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Spencers Creek Road runs off the South West Rocks Road, just before it becomes Gregory Street. It is unsealed and leads into bushland. It forms the border of the Bi Lo shopping centre and a housing estate on its northen side, while on the southern side it is the rear of the commercial premises of the town’s light industrial area. Not a home-makers street, more of a service road than anything.

Back Creek Road runs off South West Rocks Road, and it services the rural residences along it. One way in, one way out. The farms were originally established in the early 1900s, and prospered as dairy farms due to the fertile floodplains and lush pastures. Labour intensive dairying has given way to diversification.

It’s hard to see why this was called Main Street – but there is a shop on the corner. Main Street is populated by flood-aware raised homes, and curls around to hug the Macleay River bank. This is the home of the local fishing fleet, and a walk down here will reveal the jetty and the line up of boats waiting to head out to sea. Not surprisingly, the fish co-op is just around the corner.

Traffic travelling between Kempsey and South West Rocks used to drive along Riverside Drive in the old days, calling into the post office/general store/petrol station to stock up on supplies. Nowadays however the road rarely sees visitors, as the South West Rocks road bypasses it – just a block away. The road has esplanade river frontage, and the banks are great fishing spots.

St Patricks Catholic Church has its home here on Church Street, although its street address is Main Street. It is a modern church, built to replace the stuffy brick relic on the mid 1900s. There is loads of open space and large mature trees surrounding the church and creating a pleasant pre and post service environment for parishioners.

With flood mitigation systems in place, it is not often that the floodwaters of the Macleay River reach to Belmore Street, but they did once. Many of the older homes here have been elevated either on stilts, brick pillars, or enclosed ground level storage rooms. Mostly built of weatherboard, the homes are simple but well cared for.

There has long been easy access from the Pacific Highway to Smithtown by the Smithtown Road, but crossing the Macleay River to Gladstone was not so simple. There used to be a car ferry that transported vehicles from one side of the river to the other, with the busiest times on Sunday mornings – getting to and from Church. The sealed and well maintained road travels through attractive rich farmland once it leaves the village of Smithtown.

Kinchela Street would have to be one of the prettiest situations in NSW. With esplanade river frontage, and lots of trees, remnants of the old village remain. The corner stores, hotels and churches are being converted to arts and crafts galleries, cafes and antique shops. The Gladstone Hotel is also in Kinchela Street – and the menu is impressive and reasonable. A playground for the kids on the riverside completes the picture.

Built of local hardwood weatherboards, the old homes in Darkwater Street have been well maintained and restored. They have mature cottage gardens, and some have managed to retain the original leadlights in street-facing doors and windows. Close by the Macleay River, it isn’t that long since these homes were susceptible to flooding.

This is the local name for the sections of South West Rocks road that bypasses the pretty village of Gladstone. There are two service stations and a small group of shops here, as well as the local Anglican Church on the corner of Darkwater Street. Visitors should take the time to turn off and visit the riverside cafes and antiques stores in town.

McLeod Road runs between Canon and Kintail and is the start of the million-dollar homes of Applecross. Much closer to Canning Highway and prices fall considerably. It can be a busy street, but the homes are large, most with pools, and the street is tree-lined and very pretty. At the Canning Highway end, there are several duplex/townhouse developments.

Kearns Crescent starts and ends on Canning Highway, and crosses Riseley Street at its half-way point. There are no homes in Kearns Crescent, its purpose being to access the retail outlets facing it, and on Canning Highway. It is from this street that you access the two carparks that service the shopping area, cafes, restaurants and medical practices.

Enard Place is a small street linking Grimsay Road with Drew Road. There is just a handful of houses with an Enard Place address, with all of the other residences having either Grimsay or Drew Road addresses, but having a second street access from Enard Place. It is a desirable area, with very little traffic.

Drew Road is in a popular part of Ardross, with easy access to both Garden City and Canning Highway, without the associated hustle and bustle. The homes here are big – many with pools, and established gardens. The street is tree-lined and is one of the more highly regarded addresses in Ardross.

Almondbury Road runs off the busy Riseley Street and provides one of the entrances to Garden City Shopping Centre. If your objective is to get to the Hoyts Cinema complex, this is the best entrance. There are some homes also in Almondbury Road, and all are nicely maintained with pretty gardens. This is also one of the main access roads to Wireless Hill Park, a popular spot especially at weekends.

The homes along McCallum Crescent are large and well-maintained in this sought after section of south-of-the-river Perth. Many of the homes have pools and the ones closest to Wireless Hill Park have lovely bush outlooks. In wildflower season, the park is a mecca for flower lovers, who come to see the impressive displays of wild Kangaroo Paws and other flowers that fill the park. It is very popular with walkers and picnickers which makes the road a little busy on weekends

All of the original homes in Millington street were built on large blocks in the post-WW2 period, and several remain. However, with the potential of Swan River Views, many of the older homes are being demolished with two storey modern ones replacing them. There are mature Pepper trees along the street, providing much appreciated summer shade.

This is a fairly affluent part of town, and the boutiques that have sprung up here reflect the fact. At Riseley Street’s intersection with Canning Highway there are cafes, restaurants and home decor stores as well. Once on the northern side of Canning Highway the uses tend to medical rooms and townhouses, and the road is less busy here.

Riseley carries a lot of traffic between the busy Leach and Canning Highways. It is four lanes, with several sets of traffic lights in its length. The busiest section is the area around Garden City Shopping Centre, a huge complex with department stores, supermarkets, variety stores, boutiques, and a Hoyts Cinema Complex.

The Booragoon section of the very long Marmion Street, is very busy. At Riselely Street it forms one of the boundaries of the Garden City shopping and commercial centre, with one of the shopping centre’s entrances here. Also at this intersection is the bush interchange, where commuters from surrounding areas meet for transport to the city and beyond. As the road travels west, it passes some private residences, but one of the largest developments is the Parklands Retirement Villas, and more recently the nursing home opposite, just a block further down the road. These are both first class alternatives to home living for the elderly, with prices to match.