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

LIVING IN: Balcatta

Population: 10,813

Distance from Perth CBD: 10km north-east

Median House Price: $745,000

Median Unit Price: $495,000

Crime: 1328 offences (2023-2024)

With Trigg Beach, Karrinyup Shopping Centre and Perth’s CBD about 15 minutes away by car, it may surprise that Balcatta residents get to drive home through quiet streets.

The 7.3sqkm suburb, known for its industrial heritage, is also a suburban oasis for 10,813 people.

The noise of cars and the bustle of commerce are mainly heard north of Delawney Street, leaving residents to enjoy what estate agents call a “relaxing neighbourhood”.

The four major thoroughfares — Balcatta Road, Reid Highway, Mitchell Freeway and North Beach Road — intersect in the suburb’s north where industrial buildings, offices, eateries and indoor entertainment facilities can be found.

But this residential and commercial separation is not even Balcatta’s crowning feature. According to Peard Real Estate’s Shaun Pettit, its location is unmatched for convenience.

Within a 13-minute drive Balcatta residents can swim at Trigg Beach, sip coffee in the city, dine at a wine bar in Leederville and play mini golf with the family at Karrinyup Shopping Centre.

Balcatta has the Yanchep train line bordering its western edge, while southern neighbour Stirling and northern neighbour Warwick each have a train station.

The commercial area in Balcatta’s north is dotted with bus stops to assist locals with shorter commutes to work or the beach.

The name Balcatta was recorded by Alexander Forrest in 1877 and stems from the Aboriginal word “bal” (his) and “katta” (hill), a reference to the northern portion of Careniup Swamp — now Carine Swamp, 6km away in Carine.

The houses in Balcatta have a very distinctive style because of the area’s popularity with southern European migrant families.

In the 1970s it was one of the areas near to the CBD not yet settled, allowing families to build homes in the style of their choosing.

According to the 2021 census, 53.1 per cent of families in Balcatta were recorded as having both parents born overseas, proving its popularity with migrants still stands.

Balcatta is recognised as a “green suburb” due to the high number of parks it has.

The largest park in the area is Rickman Delawney Reserve where picnic shelters, barbecue areas, a shaded playground and tennis and basketball courts can be found, thanks to a recent $1.3 million upgrade.

Slightly south, adjacent to Balcatta Primary School, is Grindleford Reserve. On weekends the Balcatta Etna Football Club draws a big crowd to the park.

The club officially became part of the Soccer Federation of Western Australia in 1978 but the group of friends responsible for setting it up had been kicking the soccer ball together well before this time.

The name Etna derives from the largest volcano in Europe and was seen as an appropriate Sicilian symbol to represent the club’s first members, who originated from Ucria in Sicily’s northeast.

Balcatta’s Seven Mile Bar on Wanneroo Road is a popular pub named in honour of the Balcatta Hotel, which opened in 1898 and was known as the Seven Mile Inn because of its location, seven miles north of the post office.

The hotel was also a stockyard and sawmill before World War II. The site where the Balcatta Hotel used to be is now Big Rock Toyota.

Another local lunchtime hero is Munch Box — serving up what some have dubbed Perth’s best banh mi — on Erindale Road, two doors down from Balcatta’s Little Land — a kid-sized version of the real world where young minds can browse through the little growers’ market, visit the vet or play barista at Busy Beans cafe.

Balcatta is described as family friendly, which is no surprise when looking at the suburb’s dwellings, according to the 2021 census.

Apartments make up just 0.5 per cent of the dwellings, standalone houses about 53 per cent and townhouses 46.5 per cent.

There are nine primary schools within 2km of Balcatta, including three private — St Lawrence Primary School, West Coast Steiner School and St Gerard’s Primary School.

Balcatta Senior High School is in the heart of Balcatta’s residential area and recently underwent a $52 million redevelopment, giving students new facilities.

Inside Centuria Northlands Plaza, along Amelia Street, residents can find Coles, a post office, a butcher, baker and other services, just a few minutes from home. Opposite the plaza, a 7-Eleven fuel station is open 24 hours.

Over the past year, the number of dwellings sold in Balcatta has increased by 23 per cent. The increasingly popular suburb sees houses and units on the market for a mere 10 days before being snapped up.