Joondanna

Lifestyle & dining

Joondanna doesn't have a bustling high street of its own, which is exactly why residents love its location — the cafes, bars and restaurants of Mount Hawthorn's Scarborough Beach Road strip are a short stroll or drive away, as is the equally popular Main Street precinct in nearby Osborne Park. It's a suburb that borrows its buzz from its neighbours while staying quiet and residential itself, which suits people who want lock-up-and-leave convenience without living on top of the action.

The surrounding area's mix of old-school delis, boutique fitness studios and long-running family bakeries gives the wider pocket a genuine, lived-in character that newer estates further out struggle to replicate.

Getting around

Joondanna's location just off major routes like Scarborough Beach Road and close to the Mitchell Freeway makes the CBD commute straightforward, typically well under 15 minutes by car outside peak times. Glendalough train station, on the Joondalup line, is within easy reach for residents who prefer to leave the car at home, offering a direct rail link into Perth city.

Bus services along the area's main roads connect through to Mount Hawthorn, Tuart Hill and the Stirling and Glendalough precincts, while the suburb's flat, grid-like streets make it popular with cyclists and walkers heading toward the cafes and parks of the inner north.

Schools & families

St Denis School serves the local community and is a drawcard for families wanting a nearby Catholic primary option, while the suburb's proximity to the well-regarded schools of Mount Hawthorn, Coolbinia and North Perth widens the choice considerably for those willing to travel a few minutes further. The suburb's mix of solid brick-and-tile family homes and quiet side streets makes it a popular choice for parents wanting space without leaving the inner city ring.

Housing & architecture

Character is the defining feature of Joondanna's housing stock — think 1950s and 60s brick bungalows, some beautifully restored, sitting alongside newer townhouse developments and the occasional infill apartment block. Current listings reflect that mix, with houses making up 47% of stock, townhouses 29%, apartments and units 20%, and vacant land making up the remaining 4%, giving buyers a genuine choice between a renovator's original block and a low-maintenance modern build.

This blend appeals to a broad cross-section of buyers, from those chasing a classic quarter-acre character home to downsizers and investors after something more compact and manageable.

The property market

Joondanna's property market has had a standout run, with the median house price now sitting at $1.15 million after growth of 29.2% — a figure that places it firmly among the stronger performers in Perth's inner north. Units and townhouses offer a considerably more accessible entry point, with a median of $688,000, making the suburb workable for a wider range of budgets than the house figures alone might suggest.

Renters can expect to pay a median of $850 per week, reflecting solid demand from tenants keen to be close to the city without paying CBD prices. With its mix of dwelling types and consistently strong buyer interest, Joondanna has increasingly become a suburb where both owner-occupiers and investors are competing for the same well-located stock.

Parks & recreation

Green space is one of Joondanna's quieter strengths, with local parks and ovals scattered through the suburb providing space for weekend sport, dog walks and family picnics. Its position between Mount Hawthorn and Coolbinia also puts residents within easy reach of some of the inner north's better-known recreational strips, including the golf courses and bowling greens that dot this part of Perth, without the suburb itself feeling crowded or overdeveloped.