SkyVista Observation Wheel: New 36m-high Ferris wheel to be unveiled at Perth’s Riverside Drive on July 2

If you’ve driven along Perth’s Riverside Drive this week or cruised the outskirts of Malaga as early as May, you’ve likely already caught a glimpse of the 10-storey Ferris wheel set to call the city home from Thursday ahead of the school holidays.

Standing at 36 metres high, weighing 100 tonnes, and boasting 125,952 RGB LED lights, operator Mark Marinovich believes the SkyVista Observation Wheel could be the final piece in Perth’s pursuit of bonafide global city status.

“Some of the most iconic cities in the world have Ferris wheels. You’ve got them at Luna Park in Sydney, you’ve got them in Melbourne, in Docklands, you’ve got them in London with the London Eye. So, why can’t Perth have one?” he asked.

Residing at the corner of Riverside Drive and Governor’s Avenue, SkyVista is set to offer 360-degree views of the city previously unseen by the masses.

“You have a great view of the Perth City skyline, complete views of the Swan River right across to South Perth. You can see Kings Park and up to the hills as well,” Mr Marinovich said.

The attraction can carry up to 144 people spread among 24 fully enclosed, climate-controlled carriages that are wheelchair accessible.

Each full rotation will last roughly three minutes, with a single ride expected to offer up to nine minutes of sky-high amusement.

At night, its thousands of lights will illuminate to form an an eye-catching display seen from across the river.

Constructed by world-renowned Dutch manufacturer Mondial Rides, SkyVista will be operated locally by WA’s ShowVista Entertainment Group — the team behind Carnival Amusements.

Mr Marinovich said the process of purchasing the ride and luring it to Perth took three years, but he felt the city was screaming out for a larger-than-life addition to its skyline that all ages could appreciate.

“We saw there was a demand for Ferris wheels. It’s a family attraction; anyone of any age can ride it. We do a number of events around Perth, and we thought it’d be a good addition for the city,” he said.

The operator said he felt he was onto “a winner” when his team began setting up the ride at their Malaga warehouse in May and noticed a steady stream of cars driving up and down the street to cop a closer look.

“We actually had to close the gates to stop people from entering the warehouse,” he said.

SkyVista will open Thursday, with operating hours to vary depending on day of the week, the school holiday period, and weather conditions.

Bullish about Perth’s new eye in the sky, Mr Marinovich said he was open to touring the attraction across the city, or even finding a long-term home for it.

“We‘re always on the hunt for new locations. We would love waterfront destinations, we’d love to tour it around the city and different councils, so we’ll see what comes of it in the future. But for now, we’re at the City of Perth until August 23,” he said.

Adult tickets begin from $14 and children from $12, with family passes, private gondola reservations and birthday bookings are also available.