NewsBite

Perth landmark The Crawley Edge Boatshed aka Blue Boat House’s hue change shocks tourists

A Perth hotspot that was the brainchild of Julie Bishop has undergone a plastic makeover for visiting football side Manchester United and some fans are unimpressed.

Perth landmark "Blue Boat House" painted red for Manchester United tribute

Foreign tourists lining up to snap themselves in front of a Perth landmark that has become a surprise Instagram hit say they’re “shocked” to find it clad a distinctly different hue.

The Crawley Edge Boatshed, or Blue Boat House as it’s now commonly known, has been temporarily wrapped in red plastic in a tribute to Manchester United football team, which is visiting the city for two friendly matches.

Singaporean Charlotte Chan (left) poses for a photograph with her family against the Crawley Edge Boatshed in Perth. Picture: AAP/Rebecca Le May
Singaporean Charlotte Chan (left) poses for a photograph with her family against the Crawley Edge Boatshed in Perth. Picture: AAP/Rebecca Le May

Singaporean tourist Charlotte Chan said she and her family almost got off at the wrong bus stop because they didn’t recognise it when they drove past. “We saw on Instagram that it was a blue house and it is a tourist attraction, so we came here to look at it, but we were very surprised to see it was red,” Ms Chan told AAP.

“We had to ask the bus driver if this was the house.”

Another group of Singaporean tourists were disappointed they wouldn’t be in Perth to see the boatshed return to its usual colour.

Ms Chan saw the bright side, saying she’d seen a “special” moment in the building’s history.

Built in the 1930s, it is owned by Tom Nattrass, whose father and former Perth Lord Mayor Peter Nattrass suggested some 18 years ago that its dilapidated asbestos structure be replaced.

“It was a family friend, former foreign minister Julie Bishop, who came up with the idea to paint it that iconic blue, so full credit to her,” Tom Nattrass recently told the ABC.

The #blueboathouse on Instagram has thousands of posts including photos of couples on their wedding day.

It has become such a popular landmark, with a steady stream of tourists patiently lining up at the jetty to take images, that the council is building a new public toilet block nearby.

Originally published as Perth landmark The Crawley Edge Boatshed aka Blue Boat House’s hue change shocks tourists

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/lifestyle/home-garden/perth-landmark-the-crawley-edge-boatshed-aka-blue-boat-houses-hue-change-shocks-tourists/news-story/fb77c971c407a10a7e0f3de1d346c962