Hillarys Primary School

Hillarys is a well-established coastal suburb in Perth’s northern corridor, roughly 21 kilometres north-northwest of the CBD within the City of Joondalup. It’s the kind of place where weekend plans often revolve around the water—the Hillarys Boat Harbour is a genuine local hub, with two retail areas, Sorrento Quay and Hillarys Boardwalk, offering waterfront dining and shopping. For daily errands, the Hillarys Shopping Centre sits close to residential streets, so grabbing milk or a loaf is easy. The suburb has a settled, family-friendly feel, and with over 500 students at the local primary school, you’ll quickly find yourself part of a busy, connected community. It’s a spot that balances coastal leisure with practical, everyday living.

Hillarys Primary School has recently undergone a major transformation, with a $22.8 million redevelopment delivered in three stages. That investment added 16 general learning classrooms, two kindergarten rooms, an inclusive education classroom, a new library, a staffroom, hardcourts, and terraces designed for outdoor teaching. For a Kindergarten to Year 6 school, that’s a serious upgrade in everyday learning spaces. The curriculum covers arts, music, sport, and vocational education, so there’s a broad base for kids to explore their interests. Beyond the classroom, the school runs a vibrant Chess Club that meets Tuesday afternoons from 3:00pm to 4:00pm in the Science Room—open to any student, with instruction, games, puzzles, and tournaments. It’s a lovely, low-pressure way for kids to build skills and friendships.

For working parents, outside school hours care at Hillarys Primary is provided by TheirCare, a provider that runs before and after school programs as well as holiday care. Their typical service window covers early mornings from 6:30am and afternoons until 6:30pm, which gives you solid coverage for a standard workday. The school office can confirm current before- and after-school care arrangements. With the Chess Club running until 4:00pm on Tuesdays, there’s also a built-in afternoon activity that might bridge the gap between school end and pickup time. It’s worth asking about how the care program integrates with the school’s other extracurricular offerings, so you can piece together a week that works smoothly for your family.

Weeknight dinners in Hillarys are refreshingly low-stress. The area has a good range of casual takeaway options, with local favourites spanning Pizza, Thai, Indian, and Chinese—so you can rotate cuisines without leaving the suburb. For a slightly nicer evening out, the Hillarys Boardwalk precinct is home to family-friendly venues like Little C’s, which offers a dedicated kids’ menu and family lunch options. That’s a handy fallback when you want a meal out without the fuss of a formal restaurant. For everyday groceries, the Hillarys Shopping Centre covers the basics, and the broader Joondalup region offers additional retail choices if you need something specific. It’s a practical setup for busy weeknights, whether you’re cooking from scratch or grabbing something quick.

Hillarys sits about 21 kilometres north-northwest of Perth’s CBD, and the Mitchell Freeway and Hepburn Avenue are the main routes if you’re driving. Public transport is handled by Transperth, which runs trains, buses, and ferries across the metropolitan area. Transperth trains and buses serve the area, and the journey planner will show your nearest stop and the time into the city. For families considering extra academic support, named tutoring centres in Hillarys aren’t widely advertised, so you may need to ask the school for local recommendations or check community noticeboards. The commute is manageable, and the coastal setting makes the daily trip feel worthwhile.

If Hillarys feels like a good fit, start by arranging a school tour to see the new facilities firsthand and meet the staff. Ask about the Chess Club and how OSHC integrates with the school day—the office will have current details. Take a weekend drive to the Boat Harbour and the Boardwalk to get a feel for the local rhythm, and stop by the Shopping Centre to check the practical side of daily life. If you’re commuting to the city, test the Transperth route during peak hours to confirm your timing. With the school’s recent upgrades and the suburb’s coastal charm, you’ll have a strong sense of whether this is the right base for your family.