s economic fortunes has driven waves of demolition, development and social change. Each stop is paired with different with hospitality venues across the CBD to showcase the best of the West.The Boom-and-Bust tour showcases quintessentially Western Australian stories such as: > The City’s strange obsession with heritage balconies > The ancient science of indigenous farming practices > Perth’s ‘scandalous’ modernist art movement > London Court: the first place in Perth to have air-conditioning > The rise, fall and rise again of Alan Bond > Demolished buildings of Perth
Read more

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

First Contact

This is the starting point of the tour. Your self-guided walk will commence on arrival, including historical footage, audio commentary, venue recommendations and further historical references.
Read more

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

His Majesty's Theatre

Your self-guided tour continues to His Majesty's Theatre where we feature the story of WA's first gold boom.
Read more

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Raine Square

Heritage King St is the backdrop for the tale of farming in Western Australia.
Read more

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Hay Street Mall

The route continues through two stops in Hay Street Mall exploring Perth's Gilded Era and its recovery from the Great Depression.
Read more

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Council House

The tour continues to the Council House where we tell the story of minerals and modernism.
Read more

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Quay Perth

There is no better way to see the impact of Perth's 1980s boom than the buildings along The Esplanade. Explore then-and-now for sites including the Former Esplanade Hotel.
Read more

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

The Bell Tower

The tour finishes at The Bell Tower, a short walk from Elizabeth Quay. Our last stop tells the story of how Western Australia's boom-and-bust cycle continues today.
Read more

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Show 7 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Operated by a business

Frequently Asked Questions

(6)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Boom-and-Bust: self-guided historical walking tour of Perth?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (AWST). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

We're here to help.
Activity code: C-354229P3

Reviews

4.33
3 reviews

Average 4.33 out of 5 stars based on 3 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and partner sites such as Trustpilot, Viator, and TripAdvisor

5 stars
2
4 stars
0
3 stars
1
2 stars
0
1 star
0

Loading Options
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 20 (0) days in advance.

Similar Tours & Activities

Perth and Fremantle Half Day Tour

See the sights of Perth and Fremantle on an attraction-packed half-day tour that takes you into the city and along our coastline. You’ll see panoramic...

4 hours 30 minutesHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
4 hours 30 minutesHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
4 hours 30 minutes • Hotel pickup offered • Free Cancellation
4.4 (107)
from
$67.85

Swan Valley Wine Tour - Half Day Afternoon

Join us for an unforgettable afternoon in the Swan Valley, tasting premium wines, gourmet treats, and soaking in stunning scenery. Led by a friendly, knowledgeable...

5 hoursFree Cancellation
5 hoursFree Cancellation
5 hours • Free Cancellation
4.8 (159)
from
$82.68

Perth Hills Explorer Private Day Tour

This Private Tour can be taken any time of year but is especially good fun in winter when bush walks are a warming activity and...

6 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
6 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
6 hours • Hotel pickup offered • Free Cancellation
5.0 (2)
from
$349.15

Spring Wildflower Private Day Tours

My private tours are customised to your needs so you have flexibilty in this tour. The full list of locations listed here isn't possible in...

8 to 9 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
8 to 9 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
8 to 9 hours • Hotel pickup offered • Free Cancellation
5.0 (17)
from
$399.30

Travelers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought

The Perth Mint Gold Tour
Special Offer
Special Offer

The Perth Mint offers a unique combination of attractions which allow you to experience all the magic, allure and wonder of gold. Founded in 1899...

1 hourFree Cancellation
1 hourFree Cancellation
1 hour • Free Cancellation
4.8 (631)
$20.36
$19.36

Pinnacles Desert Sunset Dinner and Stargazing Tour
Likely to Sell Out
Likely to Sell Out

Experience 100,000+ year old landscapes & marvel at natures magnificence from deep within the infamous WA Pinnacles Desert. Our mobile observatory makes close night sky...

9 hours 30 minutesHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
9 hours 30 minutesHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
9 hours 30 minutes • Hotel pickup offered • Free Cancellation
4.8 (1,055)
from
$162.86

Perth Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

Explore Perth on a hop-on hop-off tour, with commentary provided as you travel by double-decker bus to Perth’s most famous attractions, including Kings Park and...

