Subiaco Neighbourhood Evolves from Retail Strip to Wellness Corridor

Subiaco recorded 14 new wellness businesses opening along Rokeby Road and Hay Street between January and June this year.

The shift reflects broader demand from residents who now work from home several days a week and want exercise options within walking distance of their apartments. City of Subiaco planning documents show approvals for change-of-use applications rose 30 per cent in the past 18 months compared with the same period two years earlier.

Two venues illustrate the pattern. Flow State Pilates opened in a former bookshop on Rokeby Road in March, while The Recovery Lab, an ice-bath and sauna facility, took over a ground-floor tenancy in Subiaco Square in May. Both sit within 400 metres of the Subiaco train station, making them convenient for commuters who finish work early.

Lease data and foot traffic

A June 2026 City of Subiaco economic snapshot listed average retail rents on Rokeby Road at $68 per square metre, up from $59 in 2024. The same report noted weekday pedestrian counts between 10 am and 2 pm increased 11 per cent year-on-year, driven largely by studio clients. Property analysts at CoreLogic recorded a median unit price of $685,000 in Subiaco for the March quarter, the highest among inner-west suburbs.

Next steps for locals

Residents planning to try the new venues can book introductory classes through each operator’s website. The City of Subiaco will hold a public information session on 28 July at the Subiaco Library to discuss further zoning changes along Hay Street that could bring two additional recovery centres by early 2027.