The best suburbs in every capital city as ranked by experts – and some may surprise

Australia is home to some of the most liveable cities in the world, so it’s no surprise it also boasts some of the most highly sought-after postcodes.

From leafy inner-city enclaves to sun-drenched coastal hotspots, Aussies are spoiled for choice.  To narrow down the top places to live in every capital city, realestate.com.au asked local property experts from around the country to name the best suburbs – with a few unexpected results.

"Looking through the picks, it's clear that the criteria for ‘best' includes a high level of amenity, a good sense of community, proximity to the city, an enviable lifestyle, or a strong sense of culture,” PropTrack senior economist Eleanor Creagh said. “These sought-after suburbs are typically in desirable locations, close to local amenities like shopping precincts, green space, parks and plenty of leisure facilities, or up and coming areas with trendy neighbourhoods.”
Others are family friendly suburbs where safety, a good sense of community, access to top schools and proximity to parks and playgrounds attract many people.

 

"Some of the highest priced and most in-demand suburbs in each capital city have these qualities,” Ms Creagh said.  “They're great places to live, whether buying or renting, and have a high degree of convenience for residences.” Typically, suburbs that are sought-after tend to be better insulated from market fluctuations, such as those being felt at present. “Whether the market is rising or falling, people still desire to live in pockets like these,” she said.

Sydney 

The Harbour City is famous for its postcard-worthy landmarks, but its most exciting suburb has a slightly grittier reputation, buyer’s agent Michelle May said. “Up-and-coming suburb Alexandria is the perfect choice for trendy couples, families, and urbanites,” Ms May said. Located 5km south of the CBD, Alexandria is a slice of the city’s industrial history and “the epicentre of the vibrant hub of suburbs that exists on the outskirts” of Sydney, she said.

 

Dominated by grungy warehouses, sawtooth factories, and towering chimneystacks from a bygone era, the suburb has rapidly gentrified. Its laneways and backstreets nowadays are home to some of Sydney’s most iconic eateries and hipster hangouts. Despite its industrial heritage, Ms May said Alexandria “offers plenty of green spaces and modern amenities like the sprawling Sydney Park” as well as “easy access” to “world class beaches” – and has “a friendly neighbourhood feel” to boot. “Street parties are common in this eclectic mix of warehouses, traditional terrace houses and apartments,” she said. The inner-west suburb of Marrickville, about 7km from the CBD, is another “buzzing, multi-generational suburb” that deserves status as one of Sydney’s best suburbs, she added.

 

With a “lively music scene” and dining hubs centred on the Little Greece and Little Vietnam precincts, “there’s always something to do” in the area, which has a strong creative flair. “People express themselves however they like in Marrickville – any choice of outfit is acceptable, even just doing groceries at the local Woolies,” Ms May said. 
For families, “slightly larger land parcels compared to other suburbs closer to the city” make the suburb a winner, as does “the sense of space” on offer. With median house prices of $1.95 million and $1.92 million respectively, Alexandria and Marrickville are a touch less expensive than some of Sydney’s more blue-ribbon suburbs and embody the “ideal Sydney lifestyle,” she said.

Melbourne 

Australia’s most liveable city has many jewels in its crown, but Melbourne buyer’s advocate Nicole Jacobs said one suburb shines brighter than the rest. South Yarra, with its lively assortment of Art Deco apartment blocks, Victorian cottages, and historic mansions, is one of the Victorian capital’s oldest and most desirable neighbourhoods – and with good
reason.

 

Residents of the area’s exclusive Domain precinct have their “choice of gardens”, including Fawkner Park and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Ms Jacobs said. There are also countless swanky restaurants, cafés, and designer clothes boutiques right “on their doorstep.”
South Yarra’s centrality, about 4km south-east of the CBD, puts residents within walking distance of the city centre and the MCG. They can hop on a tram to quickly reach South Melbourne and the beaches of Albert Park, Middle Park, and St Kilda. For those who don’t mind being a bit farther from the action, Mordialloc, a bayfront suburb located about 24 kilometres south-east of the CBD, is another contender for Melbourne’s best suburb, according to Ms Jacobs.

Mordialloc’s median house price of $1.3 million makes it more affordable than South Yarra’s median house price of $2.27 million and its 4km “clean and wide” stretch of beach “is one of the best” Melbourne has to offer, she said. “While it is further out from the CBD, it offers a wonderful lifestyle with a vibrant café [and] restaurant culture. “Mordialloc really does have a lot going for it and it’s still affordable for families.” 

Brisbane 

For a prime spot in Queensland’s sunny capital, look no further than the “majestic” suburb of Seven Hills, according to real estate agent Hayley Van de Ven from RE/MAX Results. Located about 5km east of the CBD, the sloping streets of Seven Hills – so-named because of the topography, with its hills taking their names from the Seven Hills of Rome – are dotted with character homes, including post-war timber cottages and spectacular Queenslanders.

 

But the “well-hidden” suburb’s main appeal is the Seven Hills Reserve, a 52ha oasis smack in the middle of Brisbane suburbia perfect for young families to go biking, bushwalking, and koala-spotting, Ms Van de Ven said. For those wanting to be closer to the water, she recommended neighbouring Morningside, a suburb on the picturesque Brisbane River about 4km from the CBD.  With a median house price of $1.23 million, it’s slightly more affordable than Seven Hills, which has a median house price of $1.455 million and buyers “can still find a large block and enjoy the Australian Dream of a backyard”. Morningside’s transport links to the rest of Brisbane and easy access to the Gateway Motorway make it convenient for commuters, she added. “Morningside and Seven Hills are the very best in Brisbane real estate,” Ms Van de Ven said. “These two suburbs offer the best of both worlds.”

