Unique Things About Where I Live

I think I live in one of the best suburbs near Sydney, right on the border between two very different neighbourhoods. It’s 14 to 16 kilometres from the CBD and just a 15-minute drive to the beach. My street is quiet and leafy, but walk 10 to 15 minutes and you’re in a bustling multicultural city. I love that mix!

Unique Things About Where I Live — I Think I Live in One of the Best Suburbs Near Sydney!

Food Choices Close to Home

We are seriously spoiled for choice here — it’s a foodie heaven. Around us, you can find everything from dumplings and pho to Lebanese pizzas, sushi, and fresh banh mi (which we call Vietnamese rolls). And if you want something a bit simpler, there are some great pubs where you can get a classic chicken schnitzel or fish and chips. The variety is pretty impressive for a suburb that’s not right in the heart of Sydney.

Where I Live — And What’s Just Around the Corner

My suburb is calm and leafy with a bit of old-school charm. The streets are wide, and you’ll find a mix of older-style homes, including classic California bungalows and red brick houses from the ’60s and ’70s. (Fun fact — California bungalows started in California and became popular here in the 1920s.)

Just around the corner is Lydham Hall — one of the oldest houses in the area. This suburb has some real history!

A few blocks away, everything changes. The next suburb is much busier and more built-up, with plenty of high-rise apartments and shopping centres.

A Very Multicultural Community

My suburb is very multicultural, which is pretty common in Sydney overall. But what makes this area unique is the mix of cultures living so close together. We have Arabic, Macedonian, Greek, Italian and Nepalese communities, to name a few.

Right on my street’s border is the next suburb, which has become an unofficial Chinatown over the last 20 years. It’s full of Chinese restaurants and shops. So when I say multicultural, I really mean it! Walk down the street and you’ll probably hear five different languages being spoken.

Close to the City

We’re only about 20 minutes from Sydney’s CBD by train — perfect for city-loving me. The area’s getting more popular, especially with families priced out of the inner-city suburbs. It’s still expensive, but slightly less ridiculous.

Little Things I Love About Where I Live

We have quite a few jacaranda trees in our area, and every spring they burst into the most gorgeous purple bloom. There’s a nearby park that has become a popular photo spot. Every year, I promise I’ll visit the park and snap some pics — and every year, I miss the window. Three months to go — this time, no excuses.

Having lived here 20+ years, friendly neighbours always say hello. I work at the local preschool and often bump into past and present families. The kids I met when I started are already old enough to bring their own kids to the preschool. Yikes — I’ve been around forever!

Thanks for stopping by! It’s been fun sharing some of the unique things about where I live — and why I think it’s one of the best suburbs near Sydney. Not that I’m biased or anything… ha!

Linking up with Adrienne, Dara, Jen, Joanne, and Sarah