In the 1840s, Crown Grants were issued in Balcatta, mainly to Southern European immigrants, and these early settlers recognised that the fertile land and abundance of water suited market gardens. Through to the 1960s, Balcatta’s land was therefore predominantly filled with an assortment of vegetables including cauliflowers, cabbages, silverbeet, Brussels sprouts and pumpkins.
In the 60s and 70s, industries moved into the area, attracting workers who began to establish homes to be close to employment. And so began the area’s urbanisation. Many of these new residents were of Italian and Macedonian descent, which was reflected in their home designs featuring Romanesque columns, lion statues, and intricate masonry. The differing styles and expressive facades have all stood the test of time, with some now sitting alongside modern constructions, adding character and an attractive dynamic to Balcatta’s streetscapes and lively neighbourhoods.
Balcatta remains one of the largest suburbs in the North metropolitan area, and to this day continues to evolve and blossom.
Balcatta is as central as it gets! #
Now fully established, Balcatta residents truly benefit from its central location, which provides immediate access to all of life’s necessities and to every lifestyle need. You really can’t fault the suburb’s situation, which is equidistant to the coast and to the City of Perth.
Major roads envelop Balcatta, with Reid Highway on the Northern boundary, Karrinyup Road on the Southern boundary, Mitchell Freeway to the West, and Wanneroo Road to the East. You can literally access major routes within minutes.
For those who prefer not to drive, public transport is readily available with regular Transperth bus services operating throughout Balcatta and beyond. It is also easy to jump on a bus to be taken to a train station in Stirling, Warwick or Glendalough.
Work and Play in Balcatta #
The Balcatta industrial area occupies the northern portion of the suburb and is a significant retail, office, wholesale and light industry employment centre for the region. Locals therefore don’t need to go far to work, but given Balcatta’s location near other established suburbs, and the readily accessible transport routes, workplaces are easily reachable.
For downtime, recreation choices are plentiful in Balcatta, which is recognised as a “green suburb”. It has a total of 52ha of parks and reserves, which includes 32 local open spaces and six district open spaces!
The largest park in the area is Rickman Delawney Reserve where visitors can enjoy the picnic and barbecue areas, the Guilfoyle Community Playspace, and tennis and basketball courts.
Grindleford Reserve is home to the Balcatta Etna Football Club, which is named after the largest volcano in Europe – an appropriate Sicilian symbol to represent the club’s first members who originated from Sicily’s Northeast. These grounds are very handy for residents of Parcel Property’s Mosaic Estate which is situated next door! Macedonia Park, home to the Stirling Macedonia Football Club, is on the other side of Mosaic, so local football (or soccer) fans are spoilt for choice!
If cricket is more your thing, summer weekends can be spent around the oval at Richard Guelfi Field and Jones Paskin Reserve cheering on the Balcatta Cricket Club players.
Shopping options galore in Balcatta #
From Bakers Delight to Bunnings, every single popular store is within minutes for those living in Balcatta.
Roselea Shopping Centre recently opened in Balcatta and is home to Woolworths, BWS, a selection of specialty stores and medical service providers. Situated in the southern end of Mosaic Estate, locals can easily walk there, or there’s plenty of parking for those who don’t want to carry lots of shopping home. Centuria Northlands Plaza, Stirling Central Shopping Centre, Centuria Gwelup, Amelia Heights Shopping Centre, Warwick Grove, and Stirling IGA are all close by too!
If you’re looking for the big brands, it is an approximate five-minute drive to Karrinyup Shopping Centre or Westfield Innaloo. Both these huge centres offer department stores and the full range of specialty stores, boutiques and services.
Peppered right along Erindale Road and Balcatta Road is a wide assortment of places to buy everything from a car to carpet, taps to tents. Balcatta Vet24, which, as the name suggests, is open 24 hours a day, is also situated in this area, with Karrinyup Small Animal Hospital nearby.
Of course, all Balcatta home lovers and renovators enjoy the close proximity to Bunnings in Balcatta or Mirrabooka. Sausage sizzle, anyone?
Balcatta’s bright minds #
There are nine primary schools within 2km of Balcatta including three private – St Lawrence Primary School, West Coast Steiner School and St Gerard’s Primary School. Four of these primary schools are within the immediate catchment area – Balcatta, West Balcatta, Takari, and St Lawrence Primary Schools.
Balcatta Senior High School is in the heart of Balcatta’s residential area and recently underwent a $52 million redevelopment to provide students with contemporary new facilities.
Families with younger children have a choice of 20 childcare services in the Balcatta area and six specialise in kindergarten and preschool programs – Busy Bees, Wanslea, Discovery, Nido, Treasured Moments, and Wonder Stars.
