‘Sleepy city’ no more? Investors look west as ECU Perth prepares to open

3 months ago 15

Edith Cowan University’s new campus in the heart of Perth’s CBD is due to open in a matter of months after years of meticulous planning and building.

There is hope the $853 million development will not only cater for students but for local businesses too and transform the sleepy city into one more reminiscent of its eastern states rivals.

But with housing prices climbing and rentals scarce, particularly closer to the city centre, it has become more important than ever to create enough student accommodation to realise the dream of invigorating the city.

Near the new campus on Mount Street, Juno House has just set up shop inside what was once the Rendezvous Hotel, opposite the headquarters of mining giant Woodside.

The accommodation, with 103 rooms and 211 beds, was approved mid-2024 and construction began in January. In a quick turnaround, it will officially open this month.

General manager Christy Foo said with existing student accommodation in the city full, and other planned accommodation still being built, making use of other buildings sitting empty should be explored to cater for the predicted spike in demand.

“Walking through the CBD, you see so many empty office spaces or empty building spaces and I definitely do think it’d be great if there was better utilisation of those spaces,” she said.

“Some could be transformed into student accommodation options.

“With the new campus opening, the demand will exceed the supply that is currently available and new builds will take much longer.”

According to the latest report from Urbis, Perth has the lowest number of beds available per student in purpose-built accommodation nationally.

Study Perth chief executive Derryn Belford said it could be difficult for some developers to use existing buildings because they had specific room types and sizes they wanted.

“The question is do you try and retrofit or build exactly what you want,” she said.

It seems many are choosing the latter.

There is a $400 million plan under way to transform Carillon City, with part of that transformation involving the development of a 35-storey tower to accommodate 803 students.

And the Central Perth Land Redevelopment Committee will on Monday assess the proposal for another student accommodation development – a 21-storey build right next door to the new campus and Perth bus port.

That latest proposal could house 1146 students if approved.

“Perth has always lagged when it comes to student accommodation, but the ECU campus has driven renewed interest,” Belford said.

“We need people to move into the city for it to become a neighbourhood and you have a better chance of getting students in there rather than retirees used to living on quarter-acre blocks.

“Students will be the ones to take jobs in the city, to go out to bars and cafes and to bring life to the streets.”

Infrastructure Australia has predicted 16,400 students will be based in the Perth CBD by 2030, up from 9200 in 2025.

Domestic students make up hardly any of the student-specific accommodation options – and that observation is reflected in the people who have already booked a stay at Juno House. But Foo thinks that should change.

Foo said shared living was not a familiar concept in WA.

“We all know co-living is a very new concept. I think as West Australians we’re quite lucky with space so trying to show people a new style of living is a work in progress,” Foo said.

“It’s not a concept a lot of people here understand.

“The biggest thing that we’re doing is going out to high schools and careers expos and discussing the benefits – being close to your friends, even if you want a separate space, the convenience of being in the central CBD, having study areas or a pool table or gym in your building.”

But Foo said despite the challenges, she was excited to see the ways students would transform the city.

“It’s so refreshing for Perth. You’re going to have a university campus right in the middle of the CBD, and you’re going to see so many more people walking around and exploring,” she said.

“Local businesses I have spoken with are all excited, and many have offered to work with us to advertise job listings or create events.

“It’d be great to walk through on a Wednesday night and see that the city is bustling – that’s something I really am excited about.”

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