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The Best Urban Villages in Perth to Start Your New Life in the City
Perth is a beautiful city that’s filled with amazing people from various parts of the world. Its cosmopolitan nature is one of the many things I love about it.
That fact is especially true in the city’s best urban villages. These places highlight the openness and diversity the city is known for, making them great neighbourhoods to begin your new life as a Perthite!
Let’s get to know each one a bit better and see which of them will be the best one for you.
Leederville
Photo credit: theleedervilleprecinct
Let’s start with Leederville, one of the city’s most vibrant neighbourhoods. A locality in the City of Vincent, its colourful mix of cultures has turned it into a centre for food and shopping.
In fact, it’s home to some of the most diverse restaurants and cafes I’ve visited in the city. Its immigrant population has introduced wonderful cuisines from around the world, like Mexican, Vietnamese, and Italian.
When it comes to shopping, there’s also an abundance of outlet malls and boutique shops to be found here. It even has an iconic cinema complex called Luna Leederville, where you can watch the latest flicks!
Pro tip: Make sure to get a Transperth card after you move into Leederville! This card will let you save some money when you ride the train to and from the Leederville train station.
Mount Lawley
Photo credit: street_art_australia_
Are you interested in living among the famed bungalows of Perth? Then come check out Mount Lawley, a famous urban village that continues to attract locals and tourists alike thanks to its rich architectural heritage and food scene.
These simple yet elegant homes are some of the city’s hottest properties, so be sure to act fast if you see one for sale! This suburb even has a couple of historic sites that give it a unique allure, like the Astor Theatre.
But of course, the star of the show in Mount Lawley is its cosy cafes and lively bars. And if you’re looking for more amazing dishes to try out, you’ll definitely love the fact that another food hub, Subiaco, is only a couple of kilometres away from your home!
Pro tip: If you need a quiet place to relax and cool off, Mount Lawley’s Hyde Park is an excellent place to do so. It features a small lake and plenty of benches where you can sit and rest for a moment.
It’s also not as crowded as other places like Kings Park and Botanic Garden, so you can definitely have the peace you deserve here.
Subiaco
Photo credit: seesubiaco
A list of the best urban villages in Perth wouldn’t be complete if it didn’t mention Subiaco! One of the city’s oldest suburbs, it was a working-class suburb until it was redeveloped as a low-rise urban village in the 1990s.
One of the best things about the area is its rich collection of historical sites like the Subiaco Museum and the Subiaco Theatre. It also has a large playing field called Subiaco Oval where you and your friends can play ball games on weekends.
However, the best thing about this suburb for me is Rokeby Road, located in its heart. It’s lined with cafes, boutiques, and art galleries, which makes it perfect for leisurely strolls and people-watching.
Pro tip: Want to get the freshest produce? Stop by Subi Farmers Market on Saturdays!
There are also plenty of food stalls here, so it’s always worth visiting, even if you’re not planning on buying fruits or vegetables.
Victoria Park
Photo credit: townofvicpark
For the perfect blend of history, community spirit, and modern urban living, there’s Victoria Park. It checks off most of the boxes that make an urban village so appealing to live in.
For starters, it has an active food scene that features a list of great restaurants and cafes you can visit whenever you don’t feel like cooking. Some I love to visit are Catalano’s, an Italian restaurant, and Funky Momo, a Nepalese restaurant.
A lot of the village’s famous restaurants can be found along Albany Highway, which runs straight into its heart. Since it’s a major road, it’s only within walking distance for many of the neighbourhood’s residents.
Pro tip: Feeling lucky? Visit Victoria Park’s luxurious casino hotel, Crown Perth. Here, you can enjoy exciting card games while sipping wine and admiring the riverside view.
Northbridge
Photo credit: matthew_huang_fleming
There’s no better way to experience the multicultural aspect of the city than to live in Northbridge. Known as the nightlife capital of Perth, it’s home to many of the most popular nightclubs, bars, and restaurants in the city.
Places like Ezra Pound and Sneaky Tony’s are just a couple of examples of why it has become one of my prime spots to get some drinks. This neighbourhood also houses restaurants with cuisine from all around the world!
However, one thing that sets it apart from the other urban villages is its Chinatown district. It’s home to the city’s largest Chinese community, so you definitely won’t have a hard time adjusting to your new life here if you’re of Chinese descent.
Pro tip: Aside from its vibrant Chinatown and dazzling bars, Northbridge also has the Perth Cultural Centre where most of the city’s most prized artworks and books are kept.
