Glebe, NSW 2037

3.5(22 reviews)

Ranked 471st best suburb by locals in Sydney (Greater) Region, NSW

Great for

  • Eating out
  • Parks and recreation
  • Internet access
  • Public transport
  • Schools

Not great for

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Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families With Kids
  • Retirees
  • Students

Reviews of Glebe, NSW

11th February 2024

"Gentrified"

The Good, its close to a couple of Universities, the City, a Mall, and Newtown. It's leafy and has some green spaces.

The bad. It's gentrified, professionals have come in, it's too expensive for students and creative people to live here, which means its band and boring. Cafes and restaurants are too expensive, the roads are clogged with cars.

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
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10th February 2024

"It's heyday is long gone"

I've lived in Glebe since 1980, then it was populated with students, gay and lesbian people, creative people, working class, and the largest First Nations community in Sydney outside Redfern. The cafes and restaurants had cheap, flavourful food and there was a lot less traffic and congestion. Suburbs transform, and now all it's got going for it is its proximity to Newtown and the CBD. It's cafes and restaurants are overpriced, its streets are congested, the people are mostly boring upper middle class professionals and their offspring who love to delude themselves about the Glebe community spirit which hasn't existed for decades.

1
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30th January 2023

"Awesome place to live!"

It's a place of contrast with all sorts of characters living here. I'm never bored people watching. The suburb is close to all amenities, reasonable public transport, and walking distance to the CBD, uni, Broadway shopping centre. I find it relatively safe. There's a cop shop right in the middle of Glebe too for that added security.

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
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"Excellent location but not much to do"

I am 25 years old and have lived in Glebe for the past five years.

The upside:
Glebe is an excellent location. From where I live in Bellevue Street, I am:
25 mins walk from Central Station
15 mins walk to Sydney Uni
20-25 mins walk to centre of CBD
5 minute walk to Blackwattle Bay (a nice locale where you can sit by the water and take a walk around the bay. They also have a rowing club)
45 mins walk to Opera House

The downside:
I myself don't spend much time in Glebe. This is because there isn't much to do. There are a few decent pubs which have a homely vibe (e.g. I sometimes play trivia at the Friend in Hand. Tommy's Beer Cafe is also a great authentic Czech and Slovak haunt for spending time with friends). My girlfriend and I also occasionally eat out at Baha Cantina (good mexican food), Badde Manors (good vegetarian food), and Tom Yum thai (cheap and good quality thai). I've also heard good things about the restaurant Jambo Jambo (ethiopian food). But otherwise, there's not much to do. So I usually walk to Newtown or the CBD when I want to have fun (both less than 30 mins by foot - there are also buses, but this probably takes 20-25 mins so you don't save much time over walking).

Other things you might like:
You will be close to the fish markets, which are currently being redeveloped so will be a great spot to buy seafood and spend time if you're into this kind of thing
Close to Glebe markets, which run every Saturday
There is Ultimo Public School and Glebe Public school nearby if you have kids. There is also Blackwattle Bay Secondary School
You're close to Wentworth Park if you're into dog racing. If you're not then the sound can be annoying if you live near it (dog races run around twice per week). In any case, Wentworth Park is a good place to play soccer, take your kids to play on the play equipment, or jog around or do exercise in
There is the 370 bus which goes through Glebe to Newtown, then to Coogee beach. So in theory you can get one bus straight to the beach, though this bus has been voted the worst/most unreliable in the city. So DO NOT expect it to come on time

Other notes:
You'll probably be doing your shopping at Broadway Shopping centre. This has basically everything you'll need and is very close
If you're looking to use the light rail that runs through Glebe then THINK AGAIN. It's been shutdown for 18 months, so you'll need to take special replacement buses. The light rail doesn't go anywhere useful though, so this probably won't affect you
Your closest pools will probably be Ian Thorpe Aquatic centre (indoor) or Victoria Park Pool (outdoor). These pools are pretty decent and both have gyms. They also have fitness classes and kids swimming lessons

Glebe is a great place to live if you want to walk to work in Sydney Uni, Ultimo, or the CBD. If you have a car and use it, then the location advantage won't apply so much
Glebe is a reasonably relaxed area though probably not a good place to live if you're young and want to live in a share house and have lots of parties. There are a lot of young families who will probably get annoyed at you if you do this

TLDR: Glebe is an excellent location to be able to walk to Newtown, CBD, Broadway, or Central. Which is great because you won't have much to do living in Glebe.

