The Bell Tower of Perth

When the weight of the 12 bells of London's St Martin's in the Fields became too heavy for the aging structure of the church it was decided to replace them with a lighter peal. These bells, first cast in the 14th century, together with with 6 more cast especially to add to them, were presented to the City of Perth as a gift to mark Australia's Bi-centenerary in 1988. What to do with them became the next question. After many years, and much debate, a bell tower was commissioned to be placed by the Swan River. The finished tower, with its copper sails reminiscent of the yachts that sail here ( and the passion for yachting of the Premier of the time) and needle-like spire of green glass, allows the bells to be rung from a single platform -something they could never do in their old home in London. The tower is open to visitors daily, with demonstrations of the technique of ringing (single bell) given on Wednesday and Friday -11.30 -12.30. The admission of $6 includes entry to an historical collection of bells, precision timepieces and optical instruments.