Local Suburb Guide

Watsons Bay

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Watsons Bay is a harbourside, eastern suburb of Sydney located 11 km north-east of the CBD with a population of around 691 (as of 2006) people.

What’s on Watsons Bay?

Its only 11km north east of the CBD but Watsons Bay (postcode 2030) feels like a different world.  Sitting at the end of the South Head peninsular it encapsulates some of Sydney’s most amazing views.   Tiny weather board cottages intermingled with Victorian Terraces and waterfront estates.  Here is where Sydneysiders come to play, relax and take in the surroundings. It is considered to be the Palm Beach or Hamptons of the East.

Tourists love the awe inspiring view from The Gap and bus loads are dropped here daily for that postcard photo of Sydney Harbour headlands.  From The Gap there is a leisurely heritage walk of about 500m which is a Sydney history lesson featuring relics of old cannons and rifle walls and leads you to the red and white striped Hornby lighthouse.

The closest school is Vaucluse Public. A well regarded primary school, catering towards the local children in a quiet area with beautiful grounds.

Watsons Bay Park is a great place to relax and enjoy fish & chips from Doyle’s whilst the children play on the swings and slides.  The playground has been recently rejuvenated but don’t expect a highly engaging experience for the kids as unfortunately it’s sparse in its equipment. 

The view from Watsons Bay is nothing short of spectacular – the tranquil waters of Sydney Harbour, the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.  Enjoy morning tea at the Teagardens Cafe, and spend some quality time with the kids at the mini Woollahra library which is adjoining the café. On Tuesdays they have special story time for pre-schoolers at 10.30am so mums can grab a coffee and relax! Walk the promenade, swim in the recently updated Baths or stop in at Watsons Bay Hotel for a quick bite and cocktail. And finish off with a well-deserved gelato from Gelatissimo. There are so many fabulous options to explore.

Life here is easy, but expect to pay for the privilege – one of those cute 2 bedroom cottages just sold for over $2 million! The bay is tightly held and well loved by its residents.

Vaucluse

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Vaucluse is an affluent suburb of the eastern suburbs of Sydney located 8km north east of the CBD with a population of around 7,919 (as of 2011) people

Dover Heights

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Dover Heights is a coastal suburb in Sydney’s east and 9 km from the CBD.  It has a population of 3,940 (as of 2011) people.

Dover Heights – Living up to its name

Coastal living, fresh air, parks, beautiful vistas and in close proximity to Bondi Beach, this is a suburb that evokes strong opinions. It is a small cliff top suburb nestled between North Bondi, Rose Bay, Vaucluse and the Pacific Ocean.  Consisting of a mix of older and established families, it is considered to be the more affluent suburb within Waverley Council.  

Originally named Dover Heights due to its cliffs resembling those of Dover in Kent, England, these cliffs offer fabulous park lands, utilised by children of the area as well as many of the beloved family dogs. One such park located on the cliffs is Rodney Reserve. With large soccer and football fields it is a favourite for sporting locals. During the week it is not uncommon to find at least 5 dog-walkers, each with 10 dogs enjoying the fresh ocean air. The cliffs have secret climbing ropes nick named "dover ropes" used by fishermen who climb down to secure some of the best ocean fishing spots in the east.  The other famous park in the area is Dudley Page Reserve renowned for the postcard Sydney Harbour view, which is very popular with tourist coaches and on New Year’s Eve for the perfect fireworks viewing. The park has recently been upgraded to include a fabulous bike track.

Dover Heights is predominantly a residential suburb and the properties are tightly held as people fall in love and stay for a lifetime.    Just footsteps away from the bustle of Bondi, one can get above it all. Some would say Dover Heights can be cold (literally and not so literally), large houses mean less talking to the neighbours and less of a community feel, but the scenery and building styles in Dover Heights are something special. The architectural design is diverse, from the multi-million dollar new mansions imitating boats and butterflies, to the old art deco gems of the 1920's and the P&O's beauties.

The current median price of a house is $3,480,000, and the average unit price is $2,237,500 (Apr 2016).

With very limited commercial areas residing in Dover Heights options for shopping and eating are limited. The best coffee and pastries can be found at Tre Pani - a fabulous corner cafe. What is lacks in shops, it makes up for in parks and views. Love it or hate it - if you can afford to live in Dover Heights it’s definitely worth a look.

Rose Bay

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Rose Bay is an affluent harbourside suburb of Sydney’s eastern suburbs located 7 km east of the CBD.  It has a population of 9,401 (as of 2011) people.

Rose Bay – a rose by another name would smell as sweet

Bordered by Bellevue Hill, North Bondi and Vaucluse, historic Rose bay is an affluent harbourside suburb 7km east of the CBD.  

