Highgate Primary School

Highgate is a small, inner-city pocket just two kilometres from the Perth CBD, with a wonderfully diverse, multicultural feel. It’s a compact suburb—only about 0.4 square kilometres—so you’ll likely find yourself walking to local shops and cafés, and you’re close to the energy of the city without living right on top of it. The community here isn’t a typical homogeneous family suburb; it’s vibrant and mixed, which makes it a genuinely interesting place to settle. You’ll find a real sense of connection through the local school and its many activities, and the short commute into the city is a huge plus for working parents. It’s a place where you can enjoy urban convenience while still having a neighbourhood feel.

Highgate Primary is a true reflection of its suburb—students come from over 50 different nationalities, so your child will be learning alongside peers from all over the world. Indonesian is taught as the special Language Other Than English (LOTE), which is a lovely nod to the strong Southeast Asian community here. Beyond the core curriculum, the school shines with its specialist programs: there’s a dedicated art program, debating, and a highly successful chess team. Music is a big focus too, with junior and senior rock bands and choirs. Kids also get involved in interschool sports and faction athletics, so there’s plenty of opportunity to find their niche, whether they’re sporty, creative, or brainy.

For working parents, Highgate Primary has you covered with an Outside of School Hours Care (OSHC) program run by Big Childcare. Before-school care starts at 7:00am and runs until 8:30am, so you can drop the kids off early and still make your commute. After-school care picks up from 2:55pm and runs until 6:00pm, giving you a solid window to finish work and pick them up. They also offer holiday and pupil-free day care from 7:00am to 6:00pm, which is a lifesaver during school breaks. It’s a reliable, structured option that takes the stress out of juggling work and school pick-ups. The school office can confirm current before- and after-school care arrangements if you need specifics.

When you don’t feel like cooking, Highgate has some great casual dining spots that are family-friendly. **StreetFood Pizza Bar** on Beaufort Street does Italian-style pizzas and takeaway—perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. If you’re after classic Aussie pub fare, **Queens Tavern** serves up parmis, steaks, and burgers in a relaxed setting. For something lighter, **Sunflower Vegetarian Restaurant** offers a vegetarian menu in a calm, easy-going atmosphere. For groceries, you’ve got **Central Oriental Foods** at 346 Beaufort Street for specialty Asian ingredients, and larger supermarkets like IGA operate in the surrounding area. It’s easy to mix and match between cooking at home and grabbing something out.

Highgate is well-connected for getting around. Transperth bus routes 40 and 41 run along Lord Street and connect directly to Elizabeth Quay Bus Station in the Perth CBD. Since the suburb is only about two kilometres north-east of the city centre, the bus ride typically takes around 10 minutes, depending on traffic. That’s a very manageable commute for working parents. If you’re considering extra academic support, while there aren’t physical tutoring centres right in Highgate itself, **HighSchoolTutors.com.au** lists private tutors who service the suburb—including specialists in maths, English, and science—so you can find someone who comes to you or meets nearby.

Your next step is to get in touch with Highgate Primary School directly to arrange a tour—seeing the classrooms and meeting the staff will give you a real feel for the community. You can also ask about enrolment, the OSHC program, and any upcoming open days. While you’re in the area, take a walk along Beaufort Street to check out the local shops and eateries, and try the bus into the city to see how easy the commute is. The school’s website has details on their programs and care options, so you can start there. With its diversity, strong extracurriculars, and practical support for working families, Highgate could be a lovely fit for your family.