Wireless mesh sensor networks are typically a cluster of intelligent radio nodes which transfer data between each other directly in a hop, or indirectly through two or more hops via adjacent nodes. These nodes contain one or more sensors. Wireless mesh sensor networks provide a solution in monitoring and controlling the physical world around us and offer far reaching potential applications. This thesis presents a design and prototype development of one such potential application, namely the use of a wireless mesh sensor network to monitor the events and activities in a housing community environment. The first part of this thesis examines wireless mesh sensor networks in detail. It looks at the technology behind these networks and the methods employed in transferring data between wireless nodes. The second part of this thesis focuses on the system design, implementation and prototype realisation of the wireless mesh sensor network for a housing community. It shows how an application specific approach can simplify the design of the system. In addition it presents two novel MAC protocols for the transfer of data from transmitonly sensor nodes to fixed infrastructural mesh nodes.