Beeliar suburb profile: What are its unique selling points and is it a good place to live?

LIVING IN: Beeliar

Population: 8,617

Distance from Perth CBD: 26km south-west

Median House Price: $775,000

Median Unit Price: $410,000

Crime: 599 offences (2023-2024)

This serene neighbourhood steeped in Indigenous history has been dubbed a “hidden gem” of Perth’s south-west thanks to the wetlands where families spend their weekends cycling, walking and bird-watching.

Thomsons Lake and Kogolup Lake — part of Beeliar Regional Park — lie on the eastern border of Beeliar and are popular among locals and visitors alike. Alongside the walkers, joggers and bike riders are photography buffs keen to capture the flora and fauna.

Thomsons Lake Nature Reserve is the largest portion of wetland within Beeliar and has a 5.7km walking trail that sees constant foot traffic, particularly in spring when baby ducks are out and about.

The name “Beeliar” is Noongar for “river” or “water running through”. Before European contact, the suburb was occupied by the Beeliar group of the Whadjuk nation.

Initially, the entire regional park was under the Beeliar suburban boundaries. Due to suburban subdivision, parts of Beeliar Regional Park are no longer within the boundaries of Beeliar.

Beeliar Regional Park now falls in North Lake, South Lake, Bibra Lake, Yangebup, Beeliar and Wattleup. The separation began in the 1890s when Beeliar became sectored into new suburbs. The government declared northern Beeliar North Lake, Bibra Lake, South Lake and Jandakot.

In the 1990s Beeliar was split again to create Yangebup and Wattleup. Beeliar Drive cuts through Beeliar Regional Park and marks the boundary between the suburbs. Russell Road marks the boundary between Beeliar and Wattleup.

In 1965 several council projects commenced in Beeliar, gradually developing it into a modern metropolitan suburb by the 1990s.

Despite the natural wonders of the wetlands local agents say it is the community spirit and convenience that is “unbeatable”. Opposite Beeliar Oval is Sul Lago Lifestyle Cafe, often packed with people.

In the neighbouring suburb of Yangebup, along Beeliar Drive, the Vale Bar & Brasserie keeps up with local pub-feed cravings. For more dining options, residents often drive to Coogee or Fremantle.

When it comes to everyday amenities such as food shops and chemists the 11.4sqkm suburb has facilities on both the western and eastern sides of the suburb at Beeliar Village Shopping Mall and Beeliar Shopping Centre. Just 5km from Beeliar is one of Perth’s largest shopping complexes, Cockburn Gateway Shopping City.

In 1965 several council projects commenced in Beeliar gradually developing it into a modern metropolitan suburb by the 1990s.

In the neighbouring suburb of Yangebup, along Beeliar Drive, the Vale Bar & Brasserie keeps up with local pub-feed cravings. For more dining options, residents often drive to Coogee or Fremantle.

When it comes to everyday amenities such as food shops and chemists the 11.4sqkm suburb has facilities on both the western and eastern sides of the suburb at Beeliar Village Shopping Mall and Beeliar Shopping Centre.

Just 5km from Beeliar is one of Perth’s largest shopping complexes Cockburn Gateway Shopping City. Here there are over 170 specialty stores, a food court and a movie theatre.

Beeliar was once the ideal location for first-home buyers but in recent years house prices and sales have skyrocketed. Semple Property consultant Tanya Forzatti said this is why the suburb is now dominated by young families. “Not long ago it was easier for first-home buyers to secure a home in the suburb because it was considered affordable,” she said.

In 2020 the median house price was $490,000. Just four years later the median house price is now $775,000 with sales growth increasing by 22.1 per cent in the past year alone according to REIWA data.

This is reflected in the area’s median age of 34. Family households make up 80.4 per cent of residents and of these family households, 52.2 per cent are couple families with children.

It is no surprise that Beeliar is popular with this demographic since dwellings with four or more bedrooms account for 66.9 per cent of the suburb suiting the needs of growing families.

There are four primary schools within 2km of Beeliar including South Coogee Primary, St Jerome’s Primary, Newton Primary and Coogee Primary. Mrs Forzatti said the nearby primary schools “uphold a great reputation and are a reason young families choose to live in the area”.

In terms of secondary schools, the closest is Divine Mercy College — 3.1km from Beeliar in Yangebup. However, according to Mrs Forzatti, residents tend to send their kids to Emmanuel Catholic College — 5.1km from Beeliar in Success — or Lakeland Senior High School — 7km from Beeliar in South Lake.

Luckily for commuters nearby are the Aubin Grove train station and Cockburn train station making public transport highly accessible. The Kwinana Freeway is only 4km from Beeliar, facilitating a direct route north to Perth’s CBD.

In Beeliar separate houses make up 90.2 per cent of dwellings, townhouses and apartments both a mere 4.8 per cent. When a unit hits the market it averages 10 days before being swept up by a keen buyer. For houses, it is even fewer with an average of eight days making it hard to secure a home near Perth’s wonderful wetlands.