The Perth Metropolitan Markets were a fruit and vegetable wholesale markets located at 840 (Lots 500-504) Wellington Street in West Perth from 1929 to 1989, when they moved to their current site in

Canning Vale Canning is a method of food preservation in which food is processed and sealed in an airtight container ( jars like Mason jars, and steel and tin cans). Canning provides a shelf life that typically ranges from one to five years, although unde ...

. The markets were originally established at Roe Street, Perth, at the western end of the railway station (regularly referred to as the "Old Markets"), with a more comprehensive market constructed on a 111-acre site, bounded by Wellington, Sutherland and Market Streets by the Metropolitan Market Trust. The Trust was established by the Government in September 1927. The Wellington Street Markets were formally opened on 14 June 1929 by the Deputy Premier of Western Australia,

John Willcock John Collings Willcock (9 August 1879 – 7 June 1956) was an Australian politician. He was the premier of Western Australia from 1936 to 1945, holding office as state leader of the Western Australian Labor Party, Australian Labor Party (ALP). ...

. The site incorporated an auctioneering area (72,750 sq ft), meat markets (2,400 sq ft) and egg and poultry markets (9,900 sq ft). The site also included a public restaurant, post office and several bank branch offices. By the 1950s protective restrictions on road transport by the Road Transport Regulation Board were being lightened, and more trucking of produce into and away from the markets was beginning to have effect on Wellington Street. The closing down of various freight services on the

Western Australian Government Railways Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) was the state owned operator of railways in the state of Western Australia between October 1890 and June 2003. Owned by the state government, it was renamed a number of times to reflect extra respon ...

system as it was changed to a bulk freight operation, and its new brand and style of operation, saw the location of the markets and proximity to the

central business district A central business district (CBD) is the Commerce, commercial and business center of a city. It contains commercial space and offices, and in larger cities will often be described as a financial district. Geographically, it often coincides wit ...

and the high land values as a problem. Various reviews and changes to processes at the markets were occurring prior to the closure. In 1990, the Metropolitan Market Trust changed its name to the Perth Market Authority and in 1989 the Authority relocated the markets to a site in Canning Vale. The original market site has since been redeveloped and is the site of Watertown Brand Outlet Centre and the offices of the

Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia The Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC WA) is a motoring club and mutual organisation, offering motoring services and advice, insurance, travel services, finance, driver training and exclusive benefits for their members. As an indep ...

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