 Water activities abound in this vibrant area.  Woollahra Sailing Club, Cranbrook School Boathouse and Eastern Suburbs Dragon Boat club are here to for the enthusiast.  Oz SUP Centre and Rose Bay Aquatic both offer paddle boards, kayaks and tinnies for hire to enjoy the waters of Sydney Harbour.  You can even charter a fishing trip from Fishin’ Trips.  Your 4 legged friends are not ignored and can enjoy a patch of the Sydney foreshore at “Dog beach” entrance to which situated at the end of Caledonian Road, where your dog can enjoy the water and the sand off lead.

Water not your thing – no worries!  Rose Bay has basketball courts, Tennis courts, Goal Soccer Academy and Rugby posts all in Lyne Park and MOC and Sugar and Spoon Café are great places to enjoy coffee post activities.  Don’t forget Lyne Park also has a great kid’s playground with covered equipment and a flying fox!

If it’s the small ball you’re after then Rose Bay is the place.  Woollahra Golf Club has a public 9 hole course and practice greens whilst the private and exclusive Royal Sydney has a 27-hole championship course and the Australian Open held annually in November.

History abounds in Rose Bay.  The Rose Bay War Memorial at the entrance of Lyne Park was unveiled in 1935 “to our fallen be mindful of the men they were”.   Rose Bay Wharf was Sydney’s first international airport and Sydney Seaplanes still operate from this site offering scenic flights over Sydney and going as far as Newcastle.   Enjoying front row seats to these planes is the beautiful Catalina Restaurant named in honour of the nine Catalina flying boats which bought Australian POWs back from WWII in 1945 and moored at the wharf. 

The Sydney ferry terminal at Rose Bay travels to Circular Quay, Manly and the Zoo and the car park (if you’re early enough to get a spot) offers 12 hour parking for the full day commuter.   Frequent buses to and from the city as well as out to Watsons Bay and Bondi Junction.

Train for the city to surf on “heart break hill” (or just cheer on the runners in August!), learn to swim at Tivoli Swim School or head to the Hermitage Foreshore Reserve for a beautiful harbour side bushwalk, Rose Bay offers it all for a Median house price $3,135,000 and unit price $955,000 - truly millionaires lifestyle.

North Bondi

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North Bondi is a coastal, eastern suburb of Sydney 7 km east of the CBD.  It has a population of 8,581 (as of 2011)

North Bondi – live the dream!

North Bondi is the locals Bondi.   Set just far away enough from the rowdy action, yet in walking distance to the magnificent water’s edge it offers the fabulous lifestyle that comes with living in Bondi without the crowd. Once you have lived in North Bondi it is hard to live anywhere else.  Incorporating streets between Ramsgate Avenue and Clyde Street up to Old South Head Road the area is only 1 square kilometre in size but offers huge variety and an exceptional way of life.

Households in North Bondi are primarily young families with children and homes in North Bondi are in high demand.  Small shops are sprinkled around the area service the area with everything from a local pharmacist and beautician to vintage cellars, organically baked bread and Israeli inspired restaurants to create a community feel.

North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club holds Little Nippers every Sunday morning from September through to February and host one of the best sausage sizzles on the coast!  Enjoy a relaxing coffee at Porch and Parlour, take the family to the Hill for lunch or just stay in and order Dough Boy’s Pizza to be delivered the choice is yours. The current median price of a house is $2,277,000, and the average unit price is $875,000 (Apr 2016).

 Bondi will always attract the tourists, but North Bondi will always be home to affluent locals keen to enjoy the beauty and lifestyle it offers.   

Bondi Beach

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One of the most visited sites in Australia, Bondi Beach is the name of the iconic beach and surrounding suburb in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.  Located 7km east of the CBD it has a population of 10,748 (as of 2011) people.

Bondi

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Bondi is the neighbouring suburb to Bondi Beach located in 7km from the CBD in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.  It has a population of 9,614 (as of 2011) people.

Bondi Junction

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Bondi Junction is an eastern suburb of Sydney 6 km east of the CBD.  It has a population of 8,660 (as of 2011) people.

Bellevue Hill

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Bellevue Hill is an affluent suburb of the eastern suburb of Sydney located 5km east of the CBD.  It has a population of 10,765 (as of 2011).

Bellevue Hill

Bellevue Hill meaning beautiful view is an affluent suburb 5km east of the CBD.  Known to be one of Australia’s wealthiest suburbs, its winding, tree lined streets have housed many notable Australians including the Packers, stock broker Rene Rivkin, Prime Minister Sir William McMahon, business man Lachlan Murdoch and actress Toni Collette - here is where you rub shoulders with the truly rich.

