Bassendean is one of Perth's most character-rich inner suburbs — a riverside community in the City of Swan known for its heritage streetscapes and a strong stock of pre-war homes. If you own a free-standing home here, understanding what drives your insurance premium is well worth your time. This article breaks down a real home and contents insurance quote for a four-bedroom, double brick property in Bassendean (postcode 6054), and puts the numbers in context against local, state and national benchmarks.
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Is This Quote Fair?
The quote in question comes in at $2,593 per year (or $249 per month) for combined home and contents cover, with a building sum insured of $1,200,000 and contents valued at $100,000. Both the building and contents excess are set at $2,000.
Our price rating for this quote is FAIR — Around Average, and the data backs that up. When you look at the suburb-level statistics for Bassendean, the median annual premium sits at $1,978, meaning this quote is modestly above the midpoint — but well within the normal range. The suburb's 25th percentile is $1,509 and the 75th percentile is $3,847, so at $2,593 this quote lands comfortably in the middle band of what Bassendean homeowners are typically paying.
It's worth noting the suburb average of $32,473 is dramatically higher than the median, which tells us there are some very high-value outlier quotes pulling the average up. The median is almost always the more meaningful figure for a typical homeowner, and against that benchmark, this quote is reasonable.
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How Bassendean Compares
Putting this quote into a broader geographic context helps sharpen the picture.
| Benchmark | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| This quote | $2,593 |
| Bassendean median | $1,978 |
| Bassendean 75th percentile | $3,847 |
| LGA (Swan) average | $4,057 |
| WA state median | $2,127 |
| WA state average | $2,811 |
| National median | $2,764 |
| National average | $5,347 |
Compared to the Western Australia state average of $2,811, this quote is slightly below — a positive sign. It also sits under the LGA (City of Swan) average of $4,057, which suggests the property's characteristics and location are being assessed relatively favourably by the insurer.
Against the national average of $5,347, the quote looks quite competitive. Much of that national figure is inflated by high-risk regions in Queensland and Northern Australia where cyclone, flood and storm risk push premiums significantly higher. Western Australia, and Perth's inner suburbs in particular, tend to benefit from a more moderate risk profile — and Bassendean is not classified as a cyclone risk area, which keeps costs down.
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Property Features That Affect Your Premium
Several characteristics of this property have a meaningful influence on the premium calculated.
Double Brick Construction This is one of the most insurance-friendly wall types available. Double brick is highly resistant to fire, wind and impact damage, and insurers generally reward it with lower rebuild risk assessments. For a 1930s home in Bassendean, double brick construction is typical of the era and is considered a premium quality build material.
Tiled Roof Terracotta or concrete tiles are a durable roofing choice and are viewed favourably by insurers compared to materials like iron or asbestos sheeting. That said, tiles on an older home can be more expensive to replace if damaged, which is factored into the building sum insured.
Age of Construction (1930) The property's heritage age is a two-sided coin. On one hand, older homes often have charm and solid construction — double brick homes from this era were built to last. On the other, the cost to rebuild or repair them to modern standards can be higher due to non-standard materials, ornate features, and compliance requirements. This likely contributes to the relatively high building sum insured of $1,200,000 for a 130 sqm home.
Above-Average Fittings Quality Above-average fittings — think stone benchtops, quality cabinetry, hardwood floors and premium fixtures — increase the per-square-metre rebuild cost. Insurers account for this when calculating the recommended sum insured, and it's a key reason why the building coverage here is set well above the basic replacement cost you might expect for the floor area alone.
Timber and Laminate Flooring Timber floors, particularly in older homes, can be costly to repair or replace after water or fire damage. This adds a modest upward pressure on both building and contents premiums.
Ducted Climate Control A ducted air conditioning system is a significant fixed asset within the home. It's typically covered under the building policy, and its presence adds to the overall replacement value of the property.
No Pool, No Solar Panels The absence of a swimming pool removes a source of liability risk and maintenance-related claims. Similarly, no solar panel system means there's no need to factor in panel replacement costs or inverter damage — both of which can add to premiums when present.
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Tips for Homeowners in Bassendean
1. Review your building sum insured regularly With a 1930s home and above-average fittings, construction costs can escalate quickly. Make sure your sum insured reflects current rebuild costs — not the purchase price or market value. An underinsured property can leave you significantly out of pocket after a major claim. Consider using a quantity surveyor or your insurer's rebuild cost calculator annually.
2. Consider your excess carefully Both the building and contents excess on this policy are set at $2,000. A higher excess typically reduces your premium, but make sure you could comfortably cover that amount out of pocket in the event of a claim. For a property of this value, $2,000 is a reasonable middle ground.
3. Don't overlook contents coverage for heritage homes Older homes often contain period furniture, antiques and artwork that may not be adequately covered under a standard contents policy. If you have high-value individual items, check whether they need to be separately listed (scheduled) on your policy to ensure full replacement value.
4. Compare quotes before renewal Insurance premiums can shift significantly between providers, even for identical properties. With suburb data showing a wide spread between the 25th percentile ($1,509) and 75th percentile ($3,847), there's clearly meaningful variation in what insurers charge for homes in Bassendean. Shopping around at renewal time could save you hundreds of dollars a year.
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Compare Your Home Insurance Today
Whether you're reviewing an existing policy or shopping for the first time, CoverClub makes it easy to see what your home insurance should cost — and whether you're getting a fair deal. Get a quote now at CoverClub and compare your premium against real data from your suburb, your state and across Australia. It only takes a few minutes, and the savings can be well worth it.