R U Going to Scarborough Bleh?

Whinger Than Paradise

scarborough bleh

Only in Perth could we whinge about a beach that many countries would execute all their first born to have – but Perth is that kind of place. The clock pictured deserves its own category, but many factors contribute to Scarborough Beach’s Worst of Perth status. Acres of burning white sand to cross, (yeah I know, but this is Perth), a “malevolent” vibe, waves that are uncomfortable for swimmers but poor for surfers, all overlooked (or more particularly overshadowed) by the controversial and hideous Observation City Hotel. Some visitors are under the impression that Scarborough Beach is “the place to go”. It’s not.

Got a worse piece of Perth coastline? Let us know. Oh and has someone got a shot of the Observation City Hotel that shows it at it’s worst?

About AHC McDonald

Comedian, artist, photographer and critic. From 2007 to 2017 ran the culture and satire site The Worst of Perth
This entry was posted in worst beach, worst clock and tagged , , . Bookmark the permalink.

38 Responses to R U Going to Scarborough Bleh?

  1. robotnik says:

    Interesting that the “one way” sign points AWAY from the beach. Scabs, as it is still affectionately known up our way, was better pre-Bondy, pre-America’s Cup, pre-Obstetrician City. Anyone remember the dodgy eateries along the front (Gay Gordon’s, Minderbinders, etc.) and the Friday night drags? The malevolent vibe was always there but was not pretending it was otherwise. And wasn’t an ex-premier fingered as the “bag man” on the deal that allowed Bondy to build a big one here? A rich history indeed.

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  2. lazyaussie says:

    Yes you are right. I hope they jailed the clock man too.

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  3. Leonard says:

    Hey

    I never whinged about the actual beach. I worry about the people who thought it was a good idea to put buildings that horrible next to a beach that good. And I’m not even a beach person.

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  4. greg says:

    Grew up [at least through my early teen years] in the exact spot that is now observation city. My mother had the scarborough beach guest house/cum brothel. She was bought out by mal brown [she was a leasee] in order to put that diabolical rat trap/cement shade cloth up ‘observation city -rendezvous city’ whatever name it goes by these days.

    Perfect building for someone to develop their demolition skills with using dynamite. Would make more in ticket sales from people watching it implode than what it took to build the damn thing!

    Totally agree with robotnik on scarborough in those days. Might av been a bit malevolent but at least it was’nt pretentious.-gh

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  5. lazyaussie says:

    I wish you had a picture of the guest house/knock shop greg.

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  6. lisa says:

    I met a hairdresser once who’d just moved here from Qld. Making polite conversation, we talked about what there is to do in Perth. She said:
    “The beaches are quite nice, but there’s nothing to do when you go there, like no shops and that. Except Scarborough, I like that.”

    I think generally, what Perth people want to do at the beach is go to the beach. (maybe buy an ice cream afterwards). So the people who enjoy the attractions of contemporary scarborough would be mostly Queenslanders and international tourists, right?

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  7. greg says:

    I wish I had too lazyaussie. Actualy when I refer to as knockshop I do it in jest. Though it was full of fairly diverse and odd sortments of character, from surfers to overseas travellers, drug addicts, pro’s its not far from the truth. Though my mother [since deceased] would’nt like me referring to it as knock shop cause she tried so hard to make it respectful, sadly it was an unceasing effort on her part.

    But it was one [a knock shop] apparently back in scarboroughs by-gone age 40’s-50’s through to the 60’s from what we were told.

    Was’nt any masterpiece of architecture thats for sure. White-washed front, facing directly onto scarborough beach road and stretching way back narrow down to just before all the fast food joints along scarboroughs beachfront area.

    Scarborough hotel where all the bikies hung out on the weekends was just up the road if you remember. It was actually a beautiful pub that before they knocked it over. Always thought that was a shame -greg hoey

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  8. James says:

    Apparently the hotel is being shut down and turned into luxury apartments. Also, the Lookout has been shut, not sure about the pub though. I suspect it’s still full of trevs doing laps on a Saturday night.

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  10. Daniel says:

    Anyone remember someone putting dynamite on the framework of Observation City during it’s construction and trying to blow it up?! That was a fantastic bit of work from the local community I thought.

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  11. Not enough gelly unfortunately Daniel

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  12. rebalehan says:

    I recently had a minute to spare and thought I could put it to good use by having a pint by the beach. Unfortunately I chose the Stamford Arms, what a dump. If this place is indicative of the “vibe” in Scabs, well golly

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  13. Lloyd says:

    What an amazing bunch of whining, moaning, whinging & ungrateful drop kicks. You all deserve to live in Wiluna.

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  14. skink says:

    ‘drop-kick’ ?

    ‘Home and Away’ telephoned from 1987, and they want their insult back.

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  15. Snuff says:

    I like Wiluna. You can head out on the Gunbarrel or the Canning Stock Route. Beautiful country.

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  16. Dexter says:

    Yes worst beach. Cott wants to be like Scabs too. All hi-rise crap.

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  17. Jay Vaughan says:

    I grew up on Scarborough Beach during the 70’s – my Dad owned Minderbinders .. it was a great place to wander in the evenings, as a kid .. and in the mornings too .. I still remember all the video arcades quite fondly, and the drag races on the strip.. and the family that lived in and owned Gay Gordons and the Chip shop (Peters by the Sea, was it called? I forgot..)

    .. and the go-kart race track that was on the corner there, during the 70’s, was an awesome place to go when it was too windy for the beach. Used to make and fly kites down on the strand, really was a hell of a place in those days ..

    If anyone has any pictures of Minderbinders from that era, I’d love to see them ..

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  18. The Legend 101 says:

    The clock in london court is bad it hasn’t even been set for day lights savings like it went of at 1:30pm and the clock said 2:00pm and the horses going round in the top are daft can’t it have horses going around to some classic song now that would be good.

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  19. The Legend 101 says:

    No its me where did you get Richarbl from?

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  20. The Legend 101 says:

    Thanks bill O Slatter im Laughing at the thought of that.

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  21. Michelle Turner says:

    Ahhh…the clock. It’s so ugly but at the same time – so very much a part of Scabs now. Ever since I was a kid I called it “The tripod” from War of the Worlds.

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