Land at Joondanna was first granted to T. R. C. Walters in 1840, however little development occurred until after World War II. Subdivision of Joondanna commenced in 1939, and the late 1940s and early 1950s saw rapid development, to the extent that by 1958 little vacant land was available.
Until recent years, single detached houses dominated Joondanna. However, many of the old timber-framed workers' houses from the 1940s and 1950s have been removed to make way for new developments. This has resulted in the construction of numerous units in Joondanna, although single detached dwellings still remain the dominant form of housing in the suburb.
Joondanna has 3ha of public open space which includes seven local open spaces and one community open space. The largest park within the region surrounds the water tower on Roberts Street and Albert James Park also provides for passive recreation.
Joondanna contains a number of small shops to cater for daily grocery needs.
Significant landmarks
St Denis church was built for Servite Fathers in 1967, designed by Ernest Rossen and with interiors by Iris Rossen, it is an excellent example of late Twentieth Century church architecture distinguished by its detached sculptural forms and internal lighting on rough-finished perimeter walls.
The water tower located on Roberts Street is a significant element of the landscape and is highly visible from surrounding areas. The well-landscaped section of Wanneroo Road that borders the eastern sector of Joondanna provides an attractive gateway to the area.