Apple Perth City
Perth, Australia

The Commonwealth Bank building was completed in 1933, and has been a familiar landmark in Perth’s Forrest Place for nearly a century. By the 1960s and 1970s, central Perth was undergoing rapid modernization, with many older buildings along St Georges Terrace and around Forrest Place demolished for new construction. The Commonwealth Bank building stood the test of time and was not demolished, but its interiors were modernized during this era.

By the 1980s, attitudes toward historical preservation had shifted, and Forrest Place was reimagined into a pedestrian-friendly civic square. Decorative plasterwork, stone details, and other original features that had been covered or altered during the 1960s–70s modernization were reintroduced to the Commonwealth Bank building. Most recently in 2025, the building has undergone another set of renovations in preparation for the opening of Apple’s new flagship: Apple Perth City.

As part of this most recent redevelopment, Aurora Lampworks contributed to the design and fabrication of two grand chandeliers installed in the main hall. Inspired by the chandeliers of Melbourne Town Hall, the fixtures reinterpret a traditional form with detailing that aligns with Apple’s design sensibility. The design integrated ornamentation that is found in the architecture, such as decorative motifs on the columns, ceiling, and most notably, the historic clock at the heart of the historic bank chamber.

Minimal architectural lighting was installed to preserve as much of the original ceilings as possible. As a result, the chandeliers serve as the primary light source of the main floor, their scale evoking the grandeur of the historic banking chamber while anchoring the space as both a functional and visual centerpiece.