Sydney

Sydney is a vibrant, buzzing place to live. Combining city life with beach life under a balmy blue sky is everyone’s dream. Over 40,000 people move to Sydney each year and around 40% of its inhabitants were born overseas, making it a vibrant multicultural city.

For things to do in Sydney you really are spoilt for choice, check out our Sydney city guide for more information. All year round there are festivals such as the famous Fireworks Display on New Years Eve, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and the International Food Festival in October, there are childrens festivals, music festivals, art festivals, sports festivals – you could do an A-Z of festivals just in Sydney alone! Take a look at our events calendar to see what’s on in Sydney.

However if you like a more relaxed, laid-back way of life then Sydney may not be for you. The fast-paced style of  living in Australia’s most populas city doesn’t suit everyone, but single people love it here and many migrate to Sydney for the work opportunities it affords. There is a place for families too and if you’re set on raising yours in Sydney, then let us help you find the best area to move to.

Transport in Sydney

Transport in the city can be a nightmare, especially during rush hour, although a public inquiry into Sydney’s long term public transport plan has been looking at recommendations from the public, community and business groups to try to resolve some of the issues concerning rail and bus links throughout the city.

There are regular train services that operate through all the major suburbs by CityRail. Or you could get one of the many buses operated by Sydney Buses that actually get around pretty quickly thanks to the 90km of bus lanes that stretch across the city.

Education

Educationally, Sydney is home to some of the most prestigious schools in Sydney such as Sydney Grammar and James Ruse. These operate a selection process and to gain entry, your child will have to pass an exam like the 11+. Contrary to the system in England, paying for a private school place does not mean your child will get a better education, many of the state schools in Sydney are excellent. Have a look at www.schools.nsw.edu.au for a list of schools in New South Wales, including special needs schools.

Healthcare

Healthcare in Sydney is very good, it’s serviced by numerous hospitals, some private and some state. One of the major hospitals is the Sydney Hospital in the central business district which has an A&E department. There is also a major childrens hospital in Randwick. There are also a few after hours medical care centres.

Emergency numbers are 000 for fire, police or ambulance.

Sydney Climate

Sydney has more than 340 sunny days a year, that should brighten anyone’s outlook! The average maximum temperature in January and February peaks at around 25.8°C however this is just the average temperature, actual temperatures for this time of year can reach into the high 30′s. Winters are very mild, with the coldest months of July and August, dropping to a minimum of around 8°C on average. The highest rainfall is in March, with the driest month being August.

Crime Rates

The crime rate in Sydney is higher than in the rest of Australia, on a par with London, but there are plenty of areas within Sydney where the crime rate is lower.

Vital Statistics

Sydney has a population of around 4.34 million and its inhabitants are called Sydneysiders. Around 4 in every 10 people are migrants to the city, with the largest number of these being British, accounting for around 5%. Apartments are very common in Sydney because these are the most affordable type of dwelling. If you are looking at buying a house, the average sale in Sydney can range from $335,000 to $1 million, with the median price for Sydney being $517,250. If you want to rent, there are plenty of renting opportunities and the average rental price is around $550 a week. Our averages are based on prices from early to mid 2010.

Have a look at our guide to buying a house before you browse through the sales though as there are restrictions on buyers from overseas. For housing, it would be practical to divide Sydney into four areas, North, West, East and South.

North Sydney

Here you’ll find house prices higher than most other areas of Sydney, with the exception of the Eastern suburbs. Houses range from $600,000 on the Upper North Shore to over $1.0 million in the Lower North, the part nearest to the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge. Therefore many people looking at the Lower North area of Sydney tend to opt for flats instead of houses. But whichever you choose, this is not an area for those on a budget.

For rentals, we found a 2 bedroomed apartment in a block of nine, on a leafy suburb for $430 per week. So there are still bargains to be had if you search for them.

Your neighbours on the Upper North Shore will largely be migrants from the UK, China or Hong Kong. Crime rates here are lower than elsewhere in the city, especially as you get further into the suburbs.

If you fancy living on the Northern Beaches you won’t be short of company, this is a popular destination for Brits wanting the beach/city lifestyle. However if you plan to commute into Sydney for work be warned rush hour traffic into the city centre can be a nightmare.

West Sydney

By far the cheapest part of Sydney to live with house prices averaging $335,000. However the area covered by the West is sprawling and quite metropolitan Your neighbours here are more likely to be Filipino, Vietnamese or Lebanese than Australian born.

If you go into the Inner West part of Sydney, into suburbia, house prices suddenly take a steep rise of around $700,000 on average. Most of these properties will be flats or apartments.

If you’re looking to rent, we found a 2 bedroomed terrace house in the Camperdown district with a small yard for $700 per week.

The Inner West is also home to three Universities, the University of Sydney, the Australian Catholic University and the University of Technology therefore your neighbours are quite likely to be students. Great for finding cheap places to eat and drink and generally getting that student vibe, not so good if you have young children. The crime rate in this area is about the average for Sydney or even slightly above.

East Sydney

This area is largely populated by young go-getters, with a high income to boot. Mind you, you’d need a high income to live here as the average price is $1 million. Therefore many inhabitants share or rent and there are many more flats or apartments than houses.

For rentals, which is what most people do in this area, we found a 2 bedroomed terrace with balcony and courtyard in Woolloomooloo for $430 per week.

The crime rate in East Sydney is average.

South Sydney

This is the best area for commuters as its well served by rail links, taking around 35-45 minutes to reach the city centre. It’s also conveniently close to the airport.

House prices are in the mid $500,000s. Most of the people who live here are Australian born, with migrants tending to come from the UK or New Zealand.

We found a 2 bedroomed house for rent in the Arncliffe region, with a garden, for $390 a week.

There are some spectacular national parks here too, such as the Royal National Park and Hyde Park.

With crime rates lower than average, this is seen as the most affordable and convenient area of Sydney to live.

Below are a list of estate agents in Sydney that also deal with rentals. The first link is a search engine, a little like Right Move that is useful for gauging what you can get for your money.

http://www.domain.com.au/

http://www.mcgrath.com.au/

http://www.therealestateguide.com.au/