Most shops are located downtown on the parallel Hay Street and Murray Street malls, located 1 block apart, and in the network of arcades running off them such as the Plaza, City, Carillon, and the Tudor-style London Court arcades. Off Murray Street Mall on Forrest Place is the Forrest Chase shopping complex, housing the Myer department store and boutiques on two levels. Add to your collection of international designer brands on posh King Street.

If you want to avoid the chains, spend half a day in Subiaco or "Subi," where Hay Street and Rokeby Road are lined with smart boutiques, art galleries, cafes, antiques shops, and markets. The Colonnade shopping center at 388 Hay St. showcases groovy young Aussie fashion designers in its Studio 388 section.

Fremantle's shopping is mostly limited to a good selection of crafts, markets, and Aboriginal souvenirs.

Shops are open until 9pm on Friday in the city, and until 9pm on Thursday in Subiaco and Fremantle.

Aboriginal Arts & Crafts -- Creative Native, 32 King St. (tel. 08/9322 3398), stocks Perth's widest range of Aboriginal arts and crafts. Upstairs is a gallery selling original works by some renowned Aboriginal artists. There's another branch at 65 High St., Fremantle (tel. 08/9335 6995).

Indigenart, 115 Hay St., Subiaco (tel. 08/9388 2899), and 82 High St., Fremantle (tel. 08/9335 2911), stocks works on canvas, paper, and bark, as well as artifacts, textiles, pottery, didgeridoos, boomerangs, and sculpture, by world-famous and lesser-known Aboriginal artists from all over Australia.

Jewelry -- Western Australia is renowned for farming the world's best South Sea pearls off Broome, for Argyle diamonds mined in the Kimberley, and for being one of the world's biggest gold producers.

Artisans of the Sea, corner of Marine Terrace and Collie Street, Fremantle (tel. 08/9336 3633), sells elegant South Sea pearl and gold jewelry.

Some of Perth's other leading jewelers, where you can buy opals, Argyle diamonds, and Broome pearls, are family-owned sister stores, Costello's, Shop 5-6, London Court (tel. 08/9325 8588), and Swan Diamonds, Shop 4, London Court (tel. 08/9325 8166), and also Linneys, 37 Rokeby Rd., Subiaco (tel. 08/9382 4077).

For opals to suit all budgets, head to the Perth outlet of opal retailer, Quilpie Opals, Shop 6, Piccadilly Arcade off Hay Street Mall (tel. 08/9321 8687).

Desert Designs--Aboriginal artist Jimmy Pike grew up in Western Australia's Sandy Desert and was one of the first to start transferring his Dreamtime art and designs to fabrics, in 1981. He died in late 2002, but his commercial work lives on in clothing and accessories -- including cute children's gear -- bearing his designs at the Desert Designs boutique at 114 High Street Mall, Fremantle (tel. 08/9430 4101). For paintings and limited-edition prints by Jimmy Pike and many other Aboriginal artists, visit the Japingka Gallery, 47 High St., Fremantle (tel. 08/9335 8265), which also stocks didgeridoos, artifacts, and stunning high-quality hand-tufted woolen floor rugs.