Julie-anne Sprague

The value of Australia’s wine exports broke through the $3 billion mark for the first time last month as consumers from around the globe drank more premium wines from regions such as Margaret River and the Swan Valley.

Mick Stroud's Big Island Brewing Ltd has shelved plans for a $10 million public share offer in favour of a $15 million cash injection from a group of WA-based private investors.

Withoffice space in Perth and West Perth at capacity, the corporate sector is being forced to look further afield for premises to grow into.

Western Australian fraud detectives are investigating several complaints against Ryan Waddell, who has been offering investors 80 per cent returns per annum for property investments through Diamond Property Solutions.

Two well-known Perth restaurants are headed for some big changes. Shenton Park’s Star Anise is on the lookout for new premises, while the owner of popular Turkish restaurant, Eminem, has sold the business.

A late-night lounge bar designed for enjoying a martini or two will open at the Burswood Complex later this month. Called MINQ Bar and Lounge, Burswood says the bar will be an intimate and indulgent late night meeting place for those looking to escape the

The former Parker & Parker solicitors office building on Howard Street in Perth has been sold for about $3.6 million.

Professional Public Relations WA is embarking on a national expansion of its investor relations business, with plans to establish a presence in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Sally Malay Mining Ltd’s revelations this week that it intends to pay a maiden dividend will no doubt impress shareholders, but it has some market watchers highlighting that the move exposes over-valued projects or companies.

Ian and Tricia Tassell are supposed to be retired, but given they refer to themselves as Mr and Mrs Boss, the decision to spend their later years in the state’s South West has become anything but well-earned time off.

Investors in Sally Malay Mining Ltd are likely to receive a maiden dividend this year on the back of solid profit growth for the nickel miner in the past 12 months.

Former Portman Ltd managing director and Aztec Resources Ltd chairman Ian Burston has been appointed chairman of mining and earthmoving contractor NRW Holdings Ltd, which has lodged a prospectus for its $303 million initial public offering.

Wesfarmers Ltd has made its fourth acquisition in eight months with its chemical and fertiliser business, CSBP Ltd, striking a deal today to buy Victoria-based Australian Vinyls Corporation for $137.7 million.

About 18 months ago, British couple Michelle and Pierce Bradley took a river cruise during a holiday in Perth. It was an afternoon adventure that left an indelible and captivating impression of the tranquillity of Claisebrook Cove.

Next week, Peet Ltd CEO Warwick Hemsley hands over the reigns to Brendan Gore. WA Business News caught up with Mr Hemsley to discuss his 22 years with Peet and its transition from a private WA company to a major national player.

As foreshadowed by Gusto late last month, the Wine and Truffle Co has opened a cellar door and cafe at its Manjimup premises.

Peet Ltd has started selling villas in the first of several planned new lifestyle retirement village projects as it moves to capitalise on the ageing baby boomer market.

Little Creatures director and leading restaurateur, Nic Trimboli, has bought his first seaside eatery, Cottesloe’s La Tropicana Café.

Evans & Tate has signed a binding agreement with ANZ Bank and Pendulum Capital Pty Ltd that will see east coast wine player McWilliam's Wines Pty Ltd take an equity position in the Margaret River winery.

Evans & Tate Ltd has rejected a merger proposal by US-backed Yarraman Estates Pty Ltd, leaving Peter Fogarty's Pendulum Capital Pty Ltd's bid as the remaining bid under consideration after Ferngrove Vineyards Pty Ltd withdrew its bid on Wednesday.

While many of its Margaret River neighbours are busy pruning their vineyards in preparation for next year’s grape harvest, Palandri Ltd’s vines are virtually untouched as it attempts to negotiate a new contract with vineyard manager Quenby Viticultural Se

A growing number of independent bottle shops have signed deals with Foster’s Group Ltd, effectively giving up some of their floor space to the beer and wine giant in return for new refrigerators.

The 2007 vintage has begun to make its way on to the retail shelves.

Watershed Premium Wines Ltd plans to raise a further $9.6 million from investors early next year following strong investor support for managed investment schemes in the wine sector during 2006-07.

The race to acquire Evans & Tate officially gained a third participant today as expected, with the Australian arm of US-listed Yarraman Winery Inc putting a fresh takeover offer to the Margaret River winery's corporate advisers.

The Australian arm of US-listed Yarraman Winery Inc is expected to make a fresh takeover offer for winemaker Evans & Tate early next week, attempting to trump proposals by Peter Fogarty's Pendulum Capital and Jack Bendat-linked Ferngrove.

The Sheraton Perth has been without a flagship restaurant for the past six months after the hotel group bit the bullet on a massive refurbishment of its food and beverage facilities.

The owners of Wilyarup’s 4.5-star Willy Bay Resort are planning a multi-million dollar chalet development in the next 12 months that will expand the number of chalets on site to 16.

Mick Stroud has issued a supplementary prospectus for his Big Island Brewing Ltd after failing to secure $10 million from potential investors within the original prospectus’s three-month time frame.

The strength of any deal maker is to walk away and cut your losses.

The restaurant within the apartment building on top at the junction of Labouchere Road and the freeway on-ramp has had a difficult history.

Indigenart founder Diane Mossenson has spent the better part of this year renovating her Subiaco gallery, which reopened this month under the new name, The Mossenson Galleries.