With a demographic mainly of maturing and established families and a median house price of $4,300,000 demand for this area is high.  All about living life on a grand scale, Bellevue Hill is mainly residential houses with their rolling manicured lawns and period style mansions set back from the street it is serviced by two small shopping villages with gourmet cafes, fruit shops and beauticians which ensures the hustle and bustle of urban living is well and truly forgotten in this tranquil suburb.

Boasting historic homes and award winning modern architecture, Bellevue Hill is worth a wander.  Bellevue Road starts at the bottom of the hill in Double Bay and winds its way past the salubrious streets such as Fairfax Road, Bulkara Road, Kambla Road and Cooper Park Road.  At the top of the hill is the beautiful Cooper Park with its many bush paths leading to cut throughs to different areas of the suburb.  Train on the steep stairs or take your dog for a run around the beautiful flat green.   Going further into Bellevue Hills’ maze of streets you will find the hidden Thornton Park tucked in between Beresford and Boronia Roads.  Here there is a slippery slide designed to delight young and old.

Bellevue Hill consists of two sides – the Rose Bay or the Woollahra side with accessibility to the CBD by car or bus and as its closer to the city than the likes of Vaucluse and Rose Bay, you beat a lot of the traffic.  Recommended for the cashed up professional city worker with families and kids who want to be central to Double Bay, Bondi Beach and Westfield, Bellevue Hill also offers large parcels of land and panoramic city views.  

Home to two very prestigious private boys’ schools that being The Scots College established in 1893 and Cranbrook School founded in 1918 the area also offers the local Bellevue Hill Public school which is getting a multi-million dollar upgrade and has access to the beautiful Bellevue Park for outdoor play.

Bellevue Hill will certainly offer a dress circle home, quiet streets and leafy outlook but you will need to step outside to the retail mecca of Bondi Junction and the exclusivity of Double Bay for your retail fix.

Double Bay

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Double Bay is a harbourside suburb of Sydney 4km east of the CBD.  It has a population of 4,687.

Synonymous with glamour and elegance, this sparkling jewel on the foreshores of the eastern suburbs, Double Bay sits between Point Piper and Darling Point just 4 Km east of the CBD.  

Knick named “Double Pay” because of the high end shopping boutiques and expensive real estate, Double Bay is renowned for being a haven for celebrity spotting be it royalty or presidents to movie stars and pop idols this is where they come to stay and play.   More notable past visitors include Princess Diana, President George and Barbara Bush, Bob Hawke and Blanche d’Alpuget to more recent celebrities such as Miranda Kerr, Laura Bingle and Sam Worthington with their baby Rocket,  Miranda Kerr to Russell Crow, who’s kids went to the local school. 

This grand ole society dame knows how to keep relevant.  Losing some of its appeal in the early naughties with the opening of the massive Westfield in Bondi, Double Bay has reinvigorated and reinvented itself not just offering amazing shoe stores and international designer boutiques, Double Bay is now a foodies paradise with marvellous restaurants, incredible cafes and mind blowing bars.   A multi-million dollar joint venture has recently seen the opening of the Kiaroa Lands site making Double Bay a highly desirable liveable, workable and playable address.  The development includes a flagship Woolworths, AboutLife,  a retail arcade with 20 specialty shops including Mistelle wine bar, Little Jeans and Bake Bar Organic just to name a few.   Also included in the space is the new library and commercial premises. 

For the day to day services Double Bay offers the best in Sydney.  Florida and Lawrence Dry Cleaning offer same day ironing and dry cleaning services and hidden in Knox Lane is Elite Shoe Repairs who will not only fix those Louboutin heels they can also colour change everything from your Chloe ballet flats to that so last season’s Givenchy handbag!  Every Thursday from 8:30am to 2:00pm, Guilfoyle Avenue holds an Organic Farmers Markets with great fresh produce and fanciful musicians creating a welcoming village atmosphere. 

Double bay’s natural beauty lends itself to do casual just as well as it does glam and high end.  Redleaf Beach is an idyllic little beach which hosts a safe harbour side, tidal enclosure with a wrap-around pontoon and floating decks.  Even on the busiest days there is plenty of space to swim and is great to dabble tiny feet.   If you’re feeling peckish there is a lovely café serving light snacks but has a magnificent view out to Darling Point.

