Shock as sign appears BANNING influencers from taking photos at iconic Australian landmark’ with tourists told to go elsewhere
- Perth’s Blue Boat House has become an Instagram hot spot for tourists
- A sign appeared out the front appearing to ban visitors from taking photos
- Ronan Freeburn said his prank was to encourage tourists to see more of Perth
Tourists have been banned from taking photos at a popular Western Australian landmark made famous on Instagram – but not all is what it seems.
Perth events producer and comedian Ronan Freeburn decided to poke fun at the amount of visitors flocking to the humble Blue Boat House off Mounts Bay Road.
He erected a sign reading: ‘Photography of the blue boat house exceeded. For an alternative ‘Perth landmark’, please visit the Bell Tower’.
‘Pretend it’s good. Take lots of photos. Post it all over social media. Make it go viral as well.’
The sign, which even featured the City of Perth logo, was the handiwork of Mr Freeburn who forked out $250 to have it printed.
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Mr Freeburn said the prank was all ‘just a bit of fun’ to try and encourage tourists to visit other spots in his city.
Perth events producer and comedian Ronan Freeburn decided to poke fun at the amount of visitors flocking to the Blue Boat House off Mounts Bay Road in Perth
The boat shed has become an Instagram hot spot for tourists and influencers
‘The boat house is everywhere, you can’t go on social media without seeing it pop up every few days,’ he said.
‘I agree that it’s charming but there’s a lot more about this city than a boat shed on the side of the road.
‘I just think its getting a bit overexposed relative to all the great other things on offer in Perth.’
He said he believes he may have ‘hit a nerve’ following his stunt, with other Perth locals agreeing their city had more to offer.
‘I think some people in Perth are like ”do you know what? That actually does annoy me”,’ he said.
Visitors come from all over Australia to snap a photo with the blue boat house
Mr Freeburn said he could appreciate that the boat house has done a lot for tourism and thinks it’s so appealing because the landscape allows for anyone can take a great photo there
Mr Freeburn said he could appreciate that the boat house has done a lot for tourism and thinks it’s so appealing because the landscape allows for anyone can take a great photo there.
But he says that the people who actually live in Perth should be celebrated more than a physical landmark.
‘I’d like to shine a light on the people that make Perth because we really punch above our weight with that,’ the prankster said.
‘If people want to take photos at the boathouse, I’m not bothered, I just want to open up the conversation that is this the best we can do?’.
The shed, formally known as the Crawley Edge Boatshed, soared to fame after it was restored in the early 2000s.
Despite not being able to go inside – which isn’t much to look at anyway – the boat house is now one of the most photographable spots in the Western Australian city.
The shed, formally known as the Crawley Edge Boatshed, soared to fame after it was restored in the early 2000s
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