property
East Perth: An Overlooked Suburb on the Cusp of Rezoning
City planners have scheduled a rezoning vote that could unlock former warehouse blocks near Claisebrook Cove for apartment projects.
How we reported this
East Perth industrial pockets along Claisebrook Road now sit one council vote away from mixed-use zoning that would allow towers up to 12 storeys.
The shift arrives as the City of Perth records its strongest June quarter since 2022, with 184 development applications lodged in the CBD fringe alone. Investors who missed the 2021-2023 East Perth lift are circling again because the new rules would cut approval times by roughly half.
Two sites already flagged for change sit within 400 metres of the Perth Cultural Centre and the eastern end of Murray Street Mall. Both blocks currently carry light-industrial ratings that restrict residential height to four storeys; the draft scheme would lift that cap and remove mandatory parking minimums.
Price signals and buyer activity
CoreLogic data released this week shows the median unit price in East Perth reached $635,000 on 8 July 2026, a 9 per cent rise from the same date last year. Three warehouse conversions on Wittenoom Street sold in the past month above $780,000 each, all to interstate buyers who cited the upcoming rezoning map on the City of Perth website.
Local agents note that settlement volumes in the 6004 postcode have climbed 22 per cent year-on-year, driven by first-home buyer grants that still apply inside the redevelopment boundary until December 2026.
Practical moves before the vote
Buyers should check the City of Perth planning portal for the exact boundary of the proposed R-AC3 coding before lodging offers. Early contracts can include a rezoning contingency clause that lets purchasers walk away without penalty if the August council meeting rejects the scheme.
Those already holding land inside the affected blocks are advised to lodge pre-lodgement applications with the Western Australian Planning Commission this month to lock in current height limits should the vote pass.
This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.