Steyne Park caters for the sportsman with a cricket pitch and hockey field and plenty of space to throw around a frisbee or football.   This a great place to enjoy a picnic with gourmet food from one of the many beautiful cafés enroute and sit and enjoy the harbour view.    It has a small enclosed playground, gazebo and public toilets which makes it a great spot for a kids party.  On the northern end of the park is a boat ramp and an area used for sailboat rigging on weekends.  Dogs are permitted here off the lead between the seawall and pedestrian path but best keep them away from the playground – fines are hefty here.

 Currently the median house price in Double Bay (for March 2016) was $2,810,000 but with some of the best shopping, restaurants, services and supermarkets in Sydney, it’s a price well paid.

Point Piper

Point Piper is a small affluent harbourside suburb of Sydney’s eastern suburbs.  It is located 6km east of the CBD and has a population of 1,404 (as of 2011) people.

Darling Point

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Darling Point is a harbourside eastern suburb of Sydney located 4km from the CBD.  It has a population of 3,919.

Edgecliff

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Edgecliff is a small suburb located in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.  It is 4km east of the CBD with a population of 1,981 (as of 2011) people.

Tamarama

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Tamarama is a beachside eastern suburb of Sydney located 7km east of the CBD.  It has a population of 1450 (as of 2011) people.

Tamarama

Tamarama is a small ocean beach about 1km from Bondi and few hundred metres north of Bronte.  Referred to by locals as “Glamarama” this is the place to see and be seen!  Great for swimming, surfing and sunbathing Tamarama also offers an adjacent park which is a popular spot for picnics and exercise.  But be warned, this small, easterly aspect , of deep water beach is considered one of the most dangerous patrolled beaches in NSW.  The Surf Life Saving Club, which was one of the first lifesaving clubs in the world, boasts an enviable record of not having lost a single life to a mishap in the surf whilst it is patrolled in over 100 years.

Tamarama, originally known as Dixon Bay, derives its name from the original aboriginal name “Gamma Gamma” meaning storm.   Imagine if you can that back in 1887 Tama was the site of Sydney’s first coastal amusement park named The Bondi Aquarium.  Its greatest attraction was the plunging roller coaster that dived and twisted over the beach.   In 1906 the park was bought and renamed Wonderland City.   After a few years of low crowds, Wonderland was closed in 1911; in 1920 the NSW Government bought the area and it is now Tamarama Park, one of the most significant beach reserves in the area.  There is still a Wonderland Avenue in Tamarama which overlooks the beach and the park.

Tamarama beach is not easy to access and parking is limited as there are no designed car parks around the area.    The ever popular Sculpture by the Sea exhibition is held for 3 weeks in October.  It is free to the public and accessible 24 hours a day.  Thousands of people are attracted to the Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk to view over 100 sculptures.  Tamarama hosts up to 13 sculptures many of them on a grand scale on the sand of the beach.

In recent years, Tamarama has had a facelift with a new Café, public changing facilities and picnic area installed.  A dense ridge-top of residences encloses the park on three sides – the design of some of these homes is such that they appear to be suspended above the park.  Tamarama relies on neighbouring Bronte and Bondi for its commercial aspect and is therefore mainly a residential area with properties in high demand and their prices reflecting this.  The median house price for 2016 is $3,550,000, and the median unit price $1,400,000.  Top prices achieved in the area for 2016 for coastal properties between $6,500,000 and $13,000,000.  Demographics of the area are maturing and establishing independence and maturing couples and families.

Bronte

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Bronte is a beachside suburb of Sydney located 8km east of the CBD.  It has a population of 6,827 (as of 2011) people.

Bronte

Bronte is quieter, smaller and more refined than its hipster neighbour Bondi, which is only 2 kilometres away and joined by the coastal walk.  Considered one of Sydney’ most elite suburbs, this beautiful coastal suburb is only 8km east of the CBD.  It has a family oriented beach hemmed in by sandstone cliffs and lays claim to some challenging surf and a dangerous rip known as the Bronte Express. 

When it comes to child friendly Bronte beach takes the cake.  It not only offers a child friendly natural ocean pool and salt water lap pool, there is a large beautifully equipped playground which includes an embankment slide, spinning net an multi tower unit with climbing balancing and sliding.  There is vast grassed area with bar-be-que pits and picnic tables and toilet facilities and a kiosk.  The slam dunk option here is a ride on the miniature railway which is will certainly entertain the children. 

Bronte is also home to the oldest surf lifesaving club in the world and holds Little Nippers here every Sunday during the summer months.    In the winter jump in the icy cold waters with the Bronte Splashers who claim to be the world’s oldest Winter swimming club founded in 1921.  It is very difficult to find parking here and it is usually timed metres so get here early.

