largequinces

I spent several years living in a gorgeous, arty, run down town house in Edward St. It's a leafy street with Cafe Bravo on it, among other eating spots and fashionable shops.

The demographic in Norwood is a curious and lovely mix of down to earth, eccentric, arty, professional, comfortably off and hoi poloi. Also a mix of people who've been there for ever and people who've just built there or moved there. It's city living with its advantages (shops, proximity to cool stuff, well-maintained parks, easy public transport) and disadvantages (parking, proximity to neighbours, noise from main roads, cost of living.)

I still take the kids to Norwood parks because they're so nice it's worth the drive. My parents are in Norwood, but the other end to Edward St.

I had a lovely but eccentric neighbour, an elderly and fairly deaf neighbour and a seriously horrid arrogant neighbour in Norwood, but I suppose you get that mix anywhere. I left because I couldn't afford to buy in Norwood and because I wanted more space to raise kids in!

Clearview's changing fast - it's better by the day. One of Adelaide's best kept secrets, I think. It is ridiculously easy to stroll out from my house to a bus stop and be in town in minutes. Driving to the Botanic Gardens, the city, Gepps Cross shops, Stratco, Bunnings, even Port Adelaide, Semaphore - all easy and smooth - it's a very central location for the price.

Because it's on a ridge, Clearview is a bit breezier in summer - I find I drive down the hill to Blair Athol and Kilburn and feel the temperature rise!

The parks in the area are AMAZING. The stockade is an adventure. Plenty of small parks, a brand new playground by the bowls club, an oval for exercise and sport. Even the huge cemetery is worth a walk for its exquisitely maintained gardens.

You have to head down to Prospect Rd for good restaurants but there are fantastic take-away joints in the suburb, the best Butcher in the world on Hampstead Rd, and the friendliest corner store in the universe where we get a warm welcome every day - and veggies as good as central market for more of a bargain price!

Living in this area is as cheap as it gets in Adelaide; op shops, factory outlets, small traders and discount warehouses abound.

We have lovely, friendly neighbours on one side, and numerous friends in the street. The suburb's streets are pretty quiet, though Hampstead Rd is getting busier. Having said that Hampstead Rd flows very well especially with several intersection revamps. Night times are nice and quiet.

We've found it a lovely, convenient place to raise children. Our family day care provider is a block away from us on Fairview Terrace. Enfield Child and Youth Health has helped us through the childrens' infancy. The gorgeous Folland Park Kindergarten nurtures our kids with its excellent staff and green, pleasant atmosphere. Our older son now attends what I believe to be one of the best schools in Adelaide, St Paul Lutheran in Blair Athol. Getting to School takes minutes. In addition there are several choices of Government primary, Cedar College across in Northfield, St Brigid's & other catholic options, Endeavour College in Mawson lakes a 7 minute drive away, and of course the new Brien's Rd super school which is about 3 minutes from our house on push bike!

It's an easy, cental location with a good atmosphere, lots of elbow room, wide, quiet streets, lovely parks and stong property values for investment. Well worth a look - we like it!