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

LIVING IN: Claremont

Population: 11,284

Distance from Perth CBD: 9.2km south-west

Median House Price: $2,062,500

Median Unit Price: $842,000

Crime: 104 offences (2023-2024)

Characterised by wide leafy streets and notable architecture, Claremont has established itself as a premier Perth destination. And the generally well-heeled residents make it all the more pleasant.

Belle Property Director Bev Heymans believes what sets Claremont apart from neighbouring suburbs is the mix of old and new architecture.

“You can find renovated character homes, Californian bungalows and ultra-modern dwellings,” she said.

Claremont has a busy town centre, comprising a large shopping centre and surrounding streets of boutiques, restaurants and cafes.

The Claremont Quarter Shopping Centre boasts an array of stores and designer boutiques, making it one of Perth’s top shopping destinations.

Near the shopping precinct on Bay View Terrace is an eclectic mix of small bars and restaurants. Ms Heymans said the area is buzzing with families, couples and young professionals.

The Claremont Hotel, On the Terrace and Icon Bar are popular establishments servicing Claremont’s nightlife.

Residents in the broader Town of Claremont — which also includes part of neighbouring Swanbourne — have a mean annual income of $112,714, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics — the fifth-highest in Perth and well above the State average of $75,363.

Within the 4.9sqkm suburb is the Claremont Showgrounds, which hosts the much-loved Perth Royal Show, as well as a number of festivals.

Claremont Oval, home to the Claremont Football Club, is one of many green spaces in the neighbourhood known to draw a crowd.

Behind Claremont Oval is the Lake Claremont Golf Course and wetland. The wetland is a popular destination for locals to immerse themselves in nature. Dog walkers and joggers are commonly found at Claremont Park, next to Bay View Community Centre.

One of Perth’s oldest suburbs, Claremont was originally formed in the 1800s as a halfway point between Fremantle and the Perth central business district.

Before European settlement, the Noongar people used the area for fishing and as a water source. In 1830 a settler named John Butler set up an inn at Freshwater Bay (now known as Peppermint Grove). He hoped this would attract travellers on the road from Perth to Fremantle.

What is now Lake Claremont was once called Butlers Swamp after Mr Butler.

A State school and church were built in 1862, inviting the area’s first community to grow along what is now Victoria Avenue.

James Morrison built a property in 1880 on a 28ha block, extending from Parry Street to Stirling Road and from the railway to Stirling Highway. He named it the Claremont Estate after his wife, Clara. Eventually, the name of this estate was used for the entire suburb.

In 1881, the railway line from Perth to Fremantle was built and has been transporting Claremont residents ever since. Locals have access to the Claremont railway station and Loch Street railway station. During special events such as the annual Royal Show the Showgrounds railway station is also used.

Various buses travel along Stirling Highway and through Claremont’s northern and southern sections.

Ms Heymans said the suburb “appeals to a wide demographic because it is central”, just a short drive to the beach, city and various schools.

The median age in Claremont is 43 with 15-19 year-olds making up the largest portion of the population at 7.6 per cent. Family households make up a large 64.1 per cent of the suburb with three-bedroom dwellings being the most common at 34.4 per cent.

A strong focus on education is present in the area with two of the State’s top-performing private schools, Christ Church Grammar and Methodist Ladies College.

Standalone houses make up 47.1 per cent of the area, then apartments (30.1 per cent) and townhouses (22.7 per cent).

It is a hard area to buy into with houses lasting only 11 days on the market and units a slightly more generous 20.