Perth is a stunning city, with the sea (sun setting over the ocean anyone?), the Swan River and surrounds of red earth and iconic Australian parks and gardens. The Fraser’s Restaurant Group has several wedding venues under its banner – Frasers Restaurant in Kings Park, The Old Brewery in Nedlands, Indiana at Cottesloe Beach and BWG Steakhouse at Applecross. For Perth brides these venues offer a wide variety of choices from beach and river views to parkland vistas, with stunning food to match each venue’s aesthetic. Wine and beer to match and friendly staff who will go out of their way to ensure your wedding day is perfect – the hardest part will be choosing which venue to book!
Where is Frasers Restaurant situated?
60 Fraser Avenue, Perth – at the core of Kings Park overlooking the city and Swan River, surrounded by fauna and ghost gum trees.
Image by DeRay & Simcoe
What is it about Frasers Restaurant, that is special?
It’s central and exclusive location, the beautiful meals created from fresh local produce and crafted by our innovative Chefs and the friendly and attentive service from the first meeting, through the Wedding and follow-up.
How would you describe the style of Frasers Restaurant?
Versatile, bright and open pillar-less spaces with breathtaking views and beautiful park surroundings that are unrivaled in Perth.
How many can Frasers Restaurant and Function Centre accommodate at a sit down reception?
Up to 28 guests for the Private Dining Room, 170 guests for the Function Centre and 350 guests for the State Reception Centre.
Image by DeRay & Simcoe
How would you describe the food (style) and do you source local food and wine?
Simple, clean and produce-driven. We take pride in supporting quality local food and wine suppliers and have a special line of Southwest Howard Park wines created especially for Fraser’s Restaurant called ‘Parklife’.
Are bridal couples able utilize the terrace and/or gardens for their ceremony and/or post ceremony drinks?
They are welcome to use the areas designated to their specific room, inclusive in their booking such as the State Reception Centre Lawn and Balcony and Function Centre and Private Dining Room Terrace. For areas beyond Fraser’s within the park, this can be booked through the Botanical Gardens and Parks Authority (BGPA) online.
Do you have a wedding planner on site to assist?
Yes we have a full-time Wedding Coordinator, Brooke, who will assist from day one, through to your arrival on the day of your Wedding. We have a strong Operational team who are responsible for room set up and service of food & beverage during the Wedding.
Image by DeRay & Simcoe
What vendors do a bridal couple need to bring in – e.g. flowers/cake/décor?
Being focused around a Restaurant, we pour our energy into the preparation and service of outstanding quality food & beverage. For services beyond this such as décor and entertainment, we recommend employing the services of a full time stylist and entertainment/DJ company. We assist with recommending the best suppliers available in the market and guarantee their product and service quality.
Please describe the history of this building?
Since the first stone was laid on this heritage site by early pioneers in 1838 this historic location has been home to both timber and flour mills, a convict depot, and a tannery before it was taken over in 1877 by Scottish sea trader, Captain John Maxwell Ferguson and his brewer partner, William Mumme. These two wise entrepreneurs saw this magnificent riverside site and declared it to be the ideal spot to build the brewery that would become an icon to generations of West Australian beer lovers. Literally millions of litres of beer flowed from the Swan Brewery Company before it finally fell silent in the 1960s.
Located on the banks of the Swan River nestled below the scarp of Kings Park’s Mt Eliza in Nedlands, these historic walls have since been transformed to become home to The Old Brewery, an award winning wedding and function venue, Perth’s Best Steak Restaurant and one of the most awarded craft breweries in Western Australia.
Image by Erica Serena Photographer
I believe you can arrive by boat – can guests take ferry rides to the venue, or is it a private charter?
For a truly remarkable experience, guests can take advantage of The Old Brewery’s position right on the water and arrive via boat. There are a number of private charter vessels and companies available within Perth, and a boat ride along the Swan could not offer a better backdrop for the special day. After the ceremony, guests can embark on a tranquil cruise as they make their way down the river to the reception; or make the grandest of bridal party entrances as you sail up to the venue.
Are there gardens around the Brewery where the ceremony can be held?
