London Court: Why does this Perth shopping street look so weird?

The London Court shopping street in Perth looks completely out of place. With mock Tudor and Elizabethan architecture, plus clocks copied from Rouen and London, this shopping arcade was a 1930s gold miner’s flight of whimsy.

For the most part, Perth is a modern city of shiny skyscrapers. There’s the odd site that nods to the city’s heritage, such as the Perth Mint or Cathedral Square. But most of the Perth CBD is defiantly 21^st century.

Then there’s London Court, which looks absurdly out of place. With a portcullis at the entrance and castle-like adornments at either end, this arcade is sandwiched between Hay Street Mall and St George’s Terrace.

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Architecture of London Court shopping street

There’s an awful lot of mock Tudor and Elizabethan architecture in London Court, but the magpie design tendencies have borrowed from various styles and eras. At the Hay Street Mall is a replica of the Great Clock from Rouen in France. Four knights circle the clock every time it chimes.

The London Court shopping street in Perth looks completely out of place. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions

At the St Georges Terrace end of London Court, there’s another replica clock. This time it’s copying the clock from the Houses of Parliament in London. In the window above this clock are models of St George and the dragon doing battle.

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Rottnest Island ferry transfer – with bike hire and snorkelling gear. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Pinnacles desert – with koalas 🐨 and sandboarding.
Wave Rock day tour – with wildflowers & Aboriginal culture.
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Full day Swan Valley wine tour 🍷– with lunch.

Who built London Court in Perth?

London Court was built in 1937 as the pet project of Claude de Bernales, a rich gold miner and financier. This strange Perth shopping street looked out of place back then, and it certainly does now when compared to glossy modern projects such as Elizabeth Quay and Yagan Square.

It’s worth looking in for the novelty factor, but the shopping at London Court is hardly world-beating.

Shopping at London Court, Perth

If you want to buy Ugg boots and Akubra hats, then Australian Lifestyle should be your first stop. There are also a few jewellers’ shops. Allgem Jewellers sells opal pendants made from South Australian opals and South Sea pearls on rose necklaces.

Swiss Watch Box should see you right for expensive watches and shaggy traveller’s hair can be fixed up at the Dapper Scoundrel barber shop.

Other things to do in Perth include Segway tours.