In 2011, Waverly council completed work on restoring and naturalising the Bronte Gully Creek and surrounding bushland area.  The result is a corridor of natural bush and permanent flowing waterfall.   Another benefit which came of this is that dog owners can now go and exercise their dogs off lead in this area between the hours of 3:00pm and 10:00am – one of the few places in the suburb where dogs can go off lead.

Bronte offers an enviable lifestyle which does not come cheap.  Medium house prices are $2,880,000 for a 3 bedroom property and for a 2 bedroom unit the medium price is $995.  Currently a beautiful Hampton style home in Gardyne Street with a pool and views is over $8 million.

Waverly

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Waverley is an eastern suburb of Sydney located 7km east of the CBD.   It has a population of 4,253 (as at 2011) people.

Clovelly

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Clovelly is a small beach suburb located 8km south east of the CBD in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.  It has a population of 4,581 (as of 2011) people.

Clovelly

This small tranquil beach side suburb is located between Bronte and Gordons Bay on the coastal walk, Clovelly is more like a large ocean pool than a beach.   Having originally being referred to as “Little Coogee”, this beautiful area came into its own in 1913 when it was renamed Clovelly after a village on the Devon coast of England and is affectionately known as “Cloey”

 Popular for families and snorkelers, Clovelly has a LifeSaving Club, a 25x6 metre salt water pool and free on site car parking.  The concrete platforms and promenades surrounding the bay make it a popular spot for sunbaking and the picnic tables and bar be que area makes it had to go past for a picnic.

Clovelly is mainly a residential suburb with four small shopping precincts and restaurants dotted along Clovelly Road and Burnie Street.  The Clovelly Hotel boasts the largest LCD screen in the Eastern Suburbs;  Clovelly Bowling Club is located on the edge of the cliffs has been established since 1947 and enjoys draw dropping views from its greens and club house.  Not just for Nanas, it invites one and all to be taught barefoot bowls!

Clovelly has one school in its catchment area.  Clovelly Public School officially dates back to 1913 although there was a public school operating in Varna Street as early as 1897. 

With a population of 4,581 people, there is high demand for housing in the area and in August 2016 a total of 11 properties sold.  With a median house price $2,595,000, median unit price $1,072,500 the demographic of Clovelly is mainly maturing and established couples and families. 

Coogee

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Coogee is in Sydney’s eastern suburbs and located beachside 8km south east of the CBD.  It has a population of 14,012 (as of 2011) people.

Coogee

Coogee is affectionately known as “Sydney’s Seaside Village”.  It is a densely populated beachside suburb 8 km south-east of the Sydney CBD.   The name “Coogee” is said to be taken from the aboriginal word koojah meaning “smelly place” – a reference to the decaying kelp which washes up on the beach.  Smelly no longer holds true to the Coogee we see today with its great places to eat, surf and swim. Visitors and locals enjoy the hospitality and exciting night-life of the Coogee Bay Hotel, the Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach and the newly refurbished Coogee Pavilion. 

Coogee has a large number of residents in the 25 to 39 year old age group – 39.6% compared to the national average of 20.9%.  This makes the area very family centric and Coogee ensures it caters to its primary residents by hosting numerous events.  The annual Coogee Family Fun day has been held for over 20 years in December.  Here you can enjoy market stalls, carnival rides, face painting and live entertainment with all profits raised donated to the Sydney Children’s Hospital.  In 2016 it will be held on Saturday, 3 December 2016.  The Taste of Coogee is a food and wine festival held in September and is in its fourth year.  Money raised from this event will be donated to Lions Club charities.  Another of Coogee’s highlight events is the Coogee Sparkles NYE Fireworks held at the family friendly time of 9:00pm (there are no midnight fireworks here).   Best viewing areas are Goldstein Reserve, Grant & Trenery Reserve, Clovelly Beach Car Park, Burrows Park headland or any of a number of local café, hotels and restaurants who host special NYE dinners.

For the more sports minded, Coogee offers its own Rugby Union, Soccer, Netball and Tennis Clubs all with great junior programs.  Of course being on the beautiful South Pacific Ocean, Coogee offers an established and successful Surf Life Saving Club including the Coogee Minnows (nipper club), Boardriders Club, Triathon club as well a supporting swimming groups such as the Coogee penguins and ocean swimming association.  There is even a Beach Volley ball Association with council approval to set up nets along the promenade.

Coogee’s medium house price is $2,500,000 and the median price for a unit is around $895,000.  Properties range from old style 2 bedroom units all the way to the award winning architecturally designed cliff top multi-level homes.  Another great thing about Coogee is that although the parking is tight, it is free timed parking in most areas.  There are some paid parking areas but unlike some of the other beach suburbs, parking for two hours is free.

Although seaweed may still wash up on the sandy beaches of Coogee, the smelly place no longer applies to this seaside town.

