Northam Boulevard

Local investors are showing increased interest in Western Australian retail assets, with the off-market sale of Northam Boulevard Shopping Centre for $14.05 million highlighting the growing demand, according to Colliers International.

Developer and property syndicator Primewest has added another shopping centre to its porftolio, buying the Stirling's Retail Centre in Bunbury for $18.75 million.

Colliers International has sold more than $50 million in retail property to date in 2014, with Northbridge’s Tyne Square the latest asset to change hands in a deal brokered by the commercial agency.

While storm clouds gather over office assets and land development comes off the boil, interest in retail property is building as investors look for somewhere secure to park their cash. Click through to see our list of WA's top 10 locally-based shopping centre owners.

Fertiliser and property magnate Vikas Rambal is making a move into renewable energy, buying a 50 per cent stake in Enigin WA, which will build the state's largest built environment solar panel installation at his Northam Boulevard shopping centre.

Schools, aged care facilities, shopping centres and bars are among the eclectic mix of establishments installing solar panels, amid predictions commercial rooftop installations could grow by nearly a gigawatt in Perth and surrounds by 2037.