'Gob-smacked by its beauty': How Perth's tiny Peppermint Grove punches above its weight

Nestled on the north bank of the Swan River at Freshwater Bay, Peppermint Grove is arguably Perth’s most desirable suburb.

The beautifully refurbished character homes and architecturally designed new homes are top of the wish list for Perth’s high-flying executives, particularly those from out of town who quickly notice the suburb punches well above its weight.

Small and sophisticated

“There are only a few streets but it’s picture-perfect,” says local Craig Skead, director at the Boatshed, the western suburbs’ premium fresh food market that sits on the border between Peppermint Grove and Cottesloe.

“It’s always been a sought-after suburb. It’s perfectly positioned in between the river and the sea, it’s so simple to go to both.”

What sets it apart from other riverside suburbs are the large blocks which tend to tip over 1000 square metres and the generous set-backs, which Skead believes give the suburb a more “old-school” feel.

“Tourists are gob-smacked by its beauty,” he says. “Peppermint Grove has the charm of being small and friendly and everybody knows everybody. It’s isolated enough to be an easy suburb to live in, but also close enough to all the amenities of Cottesloe with Napoleon, Jarrad and Station streets all within walking distance.”

The parkland and yacht club fronting Freshwater Bay are the suburb’s best-loved assets. Freshwater Cafe has prime position facing north over Keanes Point Reserve. The architect-designed building is clad in ironbark to mimic the surrounding grey trunks of established peppermint trees and the broad verandah is the perfect spot for a puppy-friendly long lunch.

Trend-setting suburb

Skead has lived in the suburb for 13 years, and been at the helm of the Boatshed for 20 years, a position that gives him a front-row view to the ebb and flow of local tastes and talents.

Brimming with history, the Boatshed is housed in the boat-building facility that gave birth to Australia II, the yacht that went on to win the 1983 America’s Cup, ending a record 132-year winning streak held by the New York Yacht Club.

Maintaining that competitive tradition, the Boatshed is set to open up Western Australia’s first vegetable butchery, taking inspiration from London’s luxury department store Harrods which initiated the concept late in 2018.

“With more and more demand for non-meat lines we’re opening a vegetable butchery which will prepare and deliver ready-made vegetarian options that you can’t buy anywhere else,” says Skead.

“The people in this area are very well-travelled, they know about a lot of different cultures and foods so we cater to the demographic by carrying some fairly special lines.”

Top home in the area

You can host a crowd at this three-storey home which has 1100 square metres of living space plus a pool and outdoor kitchen.

Highlights include a sports bar, wine cellar, home theatre, a striking kitchen and river views from the upper levels.

It has a $12 million price guide and is listed with Jody Fewster of Ray White Peppermint Grove.