Pool Club Hotel Plan for Kuwait’s Perth Office Tower

A 240-room hotel and CBD pool club would be built but the future of Western Australia’s only revolving restaurant is uncertain under redevelopment plans lodged for an ageing 33-level commercial tower and associated buildings on the state’s main street.

The future of the 1978-built St Martins Tower and associated buildings on WA’s main drag, St Georges Terrace, has been in question since Kuwait Government-owned St Martins Properties tried but failed to sell them in 2022.

The St Martins landholding comprises three office blocks at 40, 44 and 50 St Georges Terrace, the St Martins Arcade facing the Hay Street Mall, and the McNess Royal Arcade and Bridal House heritage buildings.

Now St Martins Properties has proposed a premium hotel, food and beverage venues and A-Grade office space for the properties.

The Urban Developer understands the planned redevelopment allows for a premium hospitality venue on Level 33 but the long-term future of the revolving C Restaurant there is still under discussion.

St Martins Properties has owned St Martins Tower since it was built. The C Restaurant—for decades known by Perth people as a novel way to secure a brew, a chew and a view of the city—is WA’s only revolving one.

The redevelopment would have 2700sq m of retail space and retain 26,000sq m of office space.

▲ St Martins Tower (left) with the planned pool club just visible in the foreground and the former Bond Tower (now with yellow branding of the South32 mining company) at its right.

In a metropolis with no locally native palm trees, a palm-lined pool and associated club is also proposed in the redevelopment application that was received by the City of Perth on January 28.

Designed by Woods Bagot, the proposal is likely to undergo a 21-day public consultation period before eventually heading to WA’s Metro Inner Development Assessment Panel for a decision.

St Martins Tower was WA’s tallest building until Alan Bond’s 50-floor Bond Tower, also on St Georges Terrace and pictured above, usurped it when completed in 1988.