Stanmore: Why homeowners rarely want to leave this inner-west suburb
The half-dozen sales topping $4 million in the past 12 months are indicative of a truth that long-standing Stanmore residents have always known: homes in this suburb tend to be keepers.
Belle Property Annandale agent Blake Lowry, who has lived in Stanmore for almost 14 years, says properties are tightly held, with home owners preferring to renovate to create space rather than look elsewhere.
“It’s a bit quieter [than the surrounding suburbs], there are wide, tree-lined streets, the schools have a good reputation and there are plenty of parks,” he says.
“Stanmore has access to a train line and buses and it’s easy to drive in [to the city].”
There’s a set of shops just north of the station on Percival Road where you’ll find cafes, a newsagency, specialty grocers, hairdressers and professional services.
“The village has improved over time,” says Lowry.
“The Salisbury Hotel has had an upgrade and we’ve got Sixpenny, a hatted restaurant that’s very popular with an intimate dining room that fits in well with Stanmore.”
The suburb is home to Newington College, a top private boys’ school, and Stanmore Public School.
Lowry says the area has found increasing appeal with professional couples and young families looking for inner-city convenience.
Located six kilometres south-west of the CBD, Stanmore attracts white-collar workers but also those in the creative and medical industries.
Megan O’Brien moved to Stanmore from the north shore in 2016 with her husband Damian and two children after recognising how well-positioned the suburb is.
O’Brien works at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in neighbouring Camperdown, keeping her commute to a minimum.
“We could see the benefits of living so close to the city and everything Stanmore had to offer,” she says.
The family made short work of getting to know the locals, helped by spending afternoons with their dog at Weekley Park.
Known as Stanmore’s “village green”, the park has rose gardens, chess tables and a playground, as well as dedicated off-leash areas for four-legged friends.
When it’s time for a coffee or a breakfast outing O’Brien likes Mrs Underwood, a cafe adjacent to the station, and The Salisbury Hotel is a family favourite.
“The menu is fantastic; they have lots of activities like meat raffles, which we’ve won a few times, and drag bingo, which is fun,” she says.
Lowry says with Newtown, Enmore and Marrickville on the suburb’s southern border, there’s no shortage of nearby wining and dining options, as well as galleries, theatres and a growing number of micro-breweries.
Apartment prices start at around $500,000 for a one-bedder and you’ll need about $2 million to secure a three-bedroom house.
Top two
13 Clarendon Road
Just footsteps from Weekley Park, this renovated character home comes with an eat-in kitchen with a Zanussi oven and gas cooktop, a cosy central living room and ducted airconditioning.
There’s a garage and additional off-street parking.
Viewey Real Estate’s Jonathan Viewey is selling the home with a guide of $2.65 million.
14 Railway Avenue
Free-standing and boasting a restored and repointed Federation facade, this handsome home features high ceilings, timber floorboards and an original fireplace.
There’s a huge, lined attic ideal as a second living space or teenage retreat.
Stone Real Estate Newtown’s Joseph Tropiano is selling the home with a guide of $2.09 million.