It’s home to the WA Museum Boola Bardip, the State Library of WA, and the Art Gallery of Western Australia, so you’re guaranteed to learn something new each time you visit this amazing cultural precinct.
Fremantle
Photo credit: visitfremantle
Affectionately referred to by Perthites as Freo, Fremantle is where you’ll find some of the most iconic historic sites in the city.
There are far too many wonderful places here, so much so that I can’t possibly fit them all here. However, some notable examples I can think of are the Fremantle Arts Centre and the iconic Fremantle Prison, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The suburb also boasts an impressive food scene that can compete with Leederville. Aside from its delightful restaurants, it also has the Fremantle Markets where you can buy fresh produce and restock your food supplies every week!
Pro tip: Fremantle Markets is one of the city’s largest traditional markets and has over 150 stores. Since you might find it difficult to navigate through the market during your first few weeks of living in Freo, I highly suggest you check out this virtual tour first.
East Perth
Photo credit: nordicwalkingwa
Another urban village with a rich past is East Perth, located north of Victoria Park. Once an industrial area, it has transformed into a community hub that’s considered one of the city’s most successful redevelopment projects.
It offers a mix of low- and medium-density residential homes that are highly accessible thanks to its walkable streets and proximity to the Perth CBD. It’s also filled with parks and attractions that you can enjoy anytime.
One impressive attraction you’ll find here is Claisebrook Cove, which is filled with an amazing range of cafes and restaurants. Being riverside, it’s one of my favourite places to do morning jogging.
Pro tip: If you love to fish, then you’ll definitely want to regularly visit the nearby Heirisson Island, located underneath the Causeway Bridge that connects Victoria Park and East Perth.
You don’t need a fishing licence to fish here, so feel free to visit anytime you like. As a kangaroo sanctuary, it’s also filled with friendly kangaroos that are friendly towards humans.
Cottesloe
Photo credit: cottesloe_wa
Ah, Cottesloe, an urban village I am particularly fond of because of its friendly people and laid-back atmosphere. It has gained massive population growth throughout the past few years due to its amazing seaside location and rich cultural heritage.
Moreover, it has Cottesloe Beach, one of the most popular beaches in Perth thanks to its white, sandy beaches and calm waters. It also hosts the annual Sculpture of the Sea event, where artists from around the world showcase their artworks.
Aside from its wonderful beaches, Cottesloe is also quite famous for the majestic houses that line its beachside roads. If you’re all about that seaside lifestyle then this village is the perfect choice for you!
Pro tip: Cottesloe might not have the spectacular food scene Fremantle and Leederville have, but it still has some noteworthy restaurants worth checking out! My personal favourite is Il Lido on Marine Parade Avenue because it lets me enjoy a relaxing coastal dining experience.
Claremont
Photo credit: town_of_claremont
Is being able to easily shop for the latest fashion items a major consideration for you? Then you’ll definitely love living in Claremont, an elegant urban village located 9 kilometres southwest of the Perth CBD.
Here, you’ll find the Claremont Quarter, a luxurious shopping mall filled with top brands like Boss and Chanel. It even has a lot of cafes, wine bars, and restaurants like Typika and Nolita where you can catch a quick break after work.
However, the biggest perk one can enjoy while living in Claremont is its proximity to The University of Western Australia. In fact, it only takes a short bus trip to get to UWA from here!
Pro tip: If you ever need a source of creative inspiration or are just looking for something to do in your free time, you can enjoy a leisurely walk along Claremont’s 2-kilometre-long Public Art Trail.
It features various public art pieces that were made by the city’s finest street artists.
Maylands
Photo credit: maylandsstreetfestival
Maylands is a charming urban village that boasts a rich history dating back to colonial times. It played a pivotal role in the development of Perth, as it was once an important source of clay for the city’s brick and tile-making industries.
Similar to East Perth, it too has undergone a massive revitalisation. Now, it’s one of the city’s most diverse neighbourhoods and has residents from various countries like Ireland, the UK, China, and India.
Another good thing that came out of its revitalisation is that it has turned into a popular food hub, with most of its restaurants and cafes being concentrated on Whatley Crescent Street.
Pro tip: Are you excited to meet your new neighbours? Visit one of Maylands’ community facilities, like the Recreation, Information, Socialising and Entertainment (RISE) Centre and the Maylands Tennis Club.
Based on my experience, the people here are extremely friendly and are eager to make new friends.
