The Pickle District is a burgeoning arts hub tucked away in West Perth, nestled between the city, Leederville and Northbridge. You’ll find art galleries, artist studios, boutique theatres, photography studios, creative co-op working spaces and design studios, all within walking distance from each other. But it hasn’t always been this way.
For years the space was underappreciated and residents in the area were disappointed the space wasn’t being utilised, so they rallied together to start a project: The Pickle District, a growing arts precinct named after the Preserves and Pickle Factories that operated in the area in the early 1900s (some visitors swear they still scent slight odours of vinegar in the air).
Since its reinvention and thanks to an ‘After Dark’ event in 2021 – a highly creative and authentic event with diverse art mediums across multiple venues and in the public realm – the precinct bursts with creative energy and now represents one of the most creative neighbourhoods in Western Australia. The event had a big turnout with 800 plus registrations, demonstrating the need for a safe space full of artistic energy, especially after COVID-19.
By 2022, Pickle District After Dark 2.0 attracted 2,500 people, and, most recently, the 2023 event harnessed 3,500 people to the area. A $100,000 CBD Revitalisation grant has been awarded for After Dark 4.0 in 2024.
Hamilton Park revived by local team
The Pickle District revitalisation has also been supported by a passionate group of local residents who formed to become The Pickle District Town Team. The group worked in collaboration with the City of Vincent to restore one of WA’s most historic parks: Hamilton Park. Tucked away in a corner of West Perth, this gem first opened in 1917 and became one of the most communal recreational parks in Perth, but during the construction of the Mitchell Freeway in the 1970s, Hamilton Park was lost.
Thanks to the Town Team and with support from RAC through their Connecting Communities Fund, this year the space was transformed into, once again, a centre for community connection, with space for creative events, art markets, outdoor workshops and community festivals.
We spoke to the main driver of the Pickle District Town Team that lives down the road in a heritage-listed house – the first house ever to be built in West Perth.
“This is just the beginning for us, to reclaim this public space, for the benefit of our community,” Andrew said.
“This is a safer space, and it feels very calming sitting amongst nature, surrounded by 100-year-old trees, warmed up by the sun; it feels vibrant, and peaceful at the same time, and you don’t even realise you’re next to a freeway,” he said.
The Pickle District is a prime example of how when community comes together, it has an enduring impact, and it can empower local residents and businesses to continue exploring open communal spaces, and find more ways to create more sustainable, diverse and inclusive places for people to connect.
“It was underappreciated, and we could see the potential to bring it back to life and allow the space to organically transform as a key part of our community,” Andrew said.
Since 2018, RAC has been the principal partner of Town Team Movement. Within this time, RAC has supported more than 50 individual community projects to support positive change and better-connected communities. Visit the website to find out more.