Islington, NSW 2296
Ranked 56th best suburb by locals in Hunter Region, NSW
Great for
- Eating out
- Internet access
- Schools
- Neighbourly spirit
- Parks and recreation
Not great for
- Lack of traffic
Who lives here?
- Professionals
- Families With Kids
- Singles
- Retirees
- LGBTQ+
Reviews of Islington, NSW
"A rough area"
The area is quite rough. I constantly came across much violence in the area. I would suggest to live elsewhere. People would get abused and sometimes on the streets there. I don’t recommend. You can’t even leave a review that is negative without being gaslighted by locals. If you like it, write your own seperate review. This is what I saw and experienced, you can’t change that.
"Vibrant inner-city community"
Islington is one of those charming places with a genuine cross section of community residing together. Absolutely love the proximity to everything, the cafes and restaurants, the creative atmosphere - think Newtown in Sydney 20 years ago! This suburb is one to watch.
Who lives here?
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
"Fab lifestyle options"
Islington is that old daggy quintessential drugs/prostitution suburb undergoing exciting gentrification. Moved here from SYD a year ago and it’s fabulous. Lifestyle options all within walking distance, a friendly and supportive community, heritage real estate with many undergoing refurbishment. We think it’s a suburb on the move and couldn’t be happier having chosen here. Think inner west SYD 10 years ago, and you’ll get the drift…
Who lives here?
- Professionals
- Families with kids
"Fast growing inner suburb"
Islington is one of Newcastle’s growing inner suburbs, the property is ideal for both investors and first home buyers. Its location is key, being just a 2-minute walk to Beaumont Street, a less than 10 minute drive to the University at Callaghan and less than 5km to the city and nearest beaches.
Looking to invest? Rental returns can vary from property to property. I am happy to provide a rental estimate for any property you may be considering purchasing. Please do not hesitate to give me a call.
Casey Healey
Director/ BDM/ Licensed Real Estate Agent
Century21 Novocastrian Property Management
02 49287400 | [email protected]
Who lives here?
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
"Not recommended"
I had moved out of Sydney and moved to Islington as I got work in the Newcastle area. I lived in Islington for two years. Being a Sydney sider, I had no idea about it being a red light district until local friends told me and a simple google search. The locals in the Islington area are in denial about the prostitution problem in the area and the problem in the area sadly still exists. I would constantly come across them whenever I did my daily exercise or just a simple walk to the Aldi nearby. I couldn’t even use the bus stop in Islington and had to go all the way to Hamilton to catch the bus. I don’t understand why the locals think so highly of this area - either they are completely clueless or in denial. I ended up moving back to Sydney and getting a job there as this suburb completely turned me off Newcastle. I wouldn’t recommend anyone to live here.
I read about prosecution and drugs used in the area. Is it really bad? Is there a rampant use of drugs there? Planning on finding a place there with my kids. Thanks
We moved here from SYD in Oct 2020 and completely disagree with the last post. Weve been told prostitution used to be a big problem, but apparently a charity group got involved to help the girls and its now completely changed. We havent looked back since moving here. It has all the lifestyle options of SYD but without any of the angst. Love it!
Sorry to say Karen, the prostitution problem sadly exists and strangely many of the residents are in denial about it like I mentioned. Just because you disagree doesnt invalidate what I had witnessed and experienced in all my years there.
Although I have never been a resident of Islington, I have been there twice to buy second-hand vinyl records. The first time that I went there was in September 2018, IIRC, and I bought records of Little Feat, Supertramp, Crosby & Nash, Johnny Cash, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, America, The Temptations, Rita Coolidge, Chuck Berry and Sherbet. I got a piece of crucial advice from my friend Jessica's mum Terri and it was to steer clear of the red-light areas frequented by prostitutes. I assured her that I never go into brothels or to Islington at night, but only the day-time.
There were many seedy guys and prostitutes in the area. I saw them both day and night though (hence why I caught the bus from Hamilton rather than in Islington).
If you'd like an updated opinion (August 2022) Islington has become a vibrant and edgy suburb that is suitable for singles and families and has something for everyone. If it's not here - it's close by. Sure there were prostitutes but my neighbours and I would be hard pressed to tell you when we saw the last one. I have been a resident for 30 years and absolutely love it.
Brad, my review is a recent review. Residents were in denial about the prostitution problem when I lived there, and still are.
As someone who has enjoys living here and has for some time, perhaps us residents are in "denial" about the prostitute "problem", because it doesn't actually pose any real life "problems" for us in our everyday life. I would suggest that if you choose to live in an inner city suburb with a diversity of people, then you are bound to observe people with the various issues that affect people in our society. Homelessness, mental health, and yes, probably there are sex workers that work here! It is a community, but I have never found it to be a "problem" for me, and i am happy to coexist with all members of my community (occasionally there might even be a rather interesting or pleasant interaction with one of these harmless fringe-dwellers who are (shock-horror) different to me. I think perhaps a better way of putting it is to talk less about a prostitution "problem", and focus on the fact that Islington's violent crime is now well and truly under control, and that it is a vibrant and fabulous community with so much to offer; but by all means if you prefer to pretend that these things do not exist , and to only see people exactly the same as yourself, then feel free to move to a leafy suburb further out!
We are urban professionals who lived in Kings Cross for 30yrs. Islington is Newcastle's KX and, like KX, is undergoing exciting urban renewal. If you don't enjoy and celebrate the rich diversity of this fabulous inner-city area, then move to the bland and dull suburbs. Horses for courses MS!
You know you can write your own seperate review Terrence. And if you knew how to read, my review said I moved out. You can enjoy living in the red light district with high crime, I enjoy living in the safe wealthy suburb of Waverton.
People can leave bad reviews, thats the point of this website, get over it Terrence!
Terrence, write your own seperate review. We dont trash positive reviews. Respect the negative ones.
Islington is a dump. Dont compare it to Sydney.