Churchlands Green Estate – Complete Guide

Churchlands Green is a premium residential estate located in the suburb of Churchlands, approximately 8 kilometres north-west of the Perth CBD. Developed on the former Edith Cowan University (ECU) Churchlands campus, the estate blends modern housing, strong educational connections, generous public open space, and high-quality design in one of Perth’s most tightly held suburbs.

A typical contemporary family home within the Churchlands Green estate. Photo credit: realestate.com.au

Widely regarded as one of the most successful university-to-residential redevelopments in Western Australia, Churchlands Green has become a sought-after location for families, professionals, and downsizers alike.

Churchlands Green – At a Glance

• Suburb: Churchlands

• Local government: City of Stirling

• Estate size: ~20 hectares (50 acres)

• Total dwellings: ~305

• Housing mix: Houses, apartments, townhouses

• Development period: ~2006 to 2015

• Former land use: Edith Cowan University Churchlands Campus
  

A Brief History of the Site

The land that now forms Churchlands Green has an educational history spanning more than a century. Its origins can be traced back to the Claremont Teachers College, established in 1902 – Western Australia’s first tertiary teaching institution.

In the 1950s, teacher training expanded to Churchlands, with college buildings established on land that previously included police horse stables and remnants of early Herdsman Lake subdivision planning. Over time, the site evolved into the Churchlands Teachers College, later becoming part of the Western Australian College of Advanced Education (WACAE).

Aerial view of the Western Australian College of Advanced Education (WACAE) Churchlands Campus, 1986. Photo credit: flickr.com

In 1991, WACAE was granted university status and renamed Edith Cowan University (ECU). The Churchlands campus served as ECU’s headquarters for many years before the university announced a campus consolidation strategy in the late 1990s.

By the early 2000s, the land was rezoned from university use to residential, setting the stage for the development of Churchlands Green.

Residential Development

The redevelopment of the 20-hectare site was managed by NS Projects (now Bridge42), with lots sold through Time Conti Sheffield. The vision was to create a high-quality residential estate that respected the site’s academic past while delivering contemporary, low-maintenance living.

The original Churchlands Green sales office on Alumni Terrace, January 2010. Photo credit: Google Maps.

Construction activity on the ground began in 2006, with housing development accelerating from around 2008. By 2015, the estate was essentially complete.

The project is widely considered a success, with ECU reportedly generating significantly more revenue from the redevelopment than the original development cost.

Aerial shot of the Churchlands Green estate in progress (May 2011) showing the location of the sales office. Photo credit: web.archive.org

Housing Types and Layout

Churchlands Green features a diverse mix of dwelling types, including:

• 257 houses

• 36 apartments

• 12 townhouses

• 305 dwellings in total
  

The estate is characterised by:

• Rear-lane access and rear garages for most homes

• Narrower frontages and pedestrian-friendly streets

• Consistent design guidelines to maintain streetscape quality

• Lot sizes generally ranging from ~230 m² to ~600 m²

Alumni Terrace, Churchlands Green – a typical streetscape showing the estate’s modern homes and clean, walkable layout, January 2025.

This layout has helped create a neighbourhood that feels compact, walkable, and cohesive, while still offering a variety of housing options.

Street Names and Estate Identity

Street and laneway names within Churchlands Green largely reflect the estate’s natural and academic influences.

Many streets are named after native Australian flora, including Honeypot Way, Grasstree Way, Paperheath Parade, and Lacebark Road. Others reference the site’s academic history, such as University Avenue, Campus Way, and Alumni Terrace.

University Avenue – a street name reflecting Churchlands Green’s academic past.

Notable Properties in Churchlands Green While Churchlands Green is known for consistent design and high-quality homes throughout, a small number of properties stand out due to their history, scale, or significance within the estate.

5 Appleberry Street – A rare restoration

5 Appleberry Street is one of the most remarkable homes in Churchlands Green due to a major fire in 2020 that destroyed much of the rear of the house after a gas pipe was struck during plumbing works. The blaze severely damaged the kitchen, living and dining areas, alfresco space, laundry, and garage.

Fire damage in the downstairs living and kitchen area, taken in 2023. Photo credit: realestate.com.au

After years of insurance-related delays, the property was sold in late 2023 as a restoration project. By early 2025, the new owners had completed a comprehensive rebuild, effectively creating one of the newest homes in the estate. Today, the property stands as a striking example of renewal and resilience, and is widely regarded as one of the most significant individual projects undertaken in Churchlands Green.

A fully restored 5 Appleberry Street, Churchlands, 2025. Photo credit: realestate.com.au

47 Alumni Terrace - Former MSWA Lottery Home

47 Alumni Terrace gained prominence as a 2014 MSWA Lottery Home, designed and built by luxury builder Webb & Brown-Neaves. The residence showcases the level of craftsmanship and finish typical of MSWA showcase homes, with contemporary architecture, natural materials, and generous proportions across two levels. Its location within walking distance of Edith Cowan Reserve, schools, and Herdsman Lake further highlights why it was selected as a flagship home for the estate.

