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Subiaco markets 2.0 revealed with Perth’s hospitality king front and centre

Source: WA Today

The new Subiaco markets will be slightly more polished than the old tin shed Perth residents may remember fondly from decades ago.

Developer Blackburne Property has unveiled finalised designs for the ground floor of its flagship $250 million Subiaco One development on the corner of Rokeby and Roberts roads.

The main anchor tenant has already been secured with one of Perth’s most recognisable faces in hospitality Miles Hull confirming he would establish a tavern in the corner tenancy.

Blackburne is now searching for tenants for the remaining 14 spaces and managing director Paul Blackburne said once completed it would become the new heart of Subiaco and recreate the old village atmosphere that made it one of Perth’s visited destinations in the 2000s.

“The entire ground level will become a new destination in itself,” he said.

“[On] weekends we will also have pop-up markets and we expect 5000 people a weekend to visit the new Subiaco Pavilion Markets.”

Mr Hull, who was a former general manager of Little Creatures, spent his high school years in Subiaco and said he wanted to bring back the glory days of Rokeby Road when establishments such as The Oriel Cafe ruled the high street.

“This was a 24-hour European bistro cafe that offered great food, great service, it was really ahead of its time,” he said.

“I was young and in hospo and that was where you went at 2am in the morning for a steak and bottle of wine and a few beers. Subi Hotel was also a great restaurant that attracted a range of customers from ladies that lunch to business people. I fondly remember those places.”

Subiaco’s retail and restaurant suffering has increased significantly since Subiaco Oval was shuttered in 2017, taking lucrative game day traffic away from Rokeby Road.

Mr Hull, who also operates the Quarter Acre Hotel in Applecross, likes Subiaco so much he put in a bid for the landmark Subiaco Hotel last year with his business partners, though he lost out to hotel proprietors Dave Allan and Lawson Douglas.

He was confident in the revitalisation efforts happening around the old Subiaco Oval and Princess Margaret Hospital sites and said suburban pubs and venues would become more important over the next few years.

“We lack some really good local neighbourhood pubs in suburbs and people are looking more local,” Mr Hull said.

“With more people working from home, going out in their local area will become more favourable.”

The new markets will include high ceilings, ‘Melbourne’ style laneways and a mix of cafes and restaurants.

Contractor Multiplex has already begun construction at the site with completion expected late 2022.

The apartments above the markets are expected to be some of WA’s most expensive, with the penthouse having sold for $17 million in 2019.