Leederville is one of the best suburbs in Perth. It’s cool, it’s fun, and it’s vibrant. Spend 10 minutes in Leederville’s busy Oxford Street and you will see all the stereotypes pass you by from yuppies to hippies; it really is a mixed bag! This suburb is just the thing for young professionals, students and families who like inner city living. The architecture in Leederville is typically workers cottages, town houses, and apartment blocks. Access to public transport is great.
Oxford Street is the heart and soul of Leederville with a café for every taste. Espresso? Soy chai latte? Herbal tea? There’s also the famous fish outlet Kailis Bros, as well as the best burger joints in town, Jus Burgers and the Burger Bistro. The Luna Palace Cinema is an old favourite offering Monday movie doubles, and outdoor cinema in the summer. Parking in Leederville is good, but can be hard to find a space around Oxford St during the lunchtime rush. Leederville is also popular in the evenings with clubs and pubs on the south end of Oxford St.
The YMCA HQ skate park buzzes with active youth, whether they are skate boarding or using the music and art spaces. Beatty Park Leisure Centre is on Vincent St. Built in 1962 to house the Commonwealth and British Empire Games it has served active sandgropers (slang for people from Perth) for fifty years.
Neighbouring West Leederville was once a part of Leederville, but with the completion of the Mitchell Fwy the suburb was split into two. Although not as vibrant as its neighbour, West Leederville is home to Pattersons Stadium, where both Aussie Rules football teams – the Eagles and Dockers - call home. Also, St John of God hospital, and the tranquil Lake Monger are important parts of West Leederville. Both suburbs have good public transport access; Leederville is on the Joondalup train line, while West Leederville is on the Fremantle Line. And, there are good bus services.
Altona was once shunned as a reject suburb, because of the nearby refineries. But these days it is home to unpretentious family types who like living on or near the beach, but don’t want to sell their right kidney, left lung and only child to be able to afford it.
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ASCOT VALE
If this suburb were on the other side of the Yarra River, it would be highly sought after. Ascot Vale has plenty of Victorian and Federation architecture, tree-lined streets, good public schools, a large Italian influence, and a good, friendly village shopping strip.
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AVONDALE HEIGHTS
Brick houses with white ballustrading. McMansions. Familes. During the 1970’s, Avondale Heights was the suburb aspirational working class people, mostly of southern European descent, moved to, to bring up their young families.
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DOCKLANDS
Is that a gale force wind? Yep. So don’t step out on the balcony or you might suddenly find yourself doing an involuntary ‘up up and away’ Superman style. Docklands is Melbourne's inner city waterfront living offering.
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ESSENDON
Essendon is Pleasantville, thoroughly middle class family territory. You know - mum, dad, two kids, the private schools, the 4WD, and the dog. It’s also the place Steve Irwin spent the first few years of his life. Property prices here are not cheap.
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FLEMINGTON
Actor Barry Humphries gave Flemington the thumbs up after checking out some of its cafes and restaurants. Flemington is home to a world famous horse race, a monthly market, public housing and a growing number of alternative type professionals.
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FOOTSCRAY
There is nothing else like Footscray in Melbourne. It is like being in Vietnam, in Eastern Europe, in the Horn of Africa, in a dilapidated suburb, and an emerging cool suburb all at the same time.
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KENSINGTON
Kensington is the kind of place Lonely Planet type travelers aged over 30 are likely to live in. There is a good community and village feel here, and great cafes that come without the attitude you’d find in other inner city suburbs.
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MARIBYRNONG
Maribyrnong is definitely family territory with a mix of older style timber homes, new townhouses, and designer homes. It is close to Victoria University, and home to Highpoint Shopping Centre, a new, large and well equipped aquatic centre, and is on the picturesque Maribyrnong River.
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MOONEE PONDS
Dame Edna Everage made Moonee Ponds famous. It has a strong Italian presence a pleasant shopping strip, great public transport, great period architecture, and what is arguably the BEST pizza in all of Melbourne.
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NORTH MELBOURNE
Back in the days before gambling was legalised in Melbourne, North Melbourne had “cafes” in back street warehouses for those with an itch to try their luck. Now, those warehouses are pricey split-level homes for professionals, and creative types.
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SUNBURY
Sunbury is a semi-rural place with a country town feel, just 40minutes drive from the city. It's not the place you would want to live in if you are a party goer, but if you have a family and want an affordable home in a safe environment, Sunbury isn't a bad choice.
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WILLIAMSTOWN
Williamstown is the middle class, beach-side hangout on the western side of Mebourne. It is home to latte sipping mums and dads with 4WDs, and some of the best preserved Victorian architecture in Melbourne.
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YARRAVILLE
Yarraville is the alternative community minded style-meister of Melbourne's inner west. And ya gotta love the gay boys. Had they not begun moving into Yarraville about 15 years ago and injecting life into the place, it would probably still be down and out.
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