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"Convenient but not ideal"

Glebe is a suburb with a lot to offer, however whether you enjoy living in Glebe will depend on your personality and personal situation.
For young professionals, it is extremely convenient. Sydney CBD can be reached in 15 minutes by bike and 30 mins by foot.
For families it would also be convenient, there are many schools nearby, including two by Wentworth Park and one on Glebe Point Road. Glebe is also quite a safe suburb.
For students, Glebe is only a 20 minute walk away from Sydney University. However, I would NOT recommend Glebe as a place for young students. Glebe locals are often very unforgiving when it comes to parties/music/noise (no matter how infrequent), so if you're looking to enjoy your uni days, I would recommend somewhere else- even Forest Lodge (the next suburb over) has a much more vibrant/youthful energy.
There are many restaurants and cafes on Glebe Point Road which many people like, however I personally feel that they are overpriced and are of lower quality.
Glebe also isn't very diverse and the architecture overall is lacking. The streets to the west of Glebe Point Road are more beautiful and quiet than those to the east.
The Glebe foreshore is lovely but often overcrowded and full of rubbish after a sunny weekend.
Currently there is also major construction work going on by the Glebe foreshore as they build the new fish market. This construction is EXTREMELY loud and can be heard from far away. If you're sensitive to noise and are considering Glebe, move as far away from the foreshore as you can. I expect this construction will go on for many years.
Overall, Glebe is an okay place to live, but it is not great. I would recommend the streets to the west of Glebe Point Road, but not the east.

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
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Rentals in Glebe

"Very Good but can also be very bad"

Glebe is alright but if I could go back in time and pick a different place to live I probably would. The part of Glebe closer to the water is obviously the best - there's some really amazing views, and a really great dog park. The main strip on Glebe point road is nice but definitely nothing to brag about. A few good restaurants, but they're the sort of restaurant that you'd go to once and then never again. The main problem with Glebe is all the riff raff. I don't really feel all that safe walking through Glebe Point Road sometimes. At least once a week there are drunks screaming at eachother in HJ Foley Park.
The public transport situation here absolutely sucks. The buses are slow and crowded, same with the light rail. Sometimes it's quicker to walk to Central station than wait to catch a bus.
The grocery shopping here is pretty limited. Theres an IGA on Glebe Point Road however it's really small and super overpriced. There is a Coles in Broadway however it's always packed, and shopping there is such a mission. Plus, it's a Coles, and we all know that Woolies is superior. The closest Woolies is in Central Park I think.
So yeah there are pros and cons. I'm okay with living here for now because I love walking to the park and looking out at the water, and I love grabbing a nice coffee every now and then. But safety-wise, and the fact that it takes 40 mins simply to bus it to the CBD, I think I'll be moving out pretty soon.

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  • Professionals
  • Singles
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"Good not Great"

I liken Glebe to Annandale. For a suburb so close to the city, it can take longer to get into work than coming from outer suburbs that benefit from express train. If you have a car, look for something with a garage. Nice cafes and community but this really depends which part of Glebe you're living in. Some parts I will never consider again.

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"Close to the harbour, light rail, 3km away from the CBD."

Glebe’s position so close to the city and harbour make it a winner. The light rail can take you into town in minutes or you can walk in around half an hour. Parts of Glebe are still being gentrified, this makes parts of it relatively affordable – a big plus in one of the most expensive cities in the world.

The walking area around Blackwattle bay is fantastic, I often