25–28 September 2026 | 7pm–10pm | Elizabeth Quay | Free
There are few places that feel as unmistakably Perth as Elizabeth Quay.
The city rises behind it, ferries cross the water, and as evening arrives, the last of the daylight settles over the Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River).
For four nights this September, however, the river won’t simply be part of the view.
It will become part of the story.
From 25 to 28 September 2026, The Story of Kooyar will transform Elizabeth Quay into an immersive nighttime experience combining water, animation, light, sound, puppetry and live performance.
And unlike an event that could be staged almost anywhere, this is one where the location matters.
A Story Told Across Water
A Story Told Across WaterAt the centre of the experience is Kooyar, the frog, and his journey through the six Noongar seasons.
The story follows Kooyar and his sacred song as the landscape changes around him, exploring ideas of nature, renewal and connection to Boordja (Country).
Rather than placing the story on a conventional screen or stage, The Story of Kooyar takes it onto the river itself.
A towering water screen will rise from the Derbarl Yerrigan, becoming a shifting canvas for animation, light and an original soundscape. Across the water, audiences will see Country transform as waterways flow, wildflowers emerge, fire moves through the landscape and black cockatoos signal the changing seasons.
It’s a spectacular idea, but the scale isn’t really the most interesting part.
It’s the relationship between the story and the place where it is being told.
Standing beside the river while watching a story about water, seasons and Country unfold across that same water creates something a traditional theatre couldn’t quite replicate.
Generations of Storytelling
Behind the spectacle is a story carried through generations.
The Story of Kooyar has been shared by Whadjuk Noongar storyteller and cultural consultant Rose Walley and brought into contemporary visual form through the work of her niece, Whadjuk Noongar artist Biara Martin.
That connection gives the event a depth that extends beyond its technology.
The projections, animation and sound may be contemporary, but they become a new way of sharing stories connected to culture, Country and the natural cycles that have shaped this place for generations.
For visitors, it is also an opportunity to experience a familiar part of Perth differently.
The skyline is still there. So are the river and the lights of Elizabeth Quay.
But the perspective changes.
More Than the Water Show
The experience won’t be confined to the river.
Throughout Elizabeth Quay, visitors may encounter large Karak — red-tailed black cockatoo — puppets moving through the precinct, extending the visual storytelling beyond the water and into the crowd.
There will also be live performances from Corroboree For Life, bringing First Nations storytelling, dance and music into the evening.
Together, these elements turn a walk around Elizabeth Quay into something more exploratory.
You might arrive for the projections, encounter a giant Karak moving through the crowd, stop for a performance and then return to the waterfront to watch the story unfold again.
An Easy Addition to a Spring Night in Perth
One of the best things about The Story of Kooyar is that you don’t need to organise your entire evening around a particular session.
The main experience runs for approximately 20 minutes and repeats continuously between 7pm and 10pm, meaning visitors can arrive throughout the evening rather than racing to make a single start time.
That makes it particularly easy to build into a night in the city.
Have dinner nearby, wander down towards the waterfront as the sun disappears, watch the projections from the quay and take your time exploring the rest of the precinct afterwards.
It’s also free and open to all ages, making it an easy school-holiday outing for families as well as an interesting after-dark experience for anyone spending an evening in Perth.
Seeing Perth Through a Different Lens
Perth’s spring calendar is usually full of reasons to get outdoors.
But The Story of Kooyar offers something a little different.
Rather than simply placing another attraction beside the Swan River, it asks audiences to pay attention to the river itself — and to the stories, seasons and culture connected to the Country around it.
For a few nights, one of Perth’s most photographed waterfronts becomes somewhere to stop rather than pass through.
To listen.
To watch the seasons change across the water.
And perhaps to see a familiar part of the city with slightly different eyes.
Event Details
When: Friday 25 – Monday 28 September 2026
Time: 7pm–10pm
Where: Elizabeth Quay Inlet, Perth
Cost: Free
Suitable for: All ages
Main experience: Approximately 20 minutes, running continuously throughout the evening
Elizabeth Quay is accessible by train, bus and ferry. A dedicated accessible viewing area will be available near the Elizabeth Quay Carousel, with Auslan interpretation scheduled for Sunday 27 September from 7pm–9pm. Visitors should also be aware that the experience includes bright projections, flashing lights and immersive audiovisual elements.
The event is planned to operate in changing weather conditions, so if Perth’s spring weather decides not to cooperate, bring a rain jacket rather than automatically cancelling your plans.
Credits & Further Information
Storyteller & Cultural Consultant: Rose Walley
Artist: Biara Martin
Live Performance: Corroboree For Life
Event information: DevelopmentWA / Visit Perth
Official event information: Visit Perth — The Story of Kooyar
Event details, accessibility arrangements and program information are correct at the time of publication and may be subject to change. Check the official event information before attending for the latest updates.
