Mount Hawthorn could soon be competing with Subiaco and other near-city suburbs as a hub for businesses and as a lifestyle destination for young families.
Mount Hawthorn could soon be competing with Subiaco and other near-city suburbs as a hub for businesses and as a lifestyle destination for young families.
The suburb’s demographics have changed in the past couple of years, according to Town of Vincent Mayor Nick Catania, with more young families and young professionals moving in.
“The area is becoming increasingly popular, there is a high number of families moving in and we are actually trying to increase the size of day care centres because of that,” he told WA Business News.
The number of developments that include office space is also growing. There are currently three mixed-use developments under way in the area and three to four other developments being discussed.
A two-storey mixed-use development which will include 1,000 square metres of office space is currently under construction on the corner of Oxford Street and Scarborough Beach Road. Developed by Building Solutions, its leasing is managed by Jones Lang & Lasalle.
“It is a boutique type of development. We have had quite a bit of interest for the office floor from tenants looking to relocate from West Perth and the CBD,” Jones Lang & Lasalle manager of WA leasing Sean Milentis said.
He said the amenities now available in Mount Hawthorn have made it a prime alternative to the CBD’s rising office rents.
There are also two mixed-use developments under way on 84-90 Scarborough Beach Road developed by Crouch Developments and on 190 Scarborough Beach Road, developed by Keytown Constructions.
According to Mr Milentis, new developments in the area are poised to attract more boutique eateries too.
High-end restaurants have recently moved in to Mount Hawthorn with the opening last year of the Italian restaurant Divido on Scarborough Beach Road and the tapas style Japanese restaurant Ha Lu on Oxford Street.
Evoke Development has put in an application to council to build a small bar on the corner of Scarborough Beach Road and Coogee Street, above the houseware shop.
“Over 30 locals wrote to the council to support our application…the wine bar will fill the gap for the 25-plus demographic who just want a place to relax and have a glass of wine close to where they live,” director of Evoke Developments Steve Kinchin said.
The improvement of the Mount Hawthorn “lifestyle” started with the upgrade of the local shopping centre The Mezz, by Hawaiian in late 2006.
The refitted shopping centre includes cafes, restaurants, specialty food-purveyors and upper end fashion stores, which have contributed to give the suburb a retail and cafe precinct feel.
The Town of Vincent is currently improving the Scarborough Beach Road strip of Mount Hawthorn with $500,000 invested in fencing, underground lighting and tree planting.