A Relocation Guide to Sydney Residential Areas

Exec-Relocations covers the whole of the Sydney metropolitan area and guides you in your relocation to Sydney by focusing on areas that are relevant to your needs and familiarising you with them as part of our relocation services.  Here is a breakdown of the main areas in Sydney that are located within an approx. 30-45 minute radius of the CBD.  While it is impossible to list every suburb, the key ones are noted.

City Living

City Central

Inner city living, once a rare lifestyle in Australia is increasing in popularity, particularly with young professionals and many property developers have catered to the trend by building modern apartment complexes in the city area or by redeveloping older heritage buildings in to residential apartments. There are a number of exclusive developments around Walsh Bay, Woolloomooloo and into Darling Harbour, Pyrmont and Ultimo.

 

Inner West Suburbs

Newtown, Surry Hills, Glebe, Pyrmont, Balmain, Leichhardt, Rozelle, Erskineville

Popular choice because its close to the city and has hip shopping strips like King St. in Newtown and Darling St. Balmain.These suburbs contain a mixture of terraces built in the Victorian era, modern apartments and stately old mansions. These areas are well serviced with public transport, shopping, restaurants and nightlife and popular with first home buyers, plus provide solid capital growth.

 

Eastern Suburbs

Woollahra, Paddington, Potts Point, Rushcutters Bay, Double Bay, Edgecliff, Bellevue Hill, Queens Park, Randwick, Rose Bay, Darling Point, Point Piper, Elizabeth Bay, Vaucluse, Watsons Bay, Bronte, Bondi, Tamarama, Clovelly and Coogee

These areas contain some of the most expensive real estate in Australia, particularly if there are water views and/or close to a beach. Residents love being near to the city, harbour, parks and iconic beaches such as Bondi.  Homes range from smaller terrace houses closer to the city to huge mansions, some with their own moorings. Large older style blocks of apartments are also prevalent.

There are several prestigious private schools in this area, which service the affluent neighbourhood. Restaurants are abundant; Yacht Clubs are numerous (the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race starts at Rushcutters Bay) and many exclusive shops can be found in places like Double Bay and Woollahra. Transport is mainly by car and bus although there is a train line from Bondi Junction and ferries are  available from Rose Bay and Double Bay to the city.

Lower North Shore

Kirribilli, Neutral Bay, Cremorne, Mosman, Balmoral

These affluent suburbs are primarily known for their Federation homes - built in the 1920's with high wedding-cake ceilings and sandstone bases - particularly in the harbourside suburb of Mosman. Some of these homes have been beautifully preserved and others have been converted into apartments or duplexes.  Kirribilli, which is closest to the city and on a train line, has the official residences of both the Prime Minister (Kirribilli House) and the Governor General (Admiralty House), but is generally full of apartment blocks.

All these areas are well serviced with shops, restaurants, private schools and transport, either by ferries, bus or car. Balmoral Beach is a particularly beautiful harbour beach for swimming (no surfing), ideal for a picnic, visit some of the lovely cafes and restaurants or just take in the view.

Upper North Shore

Chatswood, Roseville, Lindfield, St Ives, Killara, Gordon, Pymble, Turramurra Wahroonga

Its all about families, good schools and room for the dog to run around in these suburbs that stretch from Chatswood to Hornsby on either side of the Pacific Highway. Residents are attracted to these areas for their peace and tranquility and access to some of the best private schools, rather than having access to beaches.  The areas are also well serviced by a train line running direct to the city with a 45 minute service from Hornsby/Wahroonga, being the furthest north.

 

Northern Beaches and Pittwater

Manly, Balgowlah Heights, Clontarf, Seaforth, Fairlight, Curl Curl, Harbord, Dee Why, Collaroy, Mona Vale, Church Point, Bayview, Newport, Bilgola, Avalon, Whale Beach, Palm Beach

Manly, located on the northern side of the Sydney Harbour entrance is the start of the Northern Peninsula, a coastline of spectacular beaches and sandstone cliffs. Living in these suburbs is a lifestyle choice because, with the exception of Manly, commuting to the city isn't easy with one main road in and out, no trains and no ferries only buses. Manly is a small town in itself, with its own town hall and local council, with surfing beaches and tranquil harbour beaches, excellent restaurants and easy access to the city by ferry or jet cat.

Larger houses are very difficult to find in Manly with apartments or small federation/Victorian houses being more common. The rest of the Peninsula features post-war or contemporary housing. You may choose to live on Scotland Island at the southern end of Pittwater or perhaps Church Point. You can choose to live on the Pittwater side, perfect if you are into sailing with access to deep water and the ocean via the Hawkesbury river and one of Sydney's largest yacht clubs located at Newport or on the ocean side with its great surfing beaches and panoramic views from high sandstone cliffs. At the northern most point is located Palm Beach, considered to be an elite holiday haven for the rich and famous!

St George and Sutherland Shire

Brighton Le Sands, Taren Point, Kangaroo Point, Sylvania Waters, Caringbah, Woolooware, Cronulla, Dolan's Bay, Lilli Pilli and Gymea Bay

While some home-hunters would consider Sydney's southern boundary to be Sydney airport, these southern parts of Sydney (known as the Shires) could be its best kept secret. Homes along waterways such as Georges River are a fraction of the cost of harbourside properties. Kangaroo Point is the most expensive area but the South is generally more affordable. Cronulla is to the Shires what Bondi is to the eastern suburbs, with bus, train and ferry making it just inside that 45 minute commute to the city.

Western Suburbs and Hills District

Hunters Hill, Lane Cove, Ryde, Concord, Strathfield, Epping, Beecroft, Parramatta, , Castle Hill, Baulkam Hills

The inner and outer western suburbs have experienced the fastest growth of any area in the whole of Sydney, this being the only direction in which Sydney can still continue to grow. The Western suburbs are an eclectic mix of suburban sprawl, with some suburbs, like Strathfield which being one of the older more established suburbs with its large stately homes and then suburbs like Castle Hill in the North West with its established acreages and many new urban developments. 

The City of Parramatta is located at the centre of the western suburbs and boasts an estimated population of over 150,000 in 2005 with an estimated population of over 1.6M for the Western Region of Councils, that is over 40% of Sydney’s entire population. The more exclusive smaller inner suburbs, such as Hunters Hill, which are relatively close to the city are very expensive but as a general rule the western suburbs offer housing within a comparatively reasonable price range, thereby ensuring its continual popularity.