Tishi01

Hi there,

My family are I are moving to Sydney in August and have narrowed the search down but wanted some advice on the best places to live. We have a ten year old son and a six year old daughter. I have just arrived back in the UK after a weeks search and really loved the Gordon/Pymble/St Ives area. As a complete newcomer to Sydney I wanted to make sure that we made the right choice. I was hoping for any advice on schools and friendly/welcoming communities with lots of family activities and opportunities to meet new friends. Would really appreciate any tips!!

IvanM

Good areas if you can afford and be near the station. Snives (local nicknameas the population is reputed to be snooty) has no station and is reliant on buses. St Ives High school has a good reputation or do you want to go private. Either way it is hard to go wrong in the area.

Tishi01

Thank you, it's good to get insider info - not sure if 'Snives' would be up our street then!

man_called_Horse

Also St Ives has a big Jewish community. Not that I have any problem with that just thought it might be relevant.

Jon77

I used to live in the Lane Cove area which is really nice but not upper North Shore as such I guess, more lower, some very pretty views of the harbour / Lane Cove river from many residential streets, so pretty in fact it had it's own Lane Cove artists group, still might I think. Lane Cove also feels like a seperate village in the heart of suburban Sydney, it has managed to hold on to that community feeling that has been lost in many other areas. Houses can be expensive of course but is worth a look if you can afford it, I really like it there. The only drawn back is that the closest station is some distance away.

Gordon is a nice spot, especially if any of your family are in to the Rugby Union, they have one of the main domestic comptition sides there, I have been there to see them play numerous times. It is a nice area, especially if you can live within walking distance to the station.

The only place I would really advise to keep away from is Chatswood. The development that has gone on there over the last 5 or 6 years has been massive and it has had it's heart ripped out. Great for shopping, not so good for living.

man_called_Horse

The Hills area is good well established area for families especially Cherrybrook & Castle Hills. Only problem is there is no train yet but that helps keep those undesirable immigrants away.

IvanM

But that is not the North Shore. As well as no train the traffic is a pain and the services are not as established. Housing is much better value there though.

man_called_Horse

Thats why it called the Hills area.

killerhales

We live in Killara (West of the Pacific Highway). It is much better value than the East side. About 25 minutes walk from the station, or a quick drive and park.

We're in the catchment for Killara High School which has a very good reputation (our daughter goes to SCECGS Redlands, but that's another story)

Gordon is just up the road, a very nice suburb. St.Ives and Pymble you are just getting a little bit further from the city.

I would recommend Killara or Gordon. House prices get a bit more reasonable as you get further from the city, so that might be a plus for you if you like Pymble/St. Ives.

We have a post office/newsagent, a fantastic pizza restaurant, chinese (good but relatively pricey), grocers, skin care, dentist, pharmacy, day-time restaurant, bottleshop and lawnmower shop, and a couple of others. What more could you want!!

Good luck

IvanM

Decent coffee. North shore seems devoid of decent caffeine. Not enough from the med. Food is average as well. But I moved here for the kids.

Big Galah

Would have no problem living in Pymble or Gordon if I could afford to.

Tishi01

Many thanks, I think we will extend our search. It's such a pretty area, it seems a fine region to live. We're very excited and can't wait to move to Oz!!!

Rod-Helen-Poppy

what is your budget for rentals?

be prepared to spend a lot in the nice areas

where will you be working? factor in commute times too......

http://www.131500.com.au/

that site is invaluable; type in the name of the property you like/have seen on the net, then your work address and time you want to get there for and it will give you all your travel options and times.

queenie

I live in St Ives and work in Hornsby. All the areas you mentioned are fine. The primary schools with the best reputations are Roseville, St Ives North and the bush school (Wahroonga). Public high schools are Killara, St Ives and I hear Kuringgai Creative High is good also. Heaps of good private schools too eg Ravenswood, PLC and Barker.

I can't say one area is more friendly than another. St Ives is quite Jewish and Hornsby has more immigrants esp asian. I would go for a train station if budget allows.

IvanM

Hornsby North primary was one of the top performing primaries in the country. I understand the bush school has some building issues.

St Ives seems to have attracted a lot of Saffies as well.

Hornsby is more multicultural but has a massive Westiefields if that is your type of thing.

There is also Hornsby Girls high and Normanhurst high which are highly selective. Sadly lots of parents send their primary kids to cram school to pass the selective exam.