Maroubra

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Maroubra is a beachside suburb in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney 10 KM south of the CBD.  It has a population of 29,594 (as of 2011) people.

Maroubra

The largest suburb of Randwick City Council both in area and population, Maroubra sits 10 kilometres south of the CBD on a 1 kilometre strip of Maroubra Bay.  Maroubra is one of the best surfing beaches in Australia (second only to Bells Beach in Victoria), and comes from the aboriginal word which means “like thunder” -  a fairly apt description of the big waves that pound and crash on the shoreline and attract surfers from all around the world.  There are regular good swells and wave conditions but the beach can be very dangerous so swimmers are advised to swim between the flags.  Two surf lifesaving clubs service the beach and the area is patrolled year round by Council lifeguards so it is also best to swim only at these times.  Free parking surrounds the beach.

 Maroubra Beach is popular with visitors given the easy proximity to the beach and surrounding open spaces. There is an outdoor gym, free bar-be-ques, Skate Park and large kid playground.    On the north end of Maroubra beach down the steep steps from Marine parade is the Mahon rock pool.  The exposed rock and cliffs about make it a spectacular venue for swimming and there is the added benefit of an amenities block overlooking the pool.

Lurline bay is considered to be one of the loveliest pockets of Maroubra and would like to become an official suburb like Queens Park is to Bondi Junction.  Streets that are included in this prestigious area are Mermaid Avenue, Torrington Road and Lurline Street although some try and pop in for higher real estate value!

Maroubra Junction is the main retail shopping area for Maroubra.  Pacific Square is conveniently located in the heart of this junction.  Parking in the centre is free for the first 2 hours.  Nearby is Westfield Eastgardens which has free parking.  Other shopping districts dot Maroubra, south Maroubra (which known as The Village) and Maroubra Beach.   Cafés, restaurants and other retail facilities including surf shops, yoga schools and the Maroubra Seal club are never far away.

Households in this area are primarily couples with children making Maroubra a community minded and family oriented suburb.  It has over 11 parks and sporting fields which cover nearly 15% of the total area and includes its very own village green.  This grassed area opposite The Village shopping spot includes a fully fenced children’s playground with shade sails and the park hosts regular events such as an Art Show and annual Christmas Carol service.   The median house price in Maroubra is $1,750,000 whilst the median unit price is around $800,000 with the top end having views over the water.  Maroubra does have Government assisted housing in some areas.

With a population of over 30,000 residents, Maroubra is well catered for in terms of schools.  There are a number of public junior schools including Maroubra Bay Public, Maroubra Junction Public, and Rainbow Street Public.  For public high school there is South Sydney High School and Maroubra High School.  There is also a choice of independent primary and high schools a few being St Mary-St Joseph Catholic Primary, St Aidan’s Catholic, Our Lady of the Annunciation Catholic, Mount Sinai College, Marist College and Lycee Condorcet.

Regular bus services run from Maroubra junction to the city and to the airport, Rockdale and Burwood.  No train line or light rail service this area.

Maroubra is a well maintained and tidy coastal suburb.  When you live in Maroubra you only need to leave if you work in the city and come home every weekend and feel like a holiday!

Malabar

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Malabar – Enjoying being unknown

The relatively secret suburb of the East is Malabar and the locals like it that way.  Units and homes are still relatively affordable for the east and it has a strong community feel to it.  It is home to a stunning and normally placid, beach which features a rock pool at the southern end and a boat ramp to the northern end.  Great for young families trying to enter the Eastern Suburbs market, but willing to live on the edge a little! 

Malabar

The size of Malabar is approximately 4 square kilometres.  It has 9 parks covering nearly 41% of total area.  Low lying bush a leads onto Cromwell Park, located behind the beach.  Here you will find are BBQ and toilet facilities including change rooms and shower facilities. To meet the needs of young families there is also a fabulous, fenced playground which is great for children’s parties and picnics.

The beach is popular with families due to the normally calm conditions although it is not patrolled by lifeguards or lifesavers.  Walking, jogging, sunbathing, rock fishing, snorkelling, scuba diving and kayaking are all popular activities.  Join the locals on a Saturday mornings to swim from ramp to ramp across the bay.

Malabar is slowly attracting new young blood into the area. With great facilities, and a choice of schools being Chifley and Malabar Public or the local St Andrew’s Catholic School and Matraville Sports High School, it is an affordable option with all the benefits of the eastern suburbs.  The predominant age group living in Malabar is 35-44 years.

Be sure to check out Malabar Beach Café for your morning latte or head to the 2015 winner of the Randwick City Business Excellence award the Heritage Kitchen Garden bringing the benefits of country living to the city.