47 Alumni Terrace, Churchlands. Photo credit: Edison McGrath

5 Honeypot Way - Record-setting sale 5 Honeypot Way holds the record for the highest recorded house sale in Churchlands Green, selling in January 2025 for $2.75 million.

Set on a generous block and designed over two levels, the home features expansive living areas, high ceilings, and a strong indoor–outdoor connection. Its sale reinforced Churchlands Green’s position as one of the most premium residential estates in the suburb.

5 Honeypot Way, Churchlands. Photo credit: realestate.com.au

Stone Masonry and Design Quality

One of the most distinctive visual elements of Churchlands Green is the extensive stone masonry featured throughout the estate.

Beginning in 2007, Stonecivil undertook the construction of stone retaining walls, piers, capping, and landscape features using natural stone sourced from Toodyay. These elements are visible along Pearson Street, throughout the estate’s boundaries, and within key landscape zones.

Stonecivil's stone masonry work along Pearson Street in Churchlands, 2010.

The quality and consistency of this stonework contribute significantly to the estate’s premium feel and long-term durability. Edith Cowan Reserve

At the heart of Churchlands Green is Edith Cowan Reserve, the estate’s main public open space and social focal point. Located at the intersection of University Avenue and Alumni Terrace, the reserve was officially opened in October 2010.

Basketball court at Edith Cowan Reserve, June 2010.

The reserve includes:

• Children’s playground

• Walking and fitness paths

• Outdoor fitness equipment

• Basketball court

• Half-size football oval

• Barbecue and picnic facilities

• Mature trees and shaded lawns

• An amphitheatre and academic-inspired sculptures

The reuse of the former campus amphitheatre is a defining feature, preserving a tangible link to the site’s educational past while providing a flexible space for community events.

The Campus Amphitheatre located at Edith Cowan Reserve, November 2024.

Nesting Fields One of the most unique public artworks in Edith Cowan Reserve is the series of sculptural towers known as Nesting Fields.

Commissioned as part of the redevelopment of the former ECU campus, these steel sculptures were created in 2007 by artist Lorenna Grant. They were designed to combine art with environmental purpose – acting both as striking visual landmarks and as functional nesting structures for local wildlife.

Each tower contains specially designed hollows intended for species such as Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoos, Boobook and Barn Owls, Corellas, Galahs, and native bats. The bats in particular play an important ecological role, with a single bat capable of eating around 1,000 mosquitoes per night.

Nesting Fields sculpture in Edith Cowan Reserve – a steel tower designed to provide nesting spaces for local birds and bats while serving as public art, November 2025.

The concept behind Nesting Fields was to create sculpture that “gives back” – generating more ecological benefit than it consumes. Today, the towers stand as a symbol of how Churchlands Green and Edith Cowan Reserve blend urban living with environmental care, making them one of the most distinctive and meaningful features of the estate. Churchlands Bushland

The Churchlands Bushland sits along the north-western edge of the estate and covers approximately 5 hectares. It provides an important ecological link between Herdsman Lake and Bold Park.

A Forest Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo in the Churchlands Bushland. Photo credit: Save Churchlands Bushland

The bushland is home to mature native trees, including an estimated 400-year-old jarrah, and supports native wildlife such as Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoos and Forest Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos.

Community advocacy groups continue to promote long-term protection of this bushland as an A-class reserve.

Schools Near Churchlands Green

One of the estate’s strongest drawcards is its proximity to some of Perth’s most highly regarded schools:

• Churchlands Primary School – immediately adjacent

• Churchlands Senior High School – ~1 km away

• Newman College – bordering the estate

• Hale School – ~3 km away

Churchlands Primary School Administration building. Photo credit: Churchlands Primary School

The close relationship between the estate and these schools reflects the site’s long educational history and remains a major factor in buyer demand.

Property Market Profile

Churchlands Green has consistently recorded strong property prices, reflecting its location, design quality, and school proximity.

Recent sales data shows:

• Multiple homes selling above $2.5 million

• Record estate sale: $2.75 million

• Strong demand for family homes near Edith Cowan Reserve

The estate ranks among the highest-performing residential pockets within Churchlands.

Lifestyle and Surroundings

Residents of Churchlands Green enjoy close access to a wide range of lifestyle amenities, including:

• Herdsman Lake Regional Park

• Floreat and City Beach

• Wembley Golf Course

• Floreat Forum and Herdsman Central

• Bold Park and coastal reserves

The combination of wetlands, beaches, schools, and retail precincts contributes to the estate’s long-term appeal.

Herdsman Lake, early morning, January 2025.

Churchlands Green Today

Today, Churchlands Green stands as a mature, well-established residential estate that successfully balances modern living with deep historical roots. Its blend of quality housing, generous public space, academic heritage, and proximity to elite schools and natural assets has cemented its reputation as one of Perth’s most desirable residential developments.

More than a decade after its completion, Churchlands Green continues to define contemporary living in Churchlands – and remains one of the suburb’s most recognisable and tightly held estates.

Aerial view of the Churchlands Green residential estate, looking west, November 2024.