Where the Swan River bends towards the city, the Ritz-Carlton, Perth rises from the water’s edge. Its structure of hand-cut sandstone and the pink mineral glow of glass refracts the hues of the Western Australian landscape and geology, an elemental prism of river, outback, and coastline. The glint of its mirrored-glass exterior carries the colour of oceanic sunsets and Argyle diamonds from the East Kimberley, while golden tones recall the city’s world-class beaches. Its architecture tells the story of the state that built it, welcoming and inviting its guests to experience a genuine sense of place. 

Inside, that story continues through texture and tone. The Concierge desk, a sculptural presence hand-carved by Gabrielle Sherwood from century-old jarrah, is anchored in history by First Nations artwork: A monumental canvas by Roebourne artist Aileen Sandy shifts colour with the passing day, with ochres and rust bearing resemblance to the sunburnt Pilbara. 

The lobby stretches a vast 13 metres upward, crowned by a chandelier of 275 hand-blown lights. Created by artist Jordi Durant, the installation cascades like water sheeting through the gorges of Karijini glistening in the Kimberley sun. Shards of porcelain and archaeological fragments unearthed from the hotel’s construction site itself are held in copper, appearing to float like feathers. The iconic Bell Tower’s bell songlines are also honoured in form, a design motif which echoes throughout the hotel. 

Hearth Restaurant pays homage to the South West, translating the region’s landscape into a place of gathering. Undulating curves sweep the ceiling suggesting wave and dune; as fire flickers against its sandstone walls. Around it, the palette cools into the hues of muted blue and soft white, the colours of ocean swell. 

Songbird Lounge, perched on the terrace overlooking the Swan, carries a sense of coastal ease. Brass catches the last light of the day, glass refracts it into flecks of gold, and the rippled walls mirror the river below. Signature cocktails arrive like small pieces of art, and seating alcoves, upholstered in natural-coloured textures create small theatres of conversation. 

The spa offers space for guests to pause. At its entrance, a mosaic wall of 1,737 tiles shimmers in morning light. Panels of local timber are dipped in resin and flecked with copper, a reminder of the state’s subterranean wealth. Steam drifts across sandstone walls housing the vitality pools, and the east-facing sauna frames each day’s arrival in shades of amber.

Private guest rooms carry the same narrative in subtler tones. Suites are layered with jarrah and stone, and shelving inset with objects that recall Western Australia’s vastness: minerals, artworks, and woven textures.

Every detail speaks of provenance. Ten thousand pieces of hand-cut Kimberley sandstone trace the walls, and timber anchors the interiors with the gravitas of ancient forest. The Ritz-Carlton, Perth is both a destination and an archive, where light, material, and atmosphere intertwine to tell the story of Western Australia.