The Malabar RSL considers itself the friendliest RSL in Sydney and offers indoor bowling and snooker to rock fishing and surfing.  Alternatively go for some fun Sunday drinks at the Randwick Golf Club whose public course encapsulates some of the most stunning views – the 13 hole is a stunner! 

Over the last couple of years demand has increased in Malabar. With most of the suburb taken up with park-lands the supply of accommodation is relatively low. The median sales price has increased from $1.14M (as of 2012) to $1,810,000 (Apr 2016).

Malabar may not be hipster like Bondi or photogenic like Bronte.  It doesn’t have the surf of Maroubra or the glamour of Tamarama but it does have that local lay back feel of a coastal suburb still within the Eastern Suburbs.

Little Bay

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Located 14km south-east of the CBD, Little Bay is a small coastal area bordering Sydney’s eastern suburbs.  It has a population of 2,937 (as of 2011) people.

The Little Bay of the East

This sleepy little suburb is 14km south east of Sydney and quickly becoming more popular with young families and retirees.

Little Bay was initially established as a “tent city” to isolate patients suffering from the highly infectious small pox disease which broke out in Sydney in 1881-82.  Later the government decided to build a permanent hospital on the site to isolate and treat infectious diseases.    This Coastal hospital became invaluable during the bubonic plague, and later when the troops returned with influenza from WWI and WWII. It was isolated from the healthy settlements and still close enough to Sydney and in 1934 the hospital became known as Prince Henry Hospital.

In 2001 the hospital was relocated and the site became available for residential use and Prince Henry’s and Little Bay is now a chic coastal village.  There has been a constant release of new homes and apartment blocks encapsulating the heritage of the area and bringing with it all the modern amenities needed for a successful and thriving community like a retail village, public transport and parklands.   Never the past to be forgotten, a museum has been opened in the old hospital and it is said to be haunted with the ghost of Sister Grace Andrews – go on the twilight tour and see if she turns up!

As part of the local Randwick council Little Bay is the only master planned development in the eastern suburbs.  The next phase of the development plan is the adjoining Little Bay Cove site.

The beach is protected from large coastal swells so it’s great for snorkelling and paddling.  The parking is free – how unusual for an Eastern Suburbs beach!  Dogs are allowed on the beach and access to the area is via a steep timber staircase so it’s pretty much a hidden jewel. The natural rock pool is a perfect location for a calm swim with toddlers.

As of February 2016, the median house price for the suburb was $1,550,000 and seen a 23.4 per cent increase.  The average rental yield is 6%.   The area attracts occupiers and investors of varying ages who are moving from nearby Mascot and Botany as well as inner western suburbs such as Dulwich Hill, Erskineville and Summer Hill.  Little Bay offers value for money that cannot be found anywhere else along the eastern suburbs coastline and it is just a hop skip and jump from these pricier areas.

Little Bay might be an evolving community but it has established schools nearby including La Parouse, Malabar and Chifley Public schools, Matraville Sports High and St Andrews Catholic Primary School. 

The Little Bay landscape has come a long way since its time as a quarantine hospital and housing commission estates.  The urban landscape has completely evolved into architecturally designed residences that are surrounded by green space and enjoy coastal and ocean views all within easy reach of the city. If you have a spare couple of hours we highly suggest taking an afternoon drive down to Little Bay and we are sure you will be delighted.

Kingsford

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Located 7km south east from the CBD, Kingsford is a mainly residential area in the Eastern suburbs of Sydney.  It has a population of 14,101 (as of 2011) people.

Kensington

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Kensington is a suburb located 6km south-east of the CBD in Sydney’s east.  It has a population of 12,776 (as of 2011) people.

Kensington

The multicultural area of Kensington is a suburb 6 kilometres south-east of the CBD.  There is a mixture of high density and medium density housing including beautiful free standing federation homes for over 12,500 residents.   The streets are named are after local people, places in London or the local flora.   For example Duke Street, Boronia Street and Doncaster Avenue just to name a few.

 Home to the main campus of the University of NSW and NIDA, Kensington has a high student population which has attracted some great affordable and child friendly restaurants.   Having a mixing pot of demographics, there are cafes and restaurant to suit any taste.  Some of the local favourites are Chairman Mao for authentic Chinese Hunan cuisine,  The Claypot Taverna which is great for a truly Greek meal and It’s Time for Thai for a that family friendly meal.

With construction already underway on the Light Rail which will be going down Anzac Parade through to Gardeners Road, and a stop out the front of UNSW, commuting to and from the CBD will be easier for the city worker.   Up till now a regular bus service has operated in the area.