2 hoursFree Cancellation
2 hoursFree Cancellation
2 hours • Free Cancellation
4.3 (467)
from
$40.84

Dolphin, Sea Lion and Penguin Island Cruise
Likely to Sell Out
Likely to Sell Out

Discover the stunning Shoalwater Islands Marine Park Sanctuary on our 60 minute family friendly cruise. Spot our friendly dolphins, spectacular sea lions, pelicans, birds of...

1 hourFree Cancellation
1 hourFree Cancellation
1 hour • Free Cancellation
4.1 (141)
from
$51.43

What's Included

Activity name

  • Extended stays: Savour hidden history & wide open spaces. Spend more time where your interest lies.
  • Social media integration: capture and share moments with immersive media
  • Turn-by-turn navigation: seamlessly guided with maps, media & commentary, on-demand, on any device
  • Audio & immersive narration: our virtual guides make locations come alive with history and anecdotes
  • Private transportation
  • Self-Guided Tour - uses your phone or tablet

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Operated by a business

Protecting you

Activity name

For your protection and stress-free bookings, use our secure platform to pay for bookings. Stories Unseen

Report Product Issue

Activity name

Language
Currency

Site Settings

Activity name

Currency

Activity name

Activity name

Free Cancellation

100% refund
No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (AWST).

Sorting, ranking, and search results

Activity name

Cool Destinations wants to make your searches as relevant as possible. That's why we offer many ways to help you find the right experiences for you.

On some pages, you can select how to sort the results we display and also use filter options to see only those search results that meet your chosen preferences. You'll see explanations of what those sort options mean when you select them.

If you see a Badge of Excellence label, the award is based on average review ratings, share of bookings with a review, and number of bookings through Cool Destinations over a 12-month period.

The importance of any one factor over any other in a sort order varies, and the balance is constantly being reviewed and adjusted. We're always updating our systems and testing new ways to refine and improve your results to make them as relevant as possible to meet your needs.

Choose an option

Activity name

or

Cool Rewards Terms & Conditions

Activity name

Cool Rewards

  • Cool Rewards is a loyalty program operated by Cool Destinations. Rewards may be earned by any eligible person holding a Cool Destinations account, subject to the Cool Destinations customer Terms of Use.

Earning rewards

  • Rewards can be earned by making bookings on the Cool Destinations website. You will be able to see the value of the rewards you can earn during the booking process.
  • Earned rewards will be issued in a pending state and will move to a confirmed state 24 hours after the start time of the experience.
  • Earned rewards will be available to redeem once they are no longer in a pending state.
  • For bookings that are moved to a different travel date, the rewards will be redeemable after the amended travel date.
  • If a booking where rewards were issued is canceled, the earned rewards will not be redeemable and will be moved to a canceled state.

Redeeming rewards

  • To redeem rewards, you must be logged into your Cool Destinations account.
  • Any available rewards will be automatically applied the next time you make a booking, and their value will be deducted from your order at checkout, unless you choose not to apply them, which requires you to indicate this via the toggle switch. Bookings made using rewards are subject to the standard Cool Destinations Customer Terms of Use.
  • You will not be able to redeem only a portion of your available rewards at checkout. It is only possible to redeem all or none of your available rewards.
  • There is no minimum order value required to redeem your rewards. This means that you can pay for 100% of your order with rewards.
  • Rewards are non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash.
  • If rewards are redeemed against a booking that is canceled or refunded, the rewards will be reissued to your account.

Miscellaneous

  • You can check your Cool Destinations account to see the rewards you have collected at any time. You are responsible for ensuring that your rewards balance is correct.
  • We reserve the right to modify these Cool Rewards Terms and Conditions at any time, with or without notice, including the rules for earning and redeeming rewards. Any changes will be reflected in the updated Terms and Conditions.
  • We reserve the right to terminate the Cool Rewards program and cease issuing any further rewards on future bookings. All pending and available rewards balances will be honored.
  • By earning and redeeming rewards, you agree to these Terms and Conditions, as well as any subsequent changes made to them.