Welcome to the Western Suburbs Regional Organisation of Councils Population Forecasts

The Western Suburbs Regional Organisation of Council (WESROC) includes six Councils located in Perth's western suburbs. They comprise the Town of Claremont, the Town of Cottesloe, the Town of Mosman Park, the City of Nedlands, the Shire of Peppermint Grove and the City of Subiaco. The area covered by the Councils stretches from Subiaco about two kilometres west of the Perth GPO to coastal areas in Cottesloe and Mosman Park, around 11 kilometres west of the Perth GPO. The WESROC area is a predominantly residential area, with some commercial, industrial, institutional and military areas. The WESROC area encompasses a total land area of about 42 square kilometres, including river and ocean foreshores and parklands. European settlement dates from 1830, with land used mainly for farming and market gardening. Population was minimal until the 1850s. Residential growth took place in the 1880s and 1890s, spurred by the opening of the Perth-Fremantle railway line, the gold rush in Kalgoorlie and industrial growth. Significant development occurred in the early 1900s, particularly during the 1910s and 1920s. Generally areas around the Perth-Fremantle railway line are the oldest areas of settlement with more distant areas experiencing residential development in later times. Areas such as Mount Claremont have grown significantly in the last 20 years or so. The population of the WESROC area was relatively stable between 1991 and 1996, and then increased slightly from about 60,000 in 1996 to nearly 63,000 in 2006. Most of this growth was between 2001 and 2006, primarily in the City of Subiaco at Subi Centro. The WESROC area is a significant employment area; it contained around 45,000 jobs in 2006 (compared to 30,000 resident workers). Almost half of the jobs in the area in 2006 were in the Health Care and Social Assistance and Education and Training sectors. Facilities such as the University of Western Australia, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Graylands Hospital provide significant numbers of jobs. In addition a large number of Perth’s elite secondary schools are located in the WESROC area with many of these providing boarding accommodation. Around 39% of the WESROC area’s resident workers work in the WESROC area, with 25% commuting to the City of Perth for employment.

In general terms, the WESROC area attracts a family aged population to most areas. This includes reasonable numbers of new residents from overseas. The area includes many of Perth’s most desirable residential areas with good access to central Perth as well highly sought after beach and riverside localities. These areas attract mature families – that is families with parents in their 30s and 40s with children generally aged from 5-14. Most areas experience a net loss of young adults. These are home leavers and new household formers who traditionally are not in a financial position to remain in the area nor are there new dwelling opportunities provided to enable them to stay. Many move to newer areas such as Stirling. The other major housing market is young adults and students. These markets are typically attracted to areas near the University of Western Australia, or where medium density rental stock is available. This is notable in areas such as central Subiaco and the northern areas of Nedlands. Many students move to this area while attending university and leave the area after finishing their studies.

It is generally assumed that most of these broad patterns will continue into the future, most notably a high level of demand for living in the area which generally cannot be fully catered for due to constraints in providing new residential dwelling stock. The direct result of this is some outflow of young adults to areas where more new housing opportunities are being provided, chiefly to the north.

While attracting generally similar housing markets, there are some important distinctions in the small areas of the WESROC area. The Subiaco and Nedlands (North) areas are influenced by the main campus of the University of Western Australia and also the development of significant numbers of new higher density dwellings over the forecast period. The remaining areas are generally expected to attract a mature family age structure consistent with their historic role and function. This variation of function and role of the small areas in the area means that population outcomes differ accordingly.

There are also differences in the supply of residential property within the WESROC area which will also have a major influence in structuring different population and household futures over the forecast period. The most significant new residential opportunities have been identified in the Stirling Highway corridor affecting the Nedlands and Claremont areas as well as the Subi Centro area. Initiatives to encourage increased residential densities in these areas are expected to result in significant numbers of dwellings. Demand could be expected to come from a range of markets including students, young working adults and empty nesters. Other areas more distant from major transport routes and central Perth are expected to have far lower numbers of additional dwelling stock in the forecast period.