Guildford.

Flanked by the Swan and Helena rivers, Guildford is one of Perth’s oldest suburbs, dating back to 1827, and classified as a historic town by the National Trust of Australia (WA). Deemed the gateway to the Swan Valley, WA’s oldest wine region, Guildford has plenty of attractions, including antique shops, specialty stores, the Garrick Theatre Club, the Academy of Taxidermy museum, and beautiful parks and walking trails.

Stirling Square park is nestled in the heart of Guildford and is home to dozens of sugar gum trees, the Gothic Revival St Matthew’s Church, the Guildford War Memorial and monthly weekend markets. This popular park is surrounded by historic homes, a 19th-century colonial gaol, a courthouse and the Swan Valley Visitor Centre.

Like any thriving tourist precinct, Guildford has many outstanding dining options lining James Street and Terrace Road. The restored Guildford Hotel, Rose and Crown Hotel, Padbury’s Café Restaurant, Mimmo’s Gourmet Gelato and Alfred’s Kitchen, Perth’s longest-standing roadside hamburger joint, are of particular note.

Brimming with historic charm, Guildford’s population of 2,000 invested in this pretty neighbourhood for the village lifestyle, median property price tag of $800,000 and convenient transport links to Perth, 13 kilometres away by road, bus or train. This charming suburb is also home to Guildford Grammar, a co-educational Anglican school with boarding facilities on one of the most spectacular campuses in the metropolitan area.