Sydney suburbs that no one wants to leave

These are the Sydney suburbs where homeowners rarely want to leave and often never do, turning them into millionaires.

Taylor Troeth and Tim McIntyre

4 min read

May 27, 2024 - 6:47PM

News Corp Australia Network

Peakhurst Heights is Sydney’s most loyal suburb and the locals tell us why. Picture: Jonathan Ng

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IT’S the Heights of family living.

Peakhurst Heights has been named Sydney’s most loyal suburb in an exclusive data set pinpointing postcodes that families never want to leave.

Found 22km to the south of the CBD, on the banks of the Georges River, Peakhurst Heights topped a list of 20 of Sydney’s favourite suburbs, as measured by PropTrack data on average hold periods.

PropTrack economist Paul Ryan said the 20.7 years that people stayed put in the suburb’s homes – nearly double the Sydney average – indicated it was likely very family friendly, and suited a range of life circumstances.

“There will be a lot of people who have raised their children there, and if you have everything you need – why would you move?” Mr Ryan said.

Olds Park Phoenix Netball Club players Casey English, Cooper and Mason Roberts and Ashton Matthews all aged 10 show one of the popular reasons why locals love Peakhurst Heights. Picture: Jonathan Ng

One of those locals is Andrew Harris, who has been centre manager at Sportsworld Indoor Sports for 21 years.

“It’s a nice area to be in, very family orientated over here. The people are just really nice” he said.

The loyalty to and love for Peakhurst Heights has paid off financially for homeowners there with the median prices of houses jumping around 60 per cent in the past five years: from a median house price in June 2019 of $1,022,500 to $1.625m in April 2024.

WHY PEAKHURST HEIGHTS IS SYDNEY’S MOST TIGHTLY HELD SUBURB

Appealing to young and old – much like the suburb- the facility has both junior and senior netball, soccer, cricket with Mr Harris noting an impressive 87 year-old who played the first cricket game in the centre 42 years ago, still playing today.

Meanwhile, Kelly English, president of the Olds Park Phoenix Netball Club, said her family had lived in the area for over 80 years.

Peakhurst Heights ranked as the number one ‘most loyal suburb’

“I love the community atmosphere with the sports and everything, there is so much for the kids to do,” she said.

She now lives in the home her mother grew up in with her with family, including her daughter Casey (10) who has played netball in the community since she was four.

On top of sports, Ms English said the great local schools and parks provided the ideal family lifestyle.

Local mum Kelly Roberts’ twin boys, Mason and Cooper, 10, also play in the Olds Park Phoenix Club netball team.

“My boys love their football but they absolutely love their netball, and we love that the team encourages boys to play,” she said, adding that the area had “everything we could possibly need.”

Peakhurst Heights has been dubbed Sydney’s ‘most loyal suburb’ with homeowners having the longest

When it came to local cafes, owner of popular Peakhurst Heights ‘Cafe on Pindari,’ Emilia Magoulias described the neighbourhood as “really wholesome.”

“There are genuine friendships and camaraderie that have been built in the cafe and with everyone that lives locally,” she said.

“I say to all our regulars that we love it. I love seeing them all interact, I love hearing about what they’re up to.”

Mayor of Georges River Council Sam Elmir takes great “pride and honour” in his area and position as mayor.

“It’s not the intense fast pace city type living, it’s very relaxed,” he said. “(You have) time on the weekend to go to a sausage sizzle or a raffle at the club and (midweek) enjoy a morning coffee with friends after dropping the kids to school.”

Community members were heavily involved with sporting groups, charitable organisations, church groups and working locally, Cr Elmir said.

Ashton Matthews and Casey English at netball training at Peakhurst’s Sportsworld Indoor Centre, the sport, parks and family friendly community were only some of the reasons locals loved the area. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Casey English, 10, Cooper and Mason Roberts, 10, and Ashton Matthews, 10, at training in Peakhurst. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“Young families move in for the open space, the sporting, accessibility to the water, but you’ve also got great employment opportunities with the industrial area as well as the hospital and TAFE.”

He added that a council focus on maintaining green spaces and parks also made it attractive for retirees.

“You’ve got Hurstville Golf Club and walking tracks, as well as RSLs and community clubs that create a great sense of connection that is important to those generations too.”

Ray White real estate agent Hayden Sacliotto was born and raised in Peakhurst Heights.

“It’s almost like a village vibe, you won’t get that in many Sydney suburbs,” Mr Sacliotto said.

“My parents won’t leave. They love their neighbours, the location and the proximity to everything they need.”

Other loyal suburbs included Summer Hill, Castle Cove, Abbotsbury, Killarney Heights and Belrose with locals staying on average between 19 and 20 years.

Summer Hill was also listed as a loyal suburb, with holding record indicating an average of 20.3 years.

Social analyst and demographer Mark McCrindle said a commonality of these suburbs was the natural amenity.

“People come to love the bush or the parks of their suburbs, not just aesthetically, but almost an emotional resonance with places they take their little kids, they have memories interwoven in the suburb, rather than the house,” he said.

Noting that many of these suburbs have a slightly older average age, he said many people will have invested in those communities and connected with them over a longer term.

“They lead their life and that life is often intrinsically linked to the particular suburb.

“They’ve found their corner of the planet and they don’t want to give it up.”