Suburb Spotlight: Mount Lawley 6050
Mount Lawley is a vibrant and cosmopolitan suburb uniquely situated across both the City of Vincent AND in the City of Stirling local council areas. Mount Lawley is an historic suburb that boasts a wealth of beautiful heritage properties that are steeped in local history and represent an essential part of the local architectural landscape. Nearby are the spacious and well-planned suburbs of Coolbinia and Menora with large blocks with large family homes.
Mount Lawley oozes Heritage and Charm
Many notable heritage sites exist throughout the neighbourhood such as the St Patrick’s Anglican Church, the iconic Astor Theatre and for those that love art deco design, there are several outstanding examples. These include the Beaucott Building and the Beaufort St commercial precinct.
In fact, Mt Lawley features many excellent examples of housing from the early 1900’s including architectural styles such as the Federation Bungalow, Queen Anne and Californian Bungalows.
Mount Lawley Parks and Recreation
Situated close to the beautiful Swan River, Mount Lawley boasts an abundance of green spaces, offering locals plenty of opportunities to appreciate nature and relax outdoors. Banks Reserve is one such area of greenery that sits on the banks of the iconic Swan River and provides a great place for people to take a stroll or have a picnic with family and friends.
A foodies paradise and coffee culture
Mount Lawley has also become famous amongst foodies for its range of delicious eateries. From fine dining to an abundance of casual cafes, there’s something here to suit every taste bud. Notable venues include Mary Street Bakery (although technically based in Highgate, it is a major player in the Beaufort St strip so Mt Lawley is claiming it) for brunch, Ischia for authentic italian pizza and pasta and the legendary Thai Orchid for authentic thai food are just a few.
Easy access to everything in Perth – the best of all worlds
Living in Mount Lawley is all about embracing the lively atmosphere while appreciating its unique heritage. Residents can take advantage of all that this vibrant neighbourhood has to offer while remaining connected to central Perth via bus lines through William Street or Beaufort Street. With its iconic architecture, vibrant cultural scene and easy access to public transport, it’s no wonder why Mount Lawley continues to attract young professionals looking for an urban lifestyle within reach of nature too!
Renovating in Mount Lawley
When looking to renovate a heritage home in Mt Lawley, it is important to be mindful of the property’s age and its original design integrity. Renovations should pay homage to the history of the building while providing modern features and comforts that suit the owner’s individual needs. With careful planning, renovations can bring out the unique beauty of these historic properties while preserving their character for future generations.
Planning your heritage Mt Lawley Renovation
Before beginning any renovation work, detailed plans and information must be provided in order for approval to be granted by either the City of Vincent or City of Stirling council, depending on what street you are in. Choosing materials that match existing onsite designs will ensure a cohesive appearance such as timber windows and keeping the front profile similar to the existing streetscape. A little more freedom in design can be exercised at the rear of the home if you are adding an extension at the rear, but make sure you deal with a designer or builder that understands this to avoid problems with council approvals.
City of Stirling Heritage Protection Area
If you are in a street that is within a defined heritage protection area in the City of Stirling, your plans will be assessed by a Heritage Officer at the council. This policy and heritage focussed approach is in place primarily to protect the streetscape and to ensure that the area retains its heritage look and feel for the generations to come.
The streets within the protection zone are bounded by Walcott St, Railway Parade, Central Avenue, the rear boundary lots on the north-western side of North St, the edge of Hamer Park, Bradford St and Alexander Drive. Find out more by referring to the City of Stirling Character Retention Guidelines here.
Development and building approval in the Heritage zone
It is important to understand that a development application is required for all demolitions, renovations, extensions and new buildings on heritage listed properties or properties in the Heritage Protection Area. A building permit is required for all structural work and demolition or building work cannot start until development approval is granted.
Amerex specialises in Mount Lawley heritage home renovations
Amerex have been renovating homes in the Mt Lawley area since 1987. We know and understand the council requirements and we understand the historical building techniques used in these homes and what is required to bring them up to today’s modern standards while remaining sensitive to the heritage elements that make these homes so special.
Amerex provide a complete end-to-end service, from designing your heritage renovation, thru to handover at the end. Amerex are standing by to help you modernise your Mount Lawley home in style.
If you are interested in kicking off a large renovation or extension project in Mount Lawley, Coolbina or Menora (or neighbouring suburbs), we are standing by to help. Amerex are Perth’s leading home renovation company with a stack of industry awards including the WINNER of the WA HIA Professional Small Builder/Renovator of the Year a Western Australian record number of 5 times.
We live and breathe home renovations and are here to help you.