Asbestos in Perth Homes — Which Suburbs Are Most at Risk?

If you're buying or renovating a home in Perth that was built before 1990, there's a realistic chance it contains asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). Asbestos was widely used in Australian residential construction from the 1940s through to the late 1980s, primarily in fibro (fibre cement) sheeting for wall cladding, eave linings, wet area linings, and roofing. This guide explains which Perth suburbs have the highest concentration of at-risk properties and what you need to know as a buyer or homeowner.

A Brief History of Asbestos in Australian Homes

Asbestos-containing building products were manufactured in Australia from the 1920s and were widely used in residential construction from the 1940s onward. James Hardie's "fibro" sheeting — fibre cement containing asbestos — became a standard building material across Australia, particularly in the post-war building boom of the 1950s–1970s.

Key dates for Perth homeowners:

• 1940s–1960s: Heavy use of asbestos fibro sheeting in walls, ceilings, eaves, and roofing. Many post-war suburbs in Perth were built predominantly with fibro cladding during this period.
• 1960s–1980s: Continued use alongside the growing adoption of double-brick construction. Asbestos remained common in eave linings, wet area walls, fences, and some roofing materials even in brick homes.
• 1987: Australia began phasing out asbestos in building materials. James Hardie stopped using asbestos in flat sheet products.
• 1990: By this date, most asbestos-containing building products had been replaced by asbestos-free alternatives. However, products manufactured just before the changeover may still contain asbestos.
• 2003: Total ban on asbestos use, import, and manufacture in Australia.

The practical rule: Any home built before 1990 may contain asbestos-containing materials. Homes built between 1940 and 1987 are most likely to contain them. Homes built after 1990 are very unlikely to contain asbestos, though some renovation materials from that transitional period could still be present.

Where Asbestos Is Typically Found in Perth Homes

Asbestos wasn't just used for one purpose — it appeared in multiple building products throughout the home:

• External wall cladding (fibro sheeting): Flat or textured fibre cement sheets used as exterior cladding, particularly common in 1950s–1970s Perth homes.
• Eave linings: The panels underneath the roof overhang. Even double-brick homes commonly had asbestos fibre cement eave linings.
• Internal wall and ceiling linings: Particularly in wet areas (bathrooms, laundries) and sometimes throughout the house in fibro-built homes.
• Roofing: Corrugated fibre cement roofing ("Super Six") was common on older Perth homes and sheds.
• Fencing: Flat and corrugated fibre cement fencing sheets. Still visible in many established Perth suburbs.
• Vinyl floor tiles and backing: Some vinyl floor tiles and the paper backing of vinyl sheet flooring contained asbestos.
• Textured coatings: Some decorative textured coatings on walls and ceilings contained asbestos.
• Electrical meter boards: Older electrical boards were often mounted on asbestos cement backing boards.

Which Perth Suburbs Are Most at Risk?

The concentration of asbestos-containing homes in a suburb is directly related to when that suburb was primarily developed. Suburbs with a high proportion of homes built between the 1940s and 1980s have the highest density of potential ACMs.

High-Risk Suburbs (Predominantly 1940s–1970s Construction)

These inner and middle-ring suburbs were largely developed during the peak period of asbestos use in residential construction:

• Inner Perth: Mount Lawley, Subiaco, Nedlands, South Perth, Victoria Park — a mix of heritage homes, post-war fibro cottages, and 1960s–70s brick and tile with asbestos eave linings and wet area linings.
• Middle suburbs: Scarborough, Innaloo, Karrinyup, Dianella, Thornlie, Willetton — predominantly 1960s–1980s brick and tile homes. While the walls are brick, eave linings, internal wet area linings, and fencing commonly contain asbestos.

Moderate-Risk Suburbs (Mixed Construction Eras)

These suburbs contain a mix of older and newer properties:

• Established northern suburbs: Clarkson, Currambine — earlier development phases (1990s) are at the borderline of the asbestos phase-out. Most homes should be asbestos-free, but renovations using older materials are possible.
• Established southern suburbs: Rockingham — older sections of Rockingham (1960s–1970s) have similar risk profiles to the middle suburbs, while newer sections are likely asbestos-free.

Lower-Risk Suburbs (Predominantly Post-1990 Construction)

New growth corridors where most housing was built after the asbestos phase-out:

• Alkimos, Yanchep, Burns Beach — predominantly 2000s onward
• Baldivis, Secret Harbour, Wellard — predominantly 2000s onward
• Harrisdale, Southern River, Forrestdale — predominantly 2005 onward
• Ellenbrook and surrounding estates — predominantly 2000s onward

Note: Even in newer suburbs, individual properties may contain asbestos if they were renovated using older salvaged materials, or if the site had pre-existing structures.

What This Means for Buyers

The presence of asbestos-containing materials in a home is not automatically a safety hazard. Asbestos-containing materials that are in good condition, undamaged, and undisturbed generally pose a low risk. The risk increases when materials are damaged, deteriorated, or disturbed — for example, during renovations, demolition, or storm damage.

If You're Buying a Pre-1990 Home

1. Get a building inspection: A building inspection under AS 4349.1 will note the presence of materials that may contain asbestos. The inspector will document suspect materials and their condition, and recommend specialist testing if needed.
2. Understand the condition: Are the suspect materials in good condition or deteriorated? Intact fibro cladding is a different situation to crumbling, flaking fibro. Your inspector will assess this.
3. Factor renovation plans into your decision: If you plan to renovate, any work that disturbs potential ACMs will require licensed asbestos removal. This adds significant cost and complexity to renovation projects. Get removal quotes before committing to a purchase if major renovation is planned.
4. Get specialist testing if needed: If you need to confirm whether a material contains asbestos (for example, before renovation or demolition), engage a licensed asbestos assessor who can take samples and have them laboratory tested. A standard building inspection identifies suspect materials but does not include laboratory testing.

If You Already Own a Pre-1990 Home

• Don't panic: Undamaged, undisturbed asbestos-containing materials generally pose low risk in their current state.
• Don't disturb it yourself: Never sand, drill, cut, or break materials you suspect may contain asbestos. This releases fibres into the air, creating a genuine health hazard.
• Monitor condition: Check suspect materials periodically for deterioration — cracking, flaking, water damage.
• Use licensed removalists: If materials need removal or work will disturb them, WA regulations require the use of a licensed asbestos removal contractor. This is not a DIY job.

What a Building Inspection Does and Doesn't Cover

A standard building inspection notes the presence of materials that may contain asbestos — this is part of the visual assessment of building materials. However, it does not include:

• Laboratory testing to confirm asbestos content
• Air monitoring for asbestos fibres
• An asbestos register or management plan
• Assessment of asbestos in concealed areas (behind walls, under floors)

If your inspection identifies suspect materials and you need confirmation, the next step is to engage a licensed asbestos assessor. Your inspector can advise whether specialist assessment is warranted based on the material type, condition, and your plans for the property.

As a provider of 5-star rated building and pest inspections across Perth, PinPoint's inspectors are trained to identify common asbestos-containing materials and document their condition in the inspection report. This gives you a clear starting point for understanding the asbestos profile of the property you're considering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get Your Property Assessed

A building and pest inspection is the first step in understanding the condition and material profile of any property you're considering. For pre-1990 homes, the inspection will identify suspect materials and help you understand your next steps.

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