Published on 17 March 2023

Robbie McGowan chooses people over positions—an ethos that abounds in the State Buildings.

Robbie is a gentleman with a superior hospitality pedigree, last found in the likes of Aria and Quay in Sydney, and one who strives to deliver your ultimate State Buildings experience.

He will know you by name before the season changes—please, do introduce yourself if you see him around the building.

Robbie recently underwent an interview with The Urban List about his experience of moving to Perth from Sydney. Read the full interview below:

Q: Please tell us your name and job title.
A: Name – Robbie McGowan
Job Title – Assistant Food & Beverage Director

Q: How long have you lived in WA and why did you decide to move there?
A: I have lived in WA for 2 years and decided to move here for several reasons. I have lived in Australia for 11 years prior to moving to WA (originally from Scotland). I had only lived and worked in Sydney during that time. During the pandemic, it allowed me to reset and think about the future, about what I really wanted to get out of my life and career. There are obviously risks and rewards to moving states and changing jobs; however, the unknown really excited me with the chance to test my skills and knowledge in a different environment. Having visited WA quite a few times before, it is an incredible place that ticks a lot of boxes for me. Not only are the lifestyle, people, and culture different from Sydney, but I also feel the hospitality sector is only just starting to come into its own, and definitely, since I have been here, it has changed. These are some of the reasons I moved here, along with the fact that raising a family in this environment seemed a perfect suit for me. Space is a very expensive commodity in Sydney, while WA seems to have it in bucketloads. I might add my girlfriend was born in WA, so she helped sell the dream!

Q: What’s the best thing about working in your industry in WA?
A: The isolation of the state can often be seen as a negative; however, I look at it in a more positive way. We have incredible produce in this state that is often hard to get anywhere else, which provides opportunities to showcase elements many other states cannot. The access to produce such as local seafood and native ingredients is a huge bonus to areas like WA. I feel that working in the industry in WA, people can be more open-minded and open to change, while other states may potentially have more of a history of hospitality, which can cause obstacles. The industry is quite small over here, so the impact you can have can be quite substantial, and the connections you can make can be fantastic. Depending on where you work, the crossover from producer or winemaker to hospitality service staff is a lot closer, and often the relationships you create can allow doors to open throughout the industry.

Q: Tell us what the most surprising thing about living in WA is and why.
A: WA is somewhat Australia’s biggest secret in terms of the work-life balance people experience and the success you can achieve. The state provides incredible opportunities; you just need to know where to find them. People from WA tend not to make a big song and dance about things over here, so it is often difficult to know what to expect. The level of wealth and expense people are more than willing to spend was quite surprising to me. This does open up the market in hospitality and allows more creativity and opportunities for people to spend on experiences. In hindsight, I was not expecting this to the level I have seen.

Q: How would you describe the lifestyle of living in WA?
A: Lifestyle in WA is definitely at a slower pace compared to the east coast; however, the work-life balance is a massive plus due to the climate and the ability to transition from city to coastline to wine region in the space of a few hours. The neighborhood feel of a lot of cafes, bars, and restaurants adds to this more relaxed lifestyle and feel to hospitality. The proximity of everything isn’t really close by; however, getting anywhere doesn’t take too long. I was used to terrible Sydney traffic, which can take up half of your day!

Q: What would you say to someone who is considering moving to WA—should they do it and why?
A: It will not be the same as where you are coming from, so don’t look for what you left behind here. Embrace it for what it is, and as a developing state, see what you can add to it. I moved here during an interesting time in my life where I had progressed my career in Sydney and could have gone further; however, after moving here, I have had the most progressive 2 years of my life, both professionally and personally. This may not have been the same elsewhere.
To have multiple wine regions on your doorstep and thousands of incredible beaches, it’s nearly impossible to get bored.

Q: Do you have any advice for people once they do move to WA?
A: Expose yourself to as many experiences as you can when you arrive, and see the whole state before you choose where to expend your work expertise. Seek out work environments where people have similar aspirations to you, and invest some time getting to know the industry before you commit to a particular spot.

Q: Any final comments about why life in the west is best?
A: Life in WA is not all beach sunsets and wine tasting; it is actually hard work at times, like in any other state, however, it has so many opportunities depending on how much time and effort you want to invest in it. The people are genuinely very approachable and appreciate anyone with good intentions and something different to bring to the table.
After having started a family here late last year, I definitely feel at home here and couldn’t think of a better place to live at present.