Perth’s suburban shopping strips bounce back

Not subscribed? Get Perth is OK! daily — sign up here.

There’s a lot of interesting/cool/fun/whatever stories in today’s newsletter, but the one we’re most excited about is Bug in my Backyard week! If you’ve conquered the great Aussie Bird Count and are looking for your next excuse to get out into nature and get your hands dirty, this is it.

Get all the deets below, along with the return of Scarborough Sunset Markets’ summer edition, which is celebrating 10 years when it returns to Thursdays this week! Plus, Perth’s newest electronic music festival has announced its 2027 lineup, and we have a chat with the crew behind Because You’re Mine, a new psychological thriller shot entirely in WA and premiering at Luna Cinemas later this month.

^{Troy Mutton, Editor-In-Chief, Perth is OK!}

Perth’s suburban shopping strips are enjoying a resurgence, with retail occupancy reaching a decade high – but the same can’t quite be said for the CBD.

New figures from Ray White WA show vacant retail floor space across Perth’s premier suburban shopping strips has fallen to just 3.26%, its lowest level in a decade, while a separate study found vacancy across the CBD remains at 8.4%.

That’s a significant drop from last year’s 5.76% vacancy rate, and an even bigger improvement on the pandemic-era peak of 12.10% in 2020.

Three WA filmmakers have teamed up to make a low-budget, feature-length psychological thriller, set for a special premiere screening at Luna Leederville on November 25.

Because You’re Mine is the work of local writer, producer and lead actor Shaun Gonzalvo, actress-producer-director Lilliana Benger, cinematographer Reilly Stewart and a local cast and crew.

Made entirely in WA, the 90-minute film follows Caleb, who is struggling to find his way after his mother’s death. He joins a local support group, where an encounter with a seemingly friendly stranger takes a dark turn. The film explores grief and identity, with psychological suspense and an unconventional visual style.