The Old Brewery has its own ceremony area located just metres from the reception venue; with the Swan River and Perth City as a backdrop, there are few settings that can compare. For couples who are looking to exchange vows at a different location, The Old Brewery is conveniently located five minutes from some of Perth’s iconic garden ceremony locations, such as the UWA Sunken Gardens, the rotunda in Queen’s Gardens and the many spaces with Kings Park and Botanic Gardens.
A unique feature of this venue is that it has a resident brewer. Is the bridal couple able to match beers as well as wines to their wedding menu?
Our award winning beers are available to couples as a standard for their reception, with the opportunity to come in and taste the selections before the big day. For a truly unique experience, a beer and food degustation menu can be tailored for a reception through collaboration between our Head Brewer and Head Chef. For a twist we can even arrange a beer and cheese table instead of a dessert or lolly buffet. Interactive Beef and Beer Classes educate and allow guests to sample the essence of the venue; these are a great idea for buck’s or hen’s parties.
Image by Erica Serena Photographer
How would you describe the food here?
As a steakhouse, our prime cuts of beef are the backbone of our menu, however the chefs’ expertise range through to exquisite seafood and vegetarian cuisine. With options ranging from an extensive five course meal to cocktail parties with fresh oysters and sashimi prepared in front of your eyes, we can tailor a menu to whatever your heart (or belly rather) desires!
How would a bridal couple make the most of this historic building?
The beauty of our function rooms is their classic simplicity and their adaptability to any style. A rustic theme with bentwood chairs and wildflowers in jars, will suit the space just as well as chandeliers on the ceiling and 3ft candelabras with pale pink roses and a dozen candles. The Old Brewery is steeped in rich history and this is reflected through the building itself, lending an element of grandeur to any event. This, along with the spectacular river and city views, showcases Perth’s beauty and provides an iconic setting for the beginning of any couple’s happily ever after.
Image by Erica Serena Photographer
Please describe this iconic building and where it is?
Indiana takes its name from “The Indiana Tea House”, a humble ice cream parlor built in 1910. In 1996 the building was redeveloped to the gorgeous, iconic building full of character and charm that we know today. The architect has created an amazing building that seems to rise effortlessly from the snow-white Cottesloe Beach sand, with undeviating views across the ocean to Rottnest Island.
Image by Dave and Charlotte Photographers
Please describe the rooms available for a wedding and how many guests can be accommodated at a reception?
We have 3 event spaces within Indiana. Clients may choose to book the restaurant exclusively for up to 140 guests seated, or 170 cocktail style. For smaller more intimate events we have the Private Ocean Room and Pavilion available, that hold 30 and 60 guests respectively. All event spaces have amazing ocean views.
Can a wedding ceremony be held on site?
Most certainly! Many of our couples choose to also have their ceremony at Indiana. As the building is located above the sand you can have the beach wedding of your dreams without contending with the crowds, sand or elements!
Image by Dave and Charlotte Photographers
Please describe the style of food served here?
Our head Chef, Brendan Pratt describes our food as “A fresh take on modern Australian cuisine. Using classic techniques with modern flavours and twists, we have created a menu that flows with our relaxed beach side venue. We offer a range of menus from seated 3 course meals, to cocktail parties with interactive food stations and a hybrid menu which is a unique combination of a cocktail and seated reception.” Brendan is also only too happy to tailor make a special menu for your event.
Do brides tend to decorate this venue – or does the architecture and view speak for itself, with minimal decoration? What decoration works best here?
Indiana is full of character and rustic charm with a very unique layout. Many of our couples love our beautiful farmhouse style wooden tables, stained-glass panels, quirky furnishings and mix of bentwood and brightly coloured rustic chairs, finding they only need to add minimal decorations. For those that want a more classic look, our venue lends itself beautifully to be adorned with ceiling silks and chandeliers, crisp white linen and decadent floral arrangements. Our venue is so unique and versatile, no two events here look the same!
Are bridal couples able to order signature drinks at this venue?
Our barman can most certainly create a special cocktail just for your event. We can also tailor make your beverage menu to suit your wedding theme, for example, this season we had a couple that spent much of the early years of their relationship in France, so Kir Royals were served to the guests upon arrival to symbolize this.
What is special about having your wedding here?
