The Growth of Armadale

The City of Armadale is undergoing rapid transformation, marked by its fast-growing population. In 2025, the City has an estimated population of 109,554 people and by 2046, the population is expected to grow to 145,843 – an increase of 33.12% making it one of the fastest-growing regions in Western Australia and in the country. 

Our population grew to more than 105,000 residents in 2023, a 4.21% increase from previous year and a 44.6% growth in the last 10 years. On average,11 people move to live in our City every day. 

If we reflect on where we have come from the City of Armadale’s population in 2006 was only 55,000 people. The region will effectively triple its population in 40 years, or two generations.

Armadale’s growth is also reflected on its economy with a Gross Regional Product of $3.76 billion in the year ending June 2023, growing 3.8% since the previous year. The area has become a pivotal centre including health care, education and training, distribution and warehousing, and construction - that’s exceptionally well connected to other centres in Perth through multiple high quality transport links.

The value of building approvals within our City totalled $518 billion worth of investment during 2023/24 FY. Residential approvals increased 27.5% than the previous year showing a strong outlook on this sector and the construction industry. 

Strategic Metropolitan Centre

Armadale is a designated Strategic Metropolitan Centre in the State Government’s metropolitan plan Directions 2031 and Beyond. Strategic Metropolitan Centres status encourages government investment, and advances development opportunities for the area. 

Less than a 30-minute drive from the Perth CBD, the Domestic and International Airports and major shipping ports of Fremantle and Kwinana, the Armadale City Centre is conveniently located at the crossroads of the Albany and South Western Highways, and Armadale Road. 

As a modern city centre nestled amongst scenic parks, hills and picturesque valleys, the City of Armadale takes pride in its cultural heritage and unique community feel. The City’s semi-rural hills lifestyle has wide appeal and provides an important pillar for future investment attraction, particularly efforts to attract a greater diversity of professional workers and businesses to the area.

Major Business Parks

With significant land parcels available or under development, and strategically located along key transport routes, Armadale’s business parks and commercial precincts are the engine room of the South-Eastern metropolitan corridor and its economy. 

Forrestdale Business Park – 330 hectares strategically located at the intersections of Tonkin Highway and Armadale Road in Forrestdale, home to a growing range of commercial, mixed semi-industrial enterprise and general industry activity. 

Doobarda Business Park (Rowley Road) – The suburb of Doobarda was established in 2023 as a new, separate industrial area, with advantages including proximity to freight network connections linking with the new Outer Harbour, Western Trade Coast, and the Kewdale and West Mundijong intermodal transfer facilities. 

South Armadale – 81 hectares with strong potential as a long term non heavy industrial site. South Armadale has good transport linkages, being adjacent to South Western Highway and having easy access to the Tonkin and Albany Highways. 

Kelmscott – An established, mixed use commercial area servicing a range of strategic industries. Kelmscott also has good transport linkages, having easy access to the Albany Highway and the railway line.

City Centre Transformation

Advocacy by Local Government is critical to providing major public and private infrastructure required for the community and businesses to grow.

Recent developments include the $88.5M Courthouse and Police Complex, completed in 2023, and the new $39M Armadale TAFE Campus, completed in 2024.

In 2025 the Armadale University Study Hub will open it’s doors in the City Centre. The study hub is specifically designed to provide university students with a place to study and get assistance from support staff who know the ins-and-outs of higher education. 

We continued to work closely with the WA Government, the Public Transport Authority and other key stakeholders involved in the Byford Rail Extension project to advocate and ensure the best possible outcomes to the community. 

Adjacent to the new Armadale Train Station, Central Park is set to be a powerful catalyst and the centre piece of the transformation of Armadale's inner-city. By creating strong connections between this major destination and landmark park across the Jull Street Mall and west of the railway line, we’ll draw more visitors and foot traffic which will help re-energising local businesses and make the mall a welcoming hub of activity. 

Tourism

The rise in population and improved services have naturally led to a flourishing tourism sector, particularly across nature-based and adventure sectors. Armadale is not just a place to live and work but increasingly a destination that offers a unique blend of urban amenities and natural attractions.

Local Government is at the forefront of tourism delivery, providing and managing the expanse of tourism infrastructure and services. Things such as; maintaining heritage buildings, installing way-finding signage, providing visitor servicing, championing street art, creating walking trails and recreational areas, and so much more.

The Perth Hills Tourism Alliance which is the tourism marketing body for the five Shires across the Darling Scarp recently won Gold at the Perth Tourism Awards.