Perth Red-Light District: The History of Roe Street

Roe Street was a historical red-light area, not a current visitor map. See what the 1950s history says and how visitors can understand the street today.

For the historical “red-light district” in Perth, the clearest named answer is Roe Street, just north of Perth Railway Station. That history does not make Roe Street a current adult-venue map: the brothels described in the historical account had closed or moved by the late 1950s, and the street has since changed.

What happened on Roe Street

ABC Perth’s 2021 report on Roe Street quotes University of Notre Dame historian Leigh Straw. It describes the street as having been called “Rue-de-Roe” in the press and says that, by the late 1950s, brothels there had been forced to close or move elsewhere in Perth. The houses were then progressively demolished over later decades. This is a specific history of one street and period, not evidence about every adult business in Perth or Northbridge today.

The State Library of Western Australia also catalogs a 1958 photograph titled “Red light area, Roe Street, Perth, just before the brothels closed.” It is an archival record, not a guide to present-day buildings; this article does not reuse the historic image.

Roe Street as a visitor sees it now

Visit Perth currently places Roe Street in Northbridge and describes it as part of the City Link area connecting Northbridge with the city. Its visitor listing mentions bars, local businesses and Chinatown. Those are broad public-area descriptions, not a record of adult venues or a planning statement about a specific address.

A current street map can help you orient yourself, but it cannot confirm what a particular building is used for. Treat “Rue-de-Roe” as a historical name, not a destination label for today.

When you need current legal information

Western Australia’s legislation portal lists the Prostitution Act 2000, version 02-d0-00, with a currency start date of 5 April 2023. The statute is the official starting point for a legal question; this history guide does not interpret its provisions or determine whether any individual business is operating lawfully. For decisions about a particular matter, use current official information and qualified advice.

Sources

ABC Perth: the history of Roe Street (2021)

Visit Perth: Roe Street

Western Australian Legislation: Prostitution Act 2000, version 02-d0-00

State Library of Western Australia: 1958 Roe Street catalogue record