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Subiaco ranked most liveable in Australia according to social research survey by Place Score

Source: The West Australian

Subiaco resident Lily Wallis who lives in Subiaco which a survey has found is the most liveable place in Australia.
Subiaco resident Lily Wallis who lives in Subiaco which a survey has found is the most liveable place in Australia. Credit: Iain Gillespie/ Iain Gillespie

A survey of more than 26,000 people across the country by a researcher Place Score, found Subiaco residents rate their community at 81 on the liveability index, compared with the national average of 67.

Other inner-city Perth neighbourhoods also performed strongly on the national stage, with Vincent and Cambridge ranking fourth and seventh on the liveability ladder.

The connectivity of the neighbourhood to other areas, as well as the amenities provided by shops, cafes, restaurants and services, were all valued by WA’s top three communities.

The self-reporting survey put Fremantle fourth on the WA list, with residents praising its natural environment and connectivity to amenities and other hubs while Melville was in fifth place, with residents happy about its ease of driving and parking and its strong sense of personal safety.

Place Score founder Kylie Legge said the results show inner-city, high-amenity, mixed-density environments with established landscapes are considered the most liveable.

And while many communities have been locked in a fierce battle with developers, the research suggests density is good. Australia’s top 10 densest LGAs experience eight per cent better liveability than the national average.

Kylie Legge said the research presents a new vision for what Perth residents want.
Kylie Legge said the research presents a new vision for what Perth residents want. Credit: supplied

Ms Legge said the research presents a new vision for what Perth citizens value most, with dreams of a quarter-acre block among the gum trees now being replaced by the pursuit of a lifestyle defined by accessibility, convenience and social connections.

She said WA’s more popular areas – among the 58 local government areas included in the survey – were older, well-established suburbs with plenty of mature trees.

“New suburbs can’t compete with up more than 100 years worth of investment and amenity in the older suburbs,” she said.

Survey results from the WA respondents show we put the highest value on an area’s connectivity, its quality and quantity of public space and the ease of driving and parking in the suburb.

More than anywhere else in Australia, WA survey respondents found landscaping and the natural elements of a suburb were important – with its 52 per cent support six per cent higher than the national average.

The State of WA was deemed the third most liveable state, tied with New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

Subiaco resident Lily Wallis (pictured main) praised the suburb’s convenient lifestyle.

Not only were shops, supermarkets, a hospital, health services and a train station at her doorstep but her apartment at the OneSubiaco complex overlooked King’s Park.

Both the river and city were five minutes away, and the beach was a 15-minute drive.

“Everything is so accessible and for all ages,” she said.

“The children’s hospital is close by and I know a lot of the older residents appreciate having so many health services close by.”

She enjoyed the vibrancy of seeing people dine at Subiaco restaurants every evening and enjoyed some quieter moments at small cafes tucked away in the side streets.

Paul Blackburne (Executive Chairman, BPG) at the newly completed ONE Subiaco development
Paul Blackburne (Executive Chairman, BPG) at the newly completed ONE Subiaco development Credit: Andrew Ritchie/The West Australian

Developer Paul Blackburne, who developed the OneSubiaco apartment tower, said about half of WA’s population enjoyed the isolation of a suburban home, and the other half enjoyed the vibrancy of medium and high-density living.

But at present, only ten per cent of the population live in an apartment.

“The previously broken planning system meant that despite massive demand has not been able to be met,” he said.

He expected the proportion of apartment dwellers would eventually increase to half the population.

“Most people are scared of the idea of getting old in a quiet and lonely old house they can no longer maintain,” he said.

“The lack of good quality apartments in the right locations has meant many people were doomed to life of difficulty and relative isolation in large suburban homes.”

Top ten most liveable LGA’s in Australia

  1. WA – Subiaco
  2. NSW – Lane Cove
  3. NSW – Hunters Hill
  4. VIC – Boroondara
  5. VIC – Surf Coast
  6. WA – Vincent
  7. NSW – North Sydney
  8. WA – Cambridge
  9. VIC – Port Phillip
  10. QLD – Noosa

Top five most liveable LGA’s in Perth

  1. Subiaco
  2. Vincent
  3. Cambridge
  4. Fremantle
  5. Melville