Tree Removal in Bayswater, Maylands and Morley

Older suburbs, big trees, smaller blocks

The City of Bayswater covers Bayswater, Maylands, Morley, Embleton, Bedford and Noranda, on the north side of the Swan River a short run from the city. It is one of the older parts of Perth, and that shapes the tree work more than anything else.

Parts of Maylands and Bayswater still have Federation and interwar cottages on long, narrow blocks, often with trees in the back garden that are as old as the house or close to it. Bedford, Embleton and much of Morley grew in the post-war decades, with brick homes, established gardens and big backyard trees planted by the first owners. Noranda came a little later again.

Across all of them, blocks have been split. A quarter-acre-style lot that once had one house and a big tree at the back may now have two or three dwellings, with the tree stranded next to a new wall or right where the new driveway needs to go. A lot of the tree removal in Bayswater is tied to that kind of infill work: clearing a site before building, or dealing with a tree that no longer fits once the new house is up.

The trees in Bayswater gardens and streets

Older eastern-suburbs gardens have a mix you do not see as much in the newer estates:

• Cape lilac and jacaranda. Both were popular backyard and street trees for decades. Cape lilacs drop berries and leaves, and old ones often have decay in the main forks.
• Lemon-scented and other planted gums. Tall, heavy trees that often outgrow a subdivided block and are prone to dropping limbs.
• Flooded gums and paperbarks. Common on the lower ground towards the river, where the soil stays damper.
• Palms. Date palms and tall Washingtonias in older front gardens, with heavy fronds and seed stalks that need regular cleaning or eventual removal. See palm tree removal.
• Fruit trees. Mangoes, citrus, figs and mulberries that have grown far beyond picking height.

Grey sand and river ground

Most of the City sits on grey Bassendean sand. It is deep, drains fast and holds little water or nutrient, so trees spread their roots wide and shallow looking for moisture. Roots from a big gum commonly reach under paving, into old clay sewer and stormwater pipes, and under the edges of footings.

Closer to the river the ground is lower and heavier, and it stays damp for longer after winter rain. Trees growing there can root differently, and wet ground can limit where heavy gear such as a stump grinder or a loaded truck can safely go in winter.

The City of Bayswater tree rules

The City of Bayswater adopted a reviewed Trees on Private Land and Street Verges Policy on 26 August 2025. According to the City's summary of the review:

• Approval for regulated trees is needed only for new grouped dwellings, multiple dwellings and non-residential development.
• Owners of existing and new single houses can maintain and remove trees without approval.

That makes the policy most relevant to exactly the infill work that is common here. If you are developing a site with more than one dwelling, the trees on it may need to be dealt with through the planning approval, so talk to the City and your planner before anyone takes a tree down. The City's policy sets out what counts as a regulated tree; check the current wording with the City rather than relying on a summary.

The City also keeps a Significant Tree Register for private land. Trees are listed only with the landowner's consent, and listed trees are protected. If you have bought an older property with a notable tree, it is worth checking whether a previous owner put it on the register.

Street trees on the verge are the City's responsibility. Do not prune or remove a verge tree yourself; contact the City. For a wider look at how rules differ across Perth, read can I cut down a tree in Perth.

Power lines in the older streets

Many established streets in the area still have overhead power, with a service wire running from the pole to each house. Big old trees and service wires are a common combination.

Keeping trees on private property clear of the service wire is the resident's responsibility, not Western Power's. When vegetation is within 30 cm of the service wire, Western Power issues a notice, and the occupant has 40 days to arrange an arborist or tree lopper to cut it back. Western Power does not cut around service wires itself.

Paid work that may come within the danger zone near live lines has to follow the EnergySafety code of practice for vegetation work, which requires specific training and experience. If there are wires in or near the canopy, say so when you ask for a quote. Often the answer is tree pruning to clear the line rather than removing the whole tree.

Access on long, narrow blocks

Access is the main thing that moves the price on older Bayswater blocks. Common issues:

• Trees at the back of long blocks, with only a side path past the house.
• New dwellings built close to the tree, leaving no room to drop anything.
• Old sheds, fences and outbuildings under the canopy.
• Rear laneways in some streets, which can make access much easier if a gate opens onto them.

On tight blocks a tree is taken down in sections, with heavier pieces lowered on ropes, and the wood is carried out to a chipper on the street.

Shot-hole borer

The whole Perth metro is a quarantine area for the polyphagous shot-hole borer, and the landowner is responsible for managing affected trees. Check your address on DPIRD's zone map, and read our shot-hole borer guide on reporting and moving wood.

Tree removal costs in Bayswater

As a 2026 guide, a small tree in an open backyard often sits around $400 to $1,000, a medium tree $1,000 to $2,500, and a large gum close to the house $2,500 to $6,000 or more. Restricted access, service wires and full stump removal for building all add to the cost. These are planning figures; the final price comes after an on-site look. The tree removal cost guide has more detail.

Getting a quote

Call (08) 9560 6103, open 7 days from 8am to 5pm, or use the form. Include a photo, mention any wires, and tell us if you are building or subdividing. We will arrange a local arborist to look at the tree and give you a written quote. We ask the arborists and contractors we work with to hold the public liability cover the job needs, so ask to see the certificate before work starts.