The Gadigal and Wangal peoples of the Eora nation are the traditional owners of the Inner West of Sydney. The region is made up of 27 suburbs, each with its unique personality and characteristics. The Inner West Council governs the region which is the result of a merger of the former Leichhardt, Marrickville, and Ashfield councils. The area is a popular choice for home buyers, investors, and visitors alike. But why is the Inner West such a popular destination?
Lifestyle
The Inner West offers residents and visitors a relaxed yet vibrant lifestyle. People are drawn to the Inner West because of the wide variety of food, arts, culture, and community. Each suburb offers trendy cafes, bars, restaurants as well as markets, galleries and studios, festivals, and community events. The Inner West is both family-friendly and pet-centric with ample parks and public spaces including the much-loved Ashfield Park, Petersham Park, Pioneer’s Park and Camperdown Park to name but a few.
The food scene in the Inner West suits all tastes and budgets. Some of the most popular choices include Italian, Vietnamese, Greek and classic pub meals. The Inner West is also bustling with trendy cafes including Happyfield in Haberfield, Cornersmith in Annandale, Black Star Pastry in Newtown and Fleetwood Macchiato in Erskineville.
Community
Vibrant and diverse, the Inner West is a multicultural and socially conscious community. The region welcomes residents from various all around the world creating a rich mix of traditions, local business, and community groups. The Inner West community also has strong connections with and support for local business and not-for-profit organisations.
The residents of the Inner West demonstrate commitment to environmental and social justice advocacy in the community, with many residents active in community programs and campaigns. Supporting local community groups, the Inner West is host to community centres such as the Annandale Community Centre, environmental groups such as the Inner West Environment Group and other volunteer groups such as the Inner West Volunteer Resource Centre.
Proximity to the city
The Inner West is well-connected to the CBD and greater Sydney with a wide range of transport options. Residents of the Inner West have access to a short commute to the CBD. The Westconnex, Australia’s largest road infrastructure project is also helping to improve road connections for the Inner West including the new extensions for the M4, M5, M8, Iron Cove Link and the Rozelle Interchange.
Public transport connections offer train, Light Rail, bus and ferry services into the CBD and other areas of Sydney. The Inner West is also home to several cycleways including 10 new cycleway projects across Annandale, Leichhardt, and Petersham.
Affordable property
In the context of inner-city living, The Inner West represents an affordable prospect for home buyers and investors. Generally, property prices in the Inner West tend to be more affordable than that of Sydney’s Inner East, Eastern Suburbs and Lower North Shore. Suburbs such as Darling Point, Double Bay, Vaucluse, and Bondi, typically have higher median property prices compared to Inner West suburbs such as Marrickville, Petersham and Leichhardt for example, where buyers tend to get more bang for buck. Every suburb has its unique advantages and quirks so knowing what to buy and where in the Inner West, whether home buyer or investor, is key!
Rich architectural history
The Inner West is one of the most interesting architectural regions of Sydney. The urban landscape we see today in the Inner West reflects remnants of the industrial and working-class society of the late 19th century. Property built during this time was characterised by Victorian and Edwardian terraces and Federation houses. Suburbs including Newtown, Enmore, Balmain, Annandale, Leichhardt, Haberfield, Petersham, Summer Hill, and Stanmore are known for their character and heritage style of property.
Around the 1950’s, development in the Inner West boomed with public housing which introduced modernist and brutalist architecture. Industrial activity continued to thrive in the area, resulting in the prevalence of warehouses and factories. Over the decades, these industrial properties have been re-zoned and converted into residential apartments. More recently, high-density development has become popular in the Inner West to support a swelling population. The heritage of Inner West property, however, is protected by local conservation laws. The Inner West has the highest number of local conservation areas and heritage items in Sydney. The laws seek to protect and preserve historically significant property in the region.
To learn more about purchasing property in the Inner West, contact us today at nick@buyersdomain.com.au.
