Cameron Smart

Beckenham has a very wide variety of both property types, and people. With a wide range of people from different backgrounds, Beckenham is very multicultural. There are also people from all walks of life, including older retirees, investors, renters, first home owners and families. I would say it is a very comfortable suburb with great access to local shopping and public transport, with plenty of room for kids and pets to play safely.

Most of Beckenham features properties on larger type blocks - 600sqm+. Of course there are the smaller Villa type and Unit set ups, and also with an apartment complex being built in Camberwell Street. With these larger blocks comes the opportunity to develop, usually into duplex or triplex blocks (Battle Axe Set Up) but also on the occasion there is the possibility to develop to multi-dwelling complexes.

The R20/60 zoned areas include along Streatham Street, Lena Street and Central Terrace as well as Railway Parade, as well as a few streets along the train line (Camberwell Street, Mona Avenue & Sevenoaks Street).

There are also multiple areas Zoned with R20/25 & R20/35 density, depending on the street and location. Toward the back of Beckenham along the Mills Park Area & Backing to Roe Hwy, the zoning is R17.5 and doesn't allow for subdivision at this stage.

The areas along the Canning River, and between Kenwick Link & Albany Highway also only have the R17.5 zoning, and allow for subdivision of larger lots, only where there is deep sewer connections available.

In terms of shopping close by, there is a huge abundance of shopping, the Bulkplex in Beckenham along William street provides a Kitchen Warehouse, Anaconda, Good Guys and a few other furniture shops. Along the same strip is Freedom, Bedshed, Howards Storage World and a few others.

Then there is the access to Carousel, and all of the facilities that provides with clothes shopping, food court, department stores (Myer, Target, Kmart), grocery (Woolworths & Coles), gaming, sporting, movies (Hoyts) and many, many more.

There are also heaps of parks around Beckenham, with the Mills Park Facilities which include a football oval (Kenwick Football Club), bowling club (Mills Park Bowling Club), tennis courts, 2 cricket pitches/ovals, playground, small bmx track and skate park.

Other parks include the Carmichael / Railway Pde Parkland, Maurie Lyon Reserve (Streatham St), Rochester Reserve (Rochester St), Temby Saint Reserve (Temby St), Woodlupine Brooke (Wickens St & Luna Ave).

It is close enough to be able to get to Curtin University within 15 minutes, as well as Victoria Park Restaurant/Cafe Strip within 15 minutes.

It would be between a 20-25 min drive to Perth City depending on traffic (15.1km).

Public transport is also great within Beckenham, with many bus stops along major streets, and the Beckenham Station along William Street.

There are a few schools close by, with Reheboth Christian College just over the Brixton St bridge in Kenwick. There is also Beckenham Primary along Railway Pde. Other senior schools close by include Sevenoaks Senior School and St Norberts Catholic College in Queens Park

Cannington has many great features, but out of all I believe the best is to be its proximity to the City, and the accessibility to/from the Perth CBD, as well as other major centres such as the Airport, Canning Vale and Fremantle. The major Surrounding Highways (Roe, Albany, Kenwick Link, Nicholson Rd, Leach Highway, Manning Rd) all provide great transport networks to get where ever you need within a relatively short space of time. The public transport also supports reduced travel times to/from the city with 3 train stations locally that could be used (Queens Park, Cannington & Beckenham Stations).

Although I would personally avoid the Train Line South of the River at night time, the day time safety is very adequate. Night times I would rather pay for a taxi than have the risk of being troubled by a bunch of youths. I have travelled the Armadale line at night and have had many safe trips, but there is the occasion (especially is heading out to Northbridge or CBD) where trouble can occur. There are now more train guards, so good to stay in carriages with guards, but not always available. Problematic stations I would avoid at night include Burswood, Vic Park ,Carlisle, Oats St, Cannington, Queens Park, Cannington & Beckenham. Welshpool isnt too bad, as there is not many houses close by (mostly industrial) there is rarely trouble close by.

The suburb itself features many cul-de-sacs and safe, quiet streets, especially in the boundaries of Hamilton to South to Wharf, And Albany Highway East to Sevenoaks St.

Carousel provides a wealth of shopping including clothing, electrical, convenience, food shopping, markets, sporting, gaming, department stores, food court, phone & internet, news agencies, cinemas & much much more. With Carousel providing an abundance of shoppers daily, the local surrounds also include many Commercial Shopping that is attractive to all types of people. With things like Car, Boat, Caravan, Camping Stores, Kitchen, Bathroom, Renovation, Garden, Workout Gear, Tyre Fitting, Wreckers, Gas Plumbing & Electrical Stores, Gyms, Cannington LeisurePlex, Baby Stores, Pet Stores, Pool/Spa Shops and a massive abundance of others.

Pretty much, if there is a shop you need, it is bound to be found in or around Cannington within 5km.

Overall it is a great suburb, with great rental returns for investors, with many tenants wanting to live in a location close to the city with easy access, public transport and local favilities

Queens Park is definitely a changed suburb of years gone past. The Quattro development has massively overhauled the image and presentation of the suburb, with some stunning homes and estate style living.

The air craft noise seems to be an issue with most people, but when you are living 10kms from the city, with great access and great facilities and amenities, it presents an unbelievable value for money. With the rental market being really strong, it makes great for first home buyers, investors and renters all looking for their piece of the pie close to the city for an affordable price.

The transport facilities are great, with Queens Park Train Station, Cannington Train Station and numerous bus routes to and from the city and around Carousel making the suburb super accessible. As with a lot of night time public transport, I would personally avoid Busses & Trains at night, and take the safer option of a cab or driving to avoid any trouble makers - as sad as that is, I would rather not have to deal with any confrontations.

Overall I believe the people I have helped to buy and sell property in Queens Park, in that it is safe, family oriented suburb great for first home buyers, renters and investors - especially those trying to stick to a particular budget, but also wanting great facilities and accessibility to the city or airport.