Turning under-utilised city spaces into vibrant people places requires careful place making and design skills. As part of a broader precinct upgrade to central Perth, Australia, the Uniting Church’s vision of a fashion centre focused on retail and public realm renewal has breathed much needed public life into a former ‘down at heel’ precinct of the city. The HASSELL design of the public realm is purposefully simple and refined, taking its cues from the importance of the Church – its architecture, materiality and heritage significance. The landscape and public realm pay homage by responding to existing levels, making simple pedestrian connections and assisting in telling the story of Perth’s development. The design also responds to existing social and cultural uses of the site, providing a platform that encourages a wide range of public use, from the often highly animated and spirited activity on the ‘Speaker’s Corner’ to the more passive use of a city worker on their lunchtime break, through to large gatherings of family and friends to celebrate a newly-wed couple.