Cottesloe is quite unique in that it is one of the only places in Perth couples can have garden, beach and urban photography all within walking distance. Many of our couples are sentimentally drawn to our venue, having had Cottesloe Beach as their playground as children, first dates or proposals on the beach or in our restaurant, so to have their wedding at Indiana is a natural choice for them.
Image by Dave and Charlotte Photographers
Where is the BWG Steakhouse situated?
We are extremely lucky to be a part of a charming complex located on top of the hill in Heathcote Reserve, Applecross. Our venue boasts breathtaking panoramic views of Perth Skyline and Swan River and we are surrounded by a gorgeous reserve with plenty of picnic and barbecue spots around and a very popular playground. Heathcote is close enough to the City to offer high convenience, yet distant enough to provide remarkable peace and tranquility.
Image by Compose Photography
Please describe the spaces/rooms available for weddings – receptions and ceremonies?
There are three main reception rooms at BWG Steakhouse: The Bluewater Room, Private Wine Room, and Private Dining Room. BWG offers very flexible spaces though and the entire venue can be hired for a wedding as well as our Kiosk area and grassed space in front of the Function Centre.
Our largest Bluewater Room offers a beautiful bay window feature, heritage brick and timber furnishings with a rustic yet contemporary feel and magnificent views of Swan River and Perth City. This extremely flexible space can hold up to 100 guests seated and over 150 for a cocktail style reception. BWG can also assist couples with hiring a marquee for the grassed area outside the Bluewater Room increasing the capacities significantly.
Private Wine Room is an ideal space for more intimate receptions. This room has kept its historic charm with wooden floorboards and a fireplace feature. French doors open onto the private verandah which allows guests to enjoy magnificent views of Swan River. The room can accommodate up to 22 guests on one oval table, 40 on round tables and up to 60 guests cocktail style.
Our Private Dining Room is perfect for smaller weddings with a bay window feature and a small private verandah offering gorgeous views of Swan River and the CBD. This room can hold up to 18 guests on one long table or up to 40 cocktail style.
Image by Angela Higgins Photography
Is there room for the ceremony to be held here?
Ceremonies can be held on the grassed area in front of BWG with a beautiful gumtree as a backdrop and panoramic views of Swan River and Perth CBD. There is also an option of hiring one of the heritage buildings locating in Heathcote Reserve or alternatively booking your ceremony in one of the private spaces at BWG.
When a wedding has been booked here, does the couple have exclusive use of the venue?
When booking one of the Private Rooms, couples do not have an exclusive use of the venue. BWG offers exclusive bookings of the restaurant though – these requests are assessed on individual basis.
Do you have a wedding planner on site to assist? What aspects of the wedding do a bridal couple need to source themselves e.g. cake etc?
Though BWG does not have a wedding planner per se, our Wedding Coordinator can assist with most aspects of wedding reception. From catering, decorations and florists through to DJs, photographers and cakes, BWG can assist with booking Perth’s best wedding vendors and will look after all the fine details to ensure a perfect wedding reception.
As a Steakhouse, how would you describe the menu style?
Although BWG has been rebranded as a Steakhouse, our Wedding Menu kept its original structure under the keen eye of our Wedding Head Chef Scott Richardson. The menu offers a variety of superb quality dishes utilising the best seasonal and local ingredients. We offer a huge selection of meals and are always happy to design individual menus for couples.
Image by Angela Higgins Photography
What are the chef’s favourite winter dishes for this season?
Our Chef loves starting a winter feast with a roast sweet potato and ginger soup with crème fraiche; this should be followed by our Wagyu beef braised in stout with porcini and mustard potato with a side of cauliflower and broccoli gratin. To top it all off, he recommends banana toffee pudding, butterscotch sauce and vanilla bean ice cream. Perfect combo of high quality winter warmers!
Thank you Arnya for sharing your story. To find out more about Frasers Restaurant, The Old Brewery, Indiana and BWG Steakhouse visit the websites.
Arnya Tait is Group Sales and Business Development Manager of Fraser’s Restaurant Group. Headshot courtesy of Arnya Tait.
Thanks for the information. I think there are many function venues in Applecross that offer spectacular views and quality food and beverages.