Boom-and-Bust: self-guided historical walking tour of Perth
Traveler rating
4.3/5
Based on 3 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Boom-and-Bust: self-guided historical walking tour of Perth worth booking?
Boom-and-Bust: self-guided historical walking tour of Perth is a 1-hour experience in Perth, Australia, from $18 per person. It scores 56 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4.3/5 rating across 3 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 56 / 100
- Rating
- 4.3/5 (3)
- Duration
- 1 hours
- From
- $18 per person
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 you get
About this experience
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
Included
- Extended stays: Savour hidden history & wide open spaces. Spend more time where your interest lies.
- Audio & immersive narration: our virtual guides make locations come alive with history and anecdotes
- 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
Not included
- Private transportation
- Self-Guided Tour - uses your phone or tablet
What you'll see and do
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
120 minutes here
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.
10 minutes here
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.
10 minutes here
Raine Square
Heritage King St is the backdrop for the tale of farming in Western Australia.
10 minutes here
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.
10 minutes here
Council House
The tour continues to the Council House where we tell the story of minerals and modernism.
10 minutes here
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.
10 minutes here
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.
10 minutes here · Admission not included
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Perth
BEFORE YOU LEAVE - Make sure that you have the Stories Unseen app downloaded. START POINT - The First Contact Sculpture is located in Elizabeth Quay
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
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.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 5 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Stories Unseen
Know before you go
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 3 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
2 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
1 mentionReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Food and drink
1 mentionThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Traveler reviews
3 verified traveler reviews for Boom-and-Bust: self-guided historical walking tour of Perth. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Something different in Perth
My partner and I were visiting from Brisbane and wanted something different to do in Perth. The boom and bust was awesome. Riley made us laugh with local trivia and dad jokes while taking us through Perth’s fascinating economic ups and downs. Loved learning about how much the city’s changed over the years.
via Tripadvisor
Ok if you cannot get to an in-person tour
The tour was ok as an overview however I found it very unhelpful to have long periods of silence. I know this is self-guided but if the narration could follow somewhat as you are walking like an in-person guide would, that would make the tour more interesting. An in-person guide would point things out along the walk between the primary points of interest. This makes a tour more interesting. It would have also been nice to have some navigation direction as you were walking from one point to the next.
Response from the operator: Thanks for your feedback! Glad that you found it helpful as an overview of Perth. Self-guided tours, by their nature, will always be different to an in-person experience. We include 'linger longer' and 'dig deeper' options for each stop to replace the 'in between' commentary an in-person guide often provides. The narration on this tour has been timed so that the length of the audio between each stop matches an 'average' walking pace - we appreciate that not everyone walks at the same speed! The Stories Unseen app has been both Mapbox & Google maps for turn-by-turn navigation, as well as written instructions on how to navigate between each stop. But, it's a good suggestion to also have navigation information in the audio itself. It would prevent having to look at your phone as much while walking so you can soak up more of the City.
via Tripadvisor
A lovely way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon.
I completed the self guided walk with a bunch of girlfriends. It was surprising how much history about the city we all live in that we didn’t know! We stopped off along the way for a drink at Petition and continued on to finish water side at The Reveley. A great day out!
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 1 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $18 to $25
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 1
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Stories Unseen, who run 6 experiences we rank across 2 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 56.5.
See everything Stories Unseen runsWhy this scores 56
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Boom-and-Bust: self-guided historical walking tour of Perth: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Perth.
How much does Boom-and-Bust: self-guided historical walking tour of Perth cost?
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Prices start at $18 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Perth usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Boom-and-Bust: self-guided historical walking tour of Perth take?
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Plan for about 1 hour from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Perth is not rushed.
Is Boom-and-Bust: self-guided historical walking tour of Perth worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 56 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.3/5 across 3 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Perth, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Boom-and-Bust: self-guided historical walking tour of Perth?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Boom-and-Bust: self-guided historical walking tour of Perth suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 1-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Boom-and-Bust: self-guided historical walking tour of Perth?
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Around 1 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Perth can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Perth and add a light layer if any part of the 1-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Boom-and-Bust: self-guided historical walking tour of Perth start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Perth within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Perth?
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On Outty we rank every Perth experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include The Optus Stadium Tour, Discover Perth Walking Tour: History, Art, Local Insights + More!, Pinnacles Desert Sunset Dinner and Stargazing Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Perth?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Perth?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Boom-and-Bust: self-guided historical walking tour of Perth?
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Included: Extended stays: Savour hidden history & wide open spaces. Spend more time where your inter; Audio & immersive narration: our virtual guides make locations come alive with history and; Social media integration: capture and share moments with immersive media; and Turn-by-turn navigation: seamlessly guided with maps, media & commentary, on-demand, on an. Not included: Private transportation; and Self-Guided Tour - uses your phone or tablet. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for Boom-and-Bust: self-guided historical walking tour of Perth?
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BEFORE YOU LEAVE - Make sure that you have the Stories Unseen app downloaded. START POINT - The First Contact Sculpture is located in Elizabeth Quay Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is Boom-and-Bust: self-guided historical walking tour of Perth offered in?
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It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Boom-and-Bust: self-guided historical walking tour of Perth?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
What happens to Boom-and-Bust: self-guided historical walking tour of Perth if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Perth. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about Boom-and-Bust: self-guided historical walking tour of Perth?
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Across 3 reviews averaging 4.3 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling, food and drink. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
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