Botany, NSW 2019

Great place to live, close to the CBD, parks, beaches, cafes, restaurants, medical facilities, schools....everything is there, plus it is very safe.

Looking for a lifestyle change I moved to Botany village from the north western Sydney bible belt after a recommendation from a friend. I did not know what to expect but I encountered a wonderful, warm, authentic community. The suburb is leafy and quiet (for a suburb right next to the airport), and trucks are diverted away from the village centre. The one thing missing is a butcher, but there are many options close by. I very quickly have become used only having to walk a few minutes to anything I might need, including the aquatic centre, Service NSW and the post office. Safe, family friendly, pet friendly, and close to parks and beaches... what more could you want.

Botany is like an urban country town as some suggest however the demographic is changing as those wanting somewhere within 10km's of the city and 12 mins to the coast find it more affordable than other eastern suburbs areas of Sydney. Botany is certainly a mix of demographics.

The main shopping strip has a bunch of coffee shops, 2 pubs, an IGA, 2 chemists, 2 gyms and other assorted shops and the nearby the importance of a brewery and rumour of another coming.

Travel to the city on the 309 bus from the main shopping strip takes about 15 mins to Green Square station and another 10 mins on a train to St James. Alternatively stay on the bus and alight at Redfern or Central. It takes me about 35 mins to get to work in Pitt Street. A taxi from the city to Botany is about 15 mins outside rush hour.

Botany is near the airport so great for airport workers or those who travel a lot. Fortunately for Botany, it is situated to the north and parallel to the third runway so planes travel around Botany rather than over it. Planes can be heard some of the time but the Marrickville or Mascot pause during a telephone call or conversation is not required.

Botany has two large parks and few other smaller parks. Booralee Park has an aquatic centre with 3 swimming pools.

Historically Botany was industrial but this seems to be on the decrease with developments occuring on some of the old industrial sites. This will likely continue as rents become more expensive closer to the city and the freight movements start to take advantage of the infrastructure for freight depots in Moorebank and Enfield and use the new motorways and rail lines for freight movement.

Botany is a very easy place to live with friendly people and a great community spirit.

Botany is only about 9 kms from Sydney CBD but can take an hour door to door by public transport in peak times as there is no train station and all road routes are busy. By car out of peak 15 - 20 minutes. Plane noise is an issue some days but not as bad as Leichhardt or Tempe. Shops have most things you'll need but no Butcher!!! Pollution is bad with jet fuel smell evident some days. When you dust it is black. NOT full of industry as you may assume and most streets are very quiet. Some lovely old homes. Very good value for money compared to Coogee and easier to live in as it is quieter, has less traffic and is flat. Recommended, but not brilliant.

For being so close to the city it is affordable and very safe. That being said, having moved to Botany from Turramurra, hearing people speeding, and even something as simple as some of the people getting the bus to work not being in suits is different to what I'm used to. I would certainly not feel comfortable leaving my door unlocked if I lived on the street itself but living in one of the townhouse complexes means I don't worry if I've forgotten to lock the door, just like how I felt in Turramurra. However, the schools don't seem to be as good as the North Shore schools, and the abundance of factories and warehouses definitely takes getting used to. It's also not as green as the North Shore, but on the upside, it's quite close to Coogee beach! (it's also close to Maroubra but Coogee is definitely nicer)

I have lived in Botany for nearly a year in a newish set of apartments - our neighbours are decent, helpful and at the least they don't mind your businesses. Most of your shopping needs can be met at the Westfields, and also it has easy access to the CBD area for your all other needs.

We've been here 3yrs since buying our semi. We do not get air craft noise and live in a peaceful traffic free street.
When I jog through the streets most locals will say g'day. 5 mins to Westfields with free parking, 5 min to beaches, airport, national park,10min to city. The Botany village is changing and improving constantly with shops and services. It is possible to do most things walking distance including medical centres, dentist, 2 chemists, a few cafes, take away shops, newsagent, discount variety, gift store, groovy florist, restaurants, tax accountant, pubs,quirky second hand shop and most recently hairdressers and pet store that also sells rescue animals. There is also more goodies in Banksmeadow which is really Botany too, where there are good beauty services and even a great Thai massage place. We are so close to other great places like Mascot, Newtown, Alexandria and not far from Randwick, UNSW, the children's hospital and the other hospitals in Randwick and all specialsts. Lovely local primary school and parks.

It's not hard to understand why real estate prices in Botany have gone up so much in recent years. The East Botany and Banksmeadow areas in particular are outstanding, and no longer cheap. It's amazing to see how many people have relocated here from places like Coogee, Maroubra, Mascot and Matraville because they now realise that it's much quieter and better value than the aforementioned. One of the things I love about this place is that you never need to fight traffic to get anywhere. I recently bought a second property here and wouldn't even consider going elsewhere.

Botany is a great place to live...I have lived here for 64 years. Most people who move here stay here. We have great parks, an olympic pool, golf courses, schools, child minding centres, medical centres, many beaches & shopping all only ten minutes away. Only five minutes to Sydney airport, and ten minutes to the CBD. There are many coffee shops and the Botany Brasserie was voted the best in Sydney. We also have a debt free Council, many trees and streets well cared for. All of this and yet the suburb is like a country town.

Pro's:
Nice big parks, Olympic pool + water slide, nice pubs, A few small food shops, IGA, Golf course, medical centre...
Cons:
Where do i start...
As mentioned above, ICI/Orica had been storing industrial waste (HCB's) into the ground (The car-park at ICI next to the Athletic field) for many, many year. This waste liquid had escaped from the drums and into the ground soil and local under ground water supply. Now the waste has slowly traveled underground is now under a lot of the areas of botany and has even travel as far as the water line at Foreshore.
Botany rd is a nightmare from 7am-6pm with heaps and heaps of traffic. Truck movements on Botany rd (southern end) is also very, very high.
Pub on Botany rd is open 24hr on weekends, this is causing a fair bit of troubles with fighting, car break-ins, vandalism's, etc after people leave the pub drunk in the morning.
Can also have a bit of noise caused by the planes.
Living next to Botany rd you also get a heap of noise during the nights from the the police, fire, ambulance cars/trucks flying up and down the main road.
Would recommend if buying in the area to get something away from Botany rd.

Moved there from Chippendale. Was amazed how warm and friendly everone was. No pretentiousness, just good honest living.

Very quiet and safe suburb. 5 minutes to the beach (Maroubra), 5 minutes to the airport, and 10 minutes from the city! What more do you want!

Botany is a suburb of south eastern Sydney close not only to the CBD but also to Mascot Airport and the major terminal of Port Botany. Most of Botany is residential with some lovely old homes mixed with new unit complexes. There are a few local shops of convenience, several hotels and Botany golf course, as well as a swimming centre. Botany is not far from the major shopping centre, Eastgardens, where there are three floors of shopping and food court. Botany house prices are still expensive but are affordable when compared with other suburbs in the area. There are many older people living in the area.

Botany is a nice and neat suburb that is located about a twenty to thirty minutes' drive from Sydney. The easiest way to get to Botany from the city will be via public buses. Additionally, the closet shopping mall is located in Pagewood, that is about a ten minutes' drive from Botany. There are many pubs, cafes, shops and restaurants around the main road. The Waterworks hotel is a nice and cosy pub that is often frequented by the locals. Pizza is also served at the bistro in the hotel.

There are mainly houses and low density apartments in this suburb. Many who work at the airport like living around here as it is really close to the airport. On the flip side, residents around Botany are often exposed to the noise pollution that is caused by the aircrafts.