Hipster suburbs in Melbourne, Sydney hit top of in demand list

The suburbs are famous for live music, vintage clothes and trendy cafes. And it turns out that’s not good news for some residents.

Maria Cindric loves living in Sydney’s inner west suburb Newtown because the laid back charm and community atmosphere makes it feel as though she lives in a village within Australia’s largest and most chaotic city.

The front doors of the homes are near the street and the accessibility of the area means people are often walking the neighbourhood and willing to have a chat, she says.

“All the utilities, services, schooling, transportation links, shopping, cafes, restaurants are all within walking distance and it means I don’t drive as much,” the mother-of-two told news.com.au.

“And because it’s such a condensed area, you actually get to meet a lot of people just walking in the street, people are more inclined to talk to you.

“If you really want to interact with people, Newtown’s a great place to live.”

Like Melbourne’s inner-north suburb, Brunswick, Newtown is commonly referred to as a “hipster” area, famed for its often alternative and diverse inhabitants.

Music fills Camperdown Park from portable speakers while over in Victoria, trams ring and grind their way up Sydney Road.

Both are known for their working class heritage that has evolved into a “grungy” charm, but the constant gentrification means housing demand in both is surging.

According to a recent report by realestate.com.au, Newtown is now the most in demand city in Sydney.

Netown’s famous King Street has undergone a lot of changes in recent years. Picture: Damian Shaw

Brunswick is the 10th most in demand suburb in Melbourne, according to the frequency of views per listing online.

The data proves that both suburbs are shaking the alternative title and are now firmly considered premium suburbs, realestate.com.au chief economist Nerida Conisbee told news.com.au.

Once a working class neighbourhood, Brunswick is now one of the most in demand suburbs in Melbourne. Picture: realestate.com.au

The national property market is beginning to show signs of recovery — a period when buyers typically flock to premium suburbs.

Ms Conisbee said this is currently occurring but the exception is the inclusion of Newtown and Brunswick on that premium list.

“They’ve developed from being quite working class and multicultural to now being areas where a lot of young people want to live in,” she said.

“All these young people have really changed a lot of the housing stock and are investing a lot more money into the older homes, renovating them, improving them.

“That’s lifted values but has also revitalised a lot of the night-life in those areas.”

The evolution of Newtown and Brunswick does, however, pose the risk the constant gentrification will ruin the atmosphere of the area and will no longer be the neighbourhoods that have attracted such high demand.

Ms Cindric, who is selling her house with realtor Ray White to upgrade to another home in the suburb, says Newtown has already changed significantly.

“It’s becoming nicer but the character is leaving the area,” she said.

Ms Conisbee said the evolution of suburbs meant the “cool” areas were always shifting.

Suburbs in Sydney’s south such as Mascot were becoming the new “hipster” enclaves, while in Melbourne, the west is best for younger generations, in Footscray and stretching to Sunshine.

“Footscray is starting to get a lot of cool bars and cool restaurants,” Ms Conisbee said. “It’s gentrifying and more wealth is moving there.

“Melbourne’s population is pushing westward, it’s not just inner west but outer west as well.

“The demographic is overwhelmingly becoming closer and closer to western Melbourne, it is quite a big change.”

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