A cake competition called Cakemantle, held during Fremantle Design Week, invited people to bake dessert creations inspired by the port city. Sixteen entrants took part, ranging from professional designers to locals. Erin Coates won first place with a cake based on the former limestone rock bar at the river mouth, which judges praised for its taste. Scolaro Terrazzo came second for its design, and the Fremantle Doctor took third. Organisers hope to hold the event again next year after tickets sold out quickly.
Bron and Phil Genoni have spent 27 years building a thriving garden at their Banjup property. The shady, mostly tropical space features an estimated 400-year-old paperbark, ponds that host turtles, ducks and frogs, and accessible concrete pathways. The couple run the garden on solar power and use chicken manure to feed the soil. The garden at 23 Muir Place will open on October 31 and November 1, with solar consultations, tea and scones, and a Jaguar Car Club display on the Sunday.
Families flocked to Fremantle Esplanade Park on Saturday for the annual Farmer on Your Plate festival. Children enjoyed pony rides, barrel tossing, cow milking and sheep shearing, while line dancing drew crowds of all ages. Pernille Loughton brought her granddaughters, who live nearby, and said she valued that the event was free. Kale Wells, who came across the festival while out with his three-year-old daughter, Pia, said cow milking was her favourite activity.
Two Western Australian punters are among four winners of the division one Saturday lotto jackpot, each receiving $1,523,797.81. The winning ticket was bought at Melville Newspower shortly before the October 3 draw. Newsagency owner Angela Missackovski said the mystery winner has sparked excitement in the suburb. Nine other locals won a division two prize of $13,255.65, and 166 people will share $1,035.05 each from division three.
Three teenagers are in police custody after a spate of early-morning offending across several Perth suburbs. Officers were called at about 4.10am on Saturday to reports of an intrusion at an Armadale shopping centre, where a clothing store, a sports retailer and a food outlet were allegedly forced open and property taken. Police say a grey Mazda 2 hatchback seen in the area had been reported stolen from a Cannington gym around midnight.
The widow of a cyclist killed in a crash in Bibra Lake, south of Perth, has spoken publicly for the first time. Joseph Paratore, 40, died at the scene on North Lake Road after being struck while riding his bicycle early on Tuesday, October 20. His wife, Sarina Paratore, said in a statement issued through WA Police that the family's hearts are broken. Police allege the vehicle, a white 4WD, did not stop. Craig Daniel Strawbridge, 40, of Yangebup, was arrested and charged, and was refused bail and remanded in custody at Fremantle Magistrates Court on Thursday.
A popular bowling alley in Perth's north has closed indefinitely after a fire broke out on Monday evening. Rosemount Bowl on Fitzgerald Street in North Perth was evacuated, along with the nearby Pot Black and Bloodlines venues. The business said at about 10pm that everyone had left safely and no one was hurt. The fire is not believed to be suspicious and is being managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services. A witness claims the blaze started in the kitchen, but this has not been officially confirmed.
Xpeng Motors Australia expects to have 66 retail locations across every state and territory by the end of 2026. The mid-size L03 SUV, priced from $41,900 before on-road costs, is due in showrooms before year's end. The company says it has processed more than 1400 customer enquiries and resolved 250 cases linked to promotional offers from its former distributor, TrueEV. Customers who bought through TrueEV and were promised offers can contact Xpeng ANZ, which says it is backing its vehicles with seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranties.
BYD's premium brand Denza says the Z9 GT electric wagon will not reach Australia until the first half of 2027. A spokesperson said the company is juggling priorities and does not want to launch simply to meet a date. Denza had earlier planned a launch in the third quarter of 2026. The Z9 GT has a claimed 0-100km/h time of 2.7 seconds and a 1036km electric range under the CLTC cycle. Pricing for the Australian market has yet to be announced.
Porsche Cars Australia is recalling 77 of its 911 and 718 sports cars made in 2023 and 2024. A manufacturing defect in the centre-lock wheel nuts may cause a wheel to loosen and detach while driving. The recall covers several 911 and 718 models from the 992 and 982 generations. Porsche will contact owners and ask them to book a free repair at an authorised Porsche Centre. The 911 was previously recalled in March 2025 over a seatbelt issue.
Complaints about the Australian Taxation Office have risen sharply as the agency ramps up debt collection. The Tax Ombudsman received 2376 complaints in the six months to September, up 74 per cent on the same period last year. The office said it received 1358 complaints over that period, because the ombudsman's figures also included matters not involving the tax office. The ombudsman found the tax office acted reasonably in 63 per cent of debt collection complaints it investigated. Outstanding tax debt stood at $54.2 billion in 2024/25, with $35.9 billion owed by small businesses.
