Upmarket

Western Suburbs

Perth's old money

From the CBD: 7.9 km
Area: 36 km²
Rent: Eye-watering rent
Suburbs: 9

Dalkeith, Peppermint Grove, Claremont, Cottesloe, Nedlands: the strip between the Swan River and the Indian Ocean holding Western Australia's most expensive addresses. Big houses, private schools, yacht clubs, Claremont Quarter — and the Cottesloe sunset on every Perth postcard.

Good for

Spending a day even if you never live there
Calm, well-serviced beaches
Studying or working at UWA

Watch out

Renting here is expensive in any shape; even a room in a share house runs well above average.

Getting around

The Fremantle line stops at Claremont, Cottesloe and Swanbourne.

Suburbs

Tap a suburb to see it — and its photos — on Google Maps.

Places here

Cottesloe Beach

The postcard beach: white sand, Norfolk pines and the Indiana teahouse out front. Packed at summer sunset.

See photos and details on Google Maps →

Leighton Beach

A wide stretch between Cottesloe and Fremantle with an off-leash dog zone. Kitesurfing when it blows.

See photos and details on Google Maps →

Matilda Bay

A Swan River bay beside UWA, with lawns, barbecues and the best skyline view across the water.

See photos and details on Google Maps →

Open on the interactive map →

Other areas

Wembley, Floreat & City Beach Big house, backyard, beach in 10 minutes Belmont, Rivervale & the airport Close to everything, pretty in almost nothing Stirling, Balcatta & Osborne Park The well-placed middle ground Morley, Bayswater & Bassendean Big mall, river close, new train Industrial belt Where the labouring jobs are Applecross, Mount Pleasant & Booragoon Riverside south, with good schools

These are impressions, not statistics: one person, a few months, a city of two million. Suburbs change street by street — use this to know what to go and look at, then go and look.