Wattleup is a semi-rural suburb situated within the Perth metropolitan area, in the southern part of Western Australia. It lies approximately 30 kilometers south of Perth’s central business district, bounded by the suburbs of Hammond Park, Cockburn Central, and Hope Valley. The suburb falls within the City of Cockburn local government area and is accessible via the Kwinana Freeway and several major arterial roads, placing it within reach of the industrial and commercial hubs of both Cockburn and Kwinana.

Traditionally, Wattleup has been characterized by a mix of agricultural land, scattered rural residences, and light industrial activity. Historically, the area was known for market gardens and small orchards, but changes to zoning and government planning initiatives such as the Hope Valley-Wattleup Redevelopment Project have altered its landscape. These plans aimed to transition Wattleup from a primarily rural and residential enclave to an area focused on supporting industrial and logistics development, thereby minimizing residential land use over time.

As a result of these redevelopment projects, the population of Wattleup has significantly declined, with census data reflecting only a small number of remaining residents compared to neighboring suburbs. Today, the suburb features a limited number of residential properties, with most land zoned for industrial and commercial purposes. While the area is strategically important for its proximity to freight and infrastructure networks, Wattleup itself has relatively few amenities and commercial operations are largely oriented towards warehousing, logistics, and light manufacturing, rather than retail or hospitality.