Suburb Property Profile: Southern River, WA 6110
Located approximately 20–31km southeast of Perth's CBD, Southern River sits within the City of Gosnells. Originally a rural area supporting egg farms, horse breeding properties and boarding kennels for cats and dogs — with a population under 500 in those early years — the suburb has transformed dramatically into one of Gosnells' fastest-growing residential communities. Here's our comprehensive guide to the area.
Location Demographics
The population of Southern River sits at 12,852 according to the 2021 Census, up 24.2% from 10,350 in 2016. The predominant age group is 0–9, and households are primarily couples with children, reflecting a genuinely young, family-focused demographic. Median household income sits at $2,364 per week.
Travel & Infrastructure
Southern River doesn't have its own train station. Local Transperth bus routes, including the 204, 212, 233, 517 and 518, connect residents to nearby Maddington and Thornlie stations and onward to Murdoch University, with a typical commute into Perth taking around 54 minutes by public transport, or around 27 minutes' drive on main roads outside peak periods.
Shopping
Southern River Shopping Centre, on Bristle Avenue and Ranford Road, is anchored by a Coles supermarket, with a Bunnings located directly opposite. The Vale Shopping Centre, on Warton Road, adds a Woolworths to the suburb's retail options, and a newer Southern River East centre opened in the suburb's east in 2022.
Schools & Recreation
Southern River College, established in 1976, is an independent public co-educational high school catering for Years 7–12, with enrolments of around 900 students. Excelsior Primary School serves younger students locally, and families have further nearby options across Gosnells' broader school network, including Ranford Primary School and Harrisdale Senior High School.
Local Amenities
Around 10.4% of Southern River's land area is set aside as parkland, spread across 24 parks — a genuinely strong ratio of green space for a Perth suburb. The Gosnells Golf Course sits within the suburb, and reserves including Cromarty Gardens, Brookland Greens, Spinifex Way and Nolan Avenue give residents plenty of local options for walking and recreation close to home.
Looking for Land for Sale and House & Land Packages in Southern River, WA?
Joel Robinson
Joel Robinson is the Editor in Chief at iBuildNew, where he leads the editorial team and oversees the country's most comprehensive news coverage dedicated to the new home building industry. With more than a decade of experience in residential real estate journalism, Joel brings deep insight into Australia's evolving home building and construction landscape.