Perth 

Spread out over more than 150km of coastline, the West Australian capital is known for its massive urban sprawl. But one of its most sought-after neighbourhoods can be explored entirely on foot, real estate agent Claude Iaconi from Edison Property Residential said.  “In North Perth, you’re not bound by the car,” Mr Iaconi said. “There’s lots to do and see and eat, and a lot of lifestyle destinations basically within walking distance.”

 

Located 3km north of the CBD, he described North Perth as a “little slice of Melbourne in Perth”, with a funky café scene and beautiful character homes built in the early 20^th Century. The suburb’s median house price is $1.16 million. Despite its proximity to the city centre, North Perth is “dotted with parkland”, such as Smiths Lake Reserve, and features a number of sporting facilities, making it desirable for families as well as downsizers.  “The perception of Perth in general is that it’s a big, sprawling city, a car city, but more and more people are migrating to North Perth to be closer to the CBD,” he said.

Adelaide

In some ways, Adelaide’s best suburb encapsulates what’s so special about the South Australian capital, local agent Karen Dorman from Harris Real Estate said. Filled with “character and fantastic beachside amenities”, Glenelg East has a “brilliant community feel” that’s quintessential Adelaide, Ms Dorman declared. The “tightly held” suburb, which has a median house price of $1.2 million, is known for its large, quarter-acre blocks of land on which sit a mix of elegant heritage houses, including “traditional Tudors and Art Deco homes”, along with more contemporary builds, she said.

 

Located 9km south-west of the CBD, and just minutes from the golden sands of popular Glenelg Beach, the suburb is “removed enough from the hustle and bustle… but close enough to still be in the mix of thing”. Residents benefit from direct access via tram straight into the CBD, making it an extremely convenient place to live.

Canberra 

When most people think of the nation’s capital, they think of Parliament House, but the city’s real drawcard is a short stroll away, buyer’s agent Claire Corby said. “Griffith really is quintessential Canberra,” Ms Corby said. “Canberra’s not a very old city, but Griffith is one of our oldest suburbs, and in that you get all of the lovely leafy streets, heritage housing, and a sense of community.”

 

Located in Canberra’s inner-south about 7km from the CBD, Griffith is close to the Parliamentary Triangle, Lake Burley Griffin, and the boutique shopping and dining precincts of Manuka and Kingston. But its stately streets lined with American elms and oak trees give it a sheltered vibe. “From Griffith, you can walk straight down to Telopea Park, through beautiful old trees, and you don’t feel like you’re in the centre of town at all,” Ms Corby said. With no fewer than 20 parks in the suburb, residents have easy access to green space, making it a “great place to raise the kids,” Ms Corby said. Although, a house in Griffith doesn’t come cheap, with a median price tag of $2.19 million.

Hobart  

As Australia’s second-oldest city, Hobart is full of heritage ambiance and architecture dating back to the early 1800s – and no suburb showcases that fascinating history better than Battery Point. “Battery Point really is unrivalled in terms of charm, connectivity, and lifestyle in Hobart,” buyer’s agent Jasmin Rankin said.  “It’s probably the best-preserved colonial-era suburb in Australia, and being a heritage precinct, there’s been almost no new development. “Its streets are lined with everything from humble little dockworkers’ cottages and converted stables to Georgian homes and grand old mansions.”

 

Located just 1km from the CBD, “tiny and incredibly beautiful” Battery Point – named after the gun batteries that defended the town in the early 19^th Century – is close to the bustling market at Salamanca Place and the iconic waterfront. But despite its centrality, the suburb “has almost no through traffic, so it’s nice and quiet and perfectly walkable,” Ms Rankin said. There are also “mountain, river, or beach views from most streets”.
Some 75% of Battery Point’s residents have parklands within easy reach of their homes, while the suburb’s winding streets, such as Hampden Road, include “cute cafes, lovely little shops” and even “a quintessential old rowdy pub, complete with a great open fire and plenty of old yachties happy to spin you a yarn”. Unsurprisingly, property is “incredibly tightly held and hotly contested” in the suburb, she said. Battery Point has a median house price of $1.425 million, leading some homebuyers to opt for nearby Sandy Bay or West Hobart. But Battery Point is more than worth it, said Ms Rankin, adding: “It’s just a great spot to live. Life is easy.”

Darwin

The tropical Top End capital is arguably Australia’s most underrated city, with its pristine beaches, fiery sunsets, and laidback charm. And the “premium inner-city suburb” of Ludmilla, located about 6km north of the compact CBD, gives residents access to all that Darwin has to offer at an affordable price, said local agent Kerri-Ann Laurence from North Property NT.

 

The suburb is a quiet area with “wide, tree-lined streets” and “little flowthrough traffic” but is still close to the Saturday morning markets in Parap and the popular waterfront.  Dominated by Darwin’s classic elevated homes, the suburb also contains luxurious, resort-style builds on large blocks. With a median house price of $824,000, Ludmilla has a “smaller entry price point” than the nearby suburbs of Fannie Bay and Nightcliff, she added, but with many of the same perks, including proximity, culture, and the relaxed lifestyle that Darwin is famed for.

credits to Seb Starcevic, realestate.com.au/news