Kensington has over 5 parks covering nearly 25% of its total area.   These include Brompton Park, the Kokoda Park with its undercover and fenced in play area, Kensington Park which includes a Bowing Club and oval and of course the Australian Golf Club.  It is also in very close proximity to Centennial Parklands and Moore Park

Kensington has a choice of many fine independent schools including the Sacred Heart Monastery, OLSH – Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Convent,  Our lady of the Rosary Primary School and St Spyridon High School.  The local public school is Kensington Public located in Doncaster Avenue.  Public high schools include Randwick Boys and Randwick Girls high along with Matraville Sports High

Buying a property in Kensington will set you back about $800k for a 2 bedroom unit or if it’s a 3 bedroom house you’re after expect to pay over $2 million.  For the price, you do geta nice size back garden and the community feel of a multi-culturally diverse suburb.

Randwick

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Randwick is a suburb in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney located 6 km south-east of the CBD.  Is has a population of 27,740 (as of 2011) people which includes the sub area of Randwick North.

Centennial Park

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Centennial Park is a parkside suburb 4km South east of the CBD in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.  It has a population of 2,106 (as of 2011) people.

Rushcutters Bay

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Rushcutters Bay is a harbourside eastern suburb of Sydney 3km east of the CBD.  It has a population of 2,372 (as of 2011) people.

Elizabeth Bay

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Elizabeth Bay is a harbourside suburb in Sydney’s eastern Suburbs located 3Km east of the CBD.  It has a population of 5,093 (as of 2011) people.

Darlinghurst

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Darlinghurst is an inner-city eastern suburb of Sydney located immediately east of the CBD.  It has a population of 10,060 (as of 2011) people.

Paddington

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Paddington is an inner –city suburb of Sydney located 3km east of the CBD.  It has a population of 8,090 (as of 2011) people.

Paddington

With trendy cafes, art galleries, cutting edge boutiques and 19th century terrace houses of every colour lining the streets, the inner-city suburb of Paddington is undeniably chic. 

Just 3km east of the CBD, Paddo, as it’s colloquially referred to, is a densely populated one and half square kilometre of Sydney’s eastern suburbsbordered by the beautiful Centennial Park and Moore Parks and the diverse suburb of Darlinghurst and Edgecliff.  The distinctly Australian terrace houses evolved from earlier Georgian and Regency classics to create a historic and cohesive suburb, most of which is of national heritage significance. The main thoroughfare may be Oxford Street but nevertheless there are many side streets and tiny laneways to lure the intrepid away only to discover even more fashion boutiques, pubs and art galleries.

Long regarded as being the place for the artistic, literary and designers to mingle and meet, Paddington holds true to its roots.   Sydney’s longest running community market is still held in the grounds of the heritage listed sandstone Paddington Uniting Church every Saturday as it has since 1973.  Over the years it has provided a platform for creators such as Lisa Ho, Zimmerman and Dinosaur Designs to introduce their style to the Sydney fashionista.

The Berkelouw Book store is considered something of an institution in the literary community stocking a range of new, rare and second hand books as well as having a vibrant café and wine bar.  Open until late it’s a great place to stop in after an evening at the Chauvel Cinema, the spiritual home of Australian film culture which screens the best independent and world films and whose architecture boasts a stunning barrel vaulted ceiling with proscenium arch stage.  Further down Oxford Street is the sleek and modern Verona Cinema encompassing a program of art-house, documentary or edgy independent films.

There is many an unusual treasure to find in Paddington.  The sunken Paddington Reservoir Gardens, once a reservoir for the Botany Swamps water scheme, built in 1859 and were resurrected and restored in 2008 to create a beautiful outdoor space for all to enjoy.    There is a pub on nearly every corner with most offering a variety of everything from bar food to high end dining but be assured that you will get a beer,  even a craft beer.  

Buses run regularly through the suburb taking the city commuter to work or the weekend warrior to the beach suburbs.   Allianz stadium and the adjoining SCG are within walking distance.

As Paddington is so accessible, choices of schools in the area are boundless.   Local public schoolsinclude Glenmore Road and Paddington Public School and central city schools include St Andrews, St Mary’s, Sydney grammar and Sydney boys high.

Predominantly the people residing in Paddington are 25-35 year olds and are primarily couples with young children.  It’s a trendy and cosmopolitan inner Sydney suburb, unique with its wrought iron lace balconies, leafy streets and hefty median house price of $1,855,000 – and remember to ensure to buy it with parking!

Woollahra

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Woollahra is located 5km east of the CBD in the Eastern suburbs of Sydney.  It has a population of 7,180 (as of 2011) people.