Bentley

Lifestyle & dining

Bentley's character is shaped heavily by Curtin University, one of the largest campuses in the state, which sits right on the suburb's edge and draws a steady population of students, academics and researchers. This gives the area a practical, low-fuss feel rather than a café-strip one, with much of the day-to-day dining and socialising happening around the university precinct or spilling over into neighbouring East Victoria Park, where Albany Highway's restaurants, bars and coffee spots are only a short drive or ride away.

For residents, this proximity is one of Bentley's quiet strengths: you get the calm of a residential suburb with genuine lifestyle amenity just over the border.

Shopping

Everyday shopping needs are well covered between Bentley and its neighbours. Cannington, just to the south, offers Westfield Carousel, one of Perth's major shopping centres, with full-line department stores, a large fresh food offering and a cinema complex. Closer to home, local shops and services are dotted through Bentley and neighbouring Wilson and St James, making the weekly grocery run straightforward without needing to leave the local area.

Getting around

Bentley's location gives it a real transport advantage. It's roughly seven kilometres from the Perth CBD, an easy commute by car via Albany Highway or the Kwinana Freeway, and Perth Airport is also within comfortable reach, a drawcard for frequent flyers and airport workers alike. Bus routes run through the suburb connecting to Curtin University, Carousel and surrounding train stations, while Cannington and Queens Park train stations on the Armadale line are close by for those wanting a direct rail link into the city.

Schools & families

Bentley Primary School anchors local family life, giving the suburb a genuine community school at its centre, while Al-Hidayah Islamic School provides an independent option for local families. The suburb is also home to the School of Special Educational Needs: Medical and Mental Health, based at Bentley Hospital, reflecting a broader precinct of health and education services that add to the suburb's practical, service-oriented character. For high school and tertiary options, Curtin University's presence means older students and young adults often stay local for further study.

The property market

Bentley's property market has been on a strong run, with house prices climbing 22.5% recently to a median of $790,000, while units and apartments sit at a median of $660,000. Median rent across the suburb is $720 a week, underlining solid rental demand, likely buoyed by the university population and the suburb's proximity to the city.

Current listings show a dwelling mix weighted towards houses (61%), with apartments and units making up 18%, townhouses another 18% and a small 3% of land listings. That spread gives buyers genuine choice, whether they're after a classic house block, a low-maintenance townhouse or an investment-grade apartment, making Bentley a suburb worth watching for both owner-occupiers and investors.