LIVING IN: Northbridge
Population: 1420
Distance from Perth CBD: 1km north
Median House Price: $842,000
Median Unit Price: $490,000
Crime: 3024 offences (2023-24)
Situated minutes from Perth’s city centre this vibrant suburb is a multicultural centre of art, history, food and fashion.
Northbridge is a cultural hub home to some of Perth’s most iconic annual events including the Perth International Arts Festival, Carnival Latino, Perth Food and Wine Festival and the Pride Parade.
Even without an event the area is lively thanks to its buzzing bar and club scene. Local agents say the trendy bars and restaurants offering live music, comedy and DJ sets make Northbridge a “social haven”.
The managing director at Limnios Property Group, James Limnios, said Northbridge was perfect for anyone seeking an “exciting lifestyle”.
“If you like dining out and an exciting lifestyle then Northbridge offers that in spades,” he said.
Northbridge eateries vary from laneway cafes to hole in the wall bars and multistorey pubs such as the Brass Monkey.
The suburb is home to Perth’s official Chinatown centred around Chung Wah Lane. Here you can take your pick between dumplings, bao buns, noodles and more.
Yagan Square, situated between the CBD and Northbridge, opened in 2018 adding to the Italian, Mediterranean and pub-style dining options in the neighbourhood.
For locals in need of a little retail therapy, William Street offers an eclectic mix of vintage fashion stores and high-end boutiques.
The Northbridge Piazza holds free movie nights adding a unique charm to the already social community. It is also common for popular live sporting events to be broadcast here, and for local bands to perform.
On the cusp of Northbridge is the Art Gallery of Western Australia, the State Theatre Centre of WA and the Western Australian Museum Boola Bardip.
The STC, home of the Heath Ledger Theatre, often presents renowned productions by the Black Swan State Theatre Company along with other high-profile dance, music and fashion shows.
The WA Museum hosts events throughout the year attracting locals and visitors alike to unique exhibitions showcasing WA’s history.
Heritage walks from the museum are also available for people to view some of Perth’s oldest nearby architecture.
With a wide variety of backpacker, bed and breakfast and hotel accommodation, Northbridge is ideal for tourists looking to immerse themselves in arts and culture or West Aussies seeking an entertainment-filled staycation.
The suburb was once part of Perth’s CBD and was known by informal names, “North of the Bridge” and “North of the (railway) Line”.
The 0.5sqkm area originally hosted freshwater swamps where the current railway station and railway lines are. Draining of the swamps commenced in the 1860s facilitating the construction of longstanding buildings.
The gold boom of the 1890s saw the construction of hotels for gold prospectors, including The Great Western Hotel — now the Brass Monkey.
Several private schools were established in Northbridge during the late 1800s and early 1900s, including Scotch College in 1897 and Presbyterian Ladies’ College in 1915. These schools have since relocated.
The area became a hub of European immigrants around the time of World War I. This is why the area has a strong historical connection to Greek, Macedonian and Italian communities.
The Greek Orthodox Church of Saints Constantine and Helen on Parker Street in Northbridge was the first Orthodox Church to be built in Perth as a result of fundraising led by the Greek community.
In the 1950s and 60s European migration escalated, changing the culture of the city. It sparked a lifestyle centred around the alfresco. Restaurants, cafes and bars in Northbridge still embrace this outdoor dining style today.
The area split from Perth and was officially gazetted as a suburb in 1982. Separating Northbridge from Perth is the Fremantle and Joondalup railway lines.
Residents can walk from Northbridge to Perth Underground Station in just four minutes along William Street. Or, jump on the free Blue CAT bus if the journey goes beyond Perth’s CBD towards Kings Park or Elizabeth Quay.
The area is a mix of commercial, public and residential properties. When it comes to residential dwellings, apartments make up 86.6 per cent of the landscape according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
This attracts a young market according to Mr Limnios who confirmed the reasonably low median unit price makes it easy for first-homebuyers to enter the housing market given today’s challenging climate.
Mr Limnios believes Northbridge also holds nostalgic importance for young West Aussies often drawing them to the area.
“Northbridge has a special part in the hearts and fabric of West Australians and is probably one of the first places people visit as youngsters for a night on the town,” he said.
The tiny suburb has few resident children but the closest schools for those in the area are Highgate Primary School and Bob Hawke High School.
In Northbridge it takes 14 days for one of the few houses to sell and 12 days for a unit.