Ocean Reef is a suburb in northern Perth, Western Australia. It is located within the City of Joondalup. The name was coined by developers in the 1970s from the line of a reef visible several kilometres offshore. The name was formally adopted in 1974, replacing the prior name of Beaumaris, a name still retained by one of the shopping centres and one primary school. The suburb is divided in two by Hodges Drive, with the development to the south often referred to as 'old' Ocean Reef. The boat harbour sits on this midway point at the western end of Hodges Drive, and there is a shopping centre in each end of the suburb - Beaumaris Shopping Centre in the north and Ocean Reef Shopping Centre to the south. Roadworks have recently been completed to extend the foreshore road from Hodges Drive to Shenton Ave, extending the 'Sunset Coast' drive into the adjacent suburb of Iluka. Located some 8 km north of the popular Hillarys Boat Harbour, the Ocean Reef Boat Harbour provides a public launching ramp for boats and a small fishing harbour. During recent years the City of Joondalup has prepared concept plans for the development of a world class recreational, residential, boating and tourism marina at the Ocean Reef Boat Harbour site. The proposed development encapsulates high levels of environmental sustainability and community amenity. In 2009 the City of Joondalup asked the people of Ocean Reef and the surrounding suburbs what they thought of the proposed development. Out of a total of 11,728 survey respondents, an overwhelming majority - 93.9% - were in favour of developing the site and 95.6% approved of the concept plan. The Council has endorsed proceeding with the preparation of the necessary Business Case and Structure Plan for government approval. Ocean Reef is served by three primary schools. A dune walkway and cycle path hugs the coast from south to north, offering access to several small beaches, picnic areas, rest stops, and access paths into the suburb itself. A large protected dune area which is at times around 400 metres wide separates the houses from the Indian Ocean.
Demographics
In the, Ocean Reef had a population of 7,840; 50% male and 50% female. The median age of Ocean Reef residents was 42, and median weekly personal income was $760. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people made up 0.6% of the population. The most popular religious affiliations in descending order in the 2016 census were No Religion 29.9%, Catholic 26.7%, Anglican 18.9%, Not Stated 7.4% and Christian, nfd 2.6%. Christianity was the largest religious group reported overall .
