Perth Zoo’s café and function centre are now listed as complete on the Zoo’s Master Plan 2040 page. The September 2023 announcement had forecast a spring opening for the precinct during the Zoo’s 125th-anniversary celebrations; that was a plan at the time, not a current opening date. The development comprises three visitor food-and-drink outlets and The Maali, a separate event venue.
What is The Maali at Perth Zoo?
The Maali is Perth Zoo’s function and events venue, distinct from the café outlets. Perth Zoo’s 2023 announcement describes it as a venue for weddings and corporate events, with a separate entrance on Labouchere Road. The Zoo says “Maali” is the Noongar word for Black Swan. Perth Zoo’s operator announcement gives those details.
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At the time, Compass Group Australia’s Restaurant Associates Venues was appointed to operate the café and function centre. Perth Zoo said the operator had experience at Werribee and Melbourne zoos. Compass executive director Michael Lambourne described The Maali as offering facilities “unmatched in the State”; that is the operator’s promotional claim, not an independently verified comparison.
What food and drink options are in the precinct?
The Zoo announced three distinct formats, so visitors can distinguish a meal from a quick stop or a coffee and wine bar:
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| Outlet | Format described by Perth Zoo |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Dine-in dining overlooking the playground |
| Wag Tails | Takeaway |
| Distill and Brew | Coffee and wine bar |
These are visitor food-and-drink outlets; The Maali is the separate function and events venue. The announcement does not establish current menus, prices or opening hours. Perth Zoo’s announcement
What is the project’s current status?
Perth Zoo’s Master Plan 2040 project page currently says the café and function centre are complete. In the September 2023 announcement, the Zoo had forecast that they would open in spring alongside its 125th-birthday celebrations. That historical forecast does not provide a precise opening date or confirm today’s operating arrangements.
The Zoo says the State Government invested $21.8 million to build the café and function facilities, followed by a further $30 million to progress the first major builds under Master Plan 2040. These are separate funding descriptions: the page does not identify both amounts as the cost of this precinct. The master-plan concepts were initially released during the Zoo’s 120th-birthday celebrations in 2018.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is reported about event capacity?
A 2023 report by micenet said the event space was expected to accommodate up to 800 attendees, with boardrooms for 15. Those figures are from secondary reporting and are not corroborated on the Zoo’s project or operator-announcement pages. Treat them as reported expectations, not confirmed current capacities; ask The Maali directly about room configurations and limits when planning an event.
Quick Recap
What should visitors and event planners check?
- For a zoo visit: Check Perth Zoo directly for current outlet hours, menus and prices; the cited announcement does not provide them.
- For an event: Contact The Maali for current capacity, packages, access arrangements and available dates. The cited sources do not establish current booking availability or package details.
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