Subiaco's homes and rules
A gold rush suburb
New arrivals in the 1890s built tents and tin shacks, then houses, mostly of timber, in stages. The population went from 100 in 1895 to 1300 by mid-1896.
Heritage approval for most works
The City of Subiaco says that when a place is on the heritage list or in a heritage area, development approval is generally required for most works. Exempt minor works are listed in Local Planning Policy 7.7.
Apartments and renters
At the 2021 Census, 41.7% of homes were flats or apartments, 38.8% separate houses and 19.3% townhouses. 45.0% were rented.
Underground since Round Two
Subiaco was converted to underground power in Round Two of the State Underground Power Program.
Renovating a heritage cottage: the electrical side
Check the listing first
Find out whether the house is on the heritage list or in a heritage area. If it is, assume most visible works need approval until the City says otherwise.
Find out what wiring you have
A house this old may have been rewired once, partly, or not at all. An electrician who works on old houses can tell you which before you plan anything.
Do the hidden work while it's open
Rewiring, extra circuits and data cable are far easier while floors, ceilings and walls are already open for the renovation.
Plan anything visible from the street
A new meter box position, outdoor lights or solar on a street-facing roof change how the house looks, so raise them with the City before work starts.
Living in a Subiaco apartment
Inside your own unit, new lights, power points, a cooktop or an exhaust fan are licensed work like anywhere else. If the job reaches into shared ceilings, risers or the car park, check with the strata company first.
If you rent, WA requires at least two safety switches protecting all power and lighting circuits, and working mains-connected smoke alarms no more than 10 years old. A fault in the wiring or a fixed appliance is the landlord's to fix with a licensed electrical contractor.
Our take for Subiaco
For an old house, we'd bring the electrician in at the design stage, not after the builder starts, so the wiring plan and any heritage approval move together. For a unit, we'd read the strata by-laws before calling anyone, because they often decide what's possible.
Want a specialist to sort it?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match the licence-checked local electrician who does this kind of work, and they call you. No ring-around, and your number goes to them alone.