Look for a striking cream-colored building with bold vertical lines, blocky edges, and long windows-the stylish Art Deco facade right in front of you.
Now, take a moment to notice the flair of the Criterion Hotel, Perth’s one and only surviving Art Deco hotel in the bustling heart of the city. Imagine it’s the roaring 1930s: the city streets buzz with jazz, the flapping of glamorous skirts, and the flash of shiny cars. Back then, this landmark was known as the Regatta Hotel, with hopeful travelers spilling through its doors and laughter echoing out into the night air. Over time, the city around it transformed, and while many buildings crumbled or changed, the Criterion stood firm-a bit like Perth’s own stubborn grandparent with unbeatable style! The hotel's bold geometric architecture and vintage charm turned enough heads that it earned a place on the Western Australian Register of Heritage Places in 1996. Saved from the fate of disappearing into history, the Criterion looks today much as it did to visitors nearly a century ago, a rare jewel shimmering between skyscrapers and construction cranes, inviting you to step inside and experience a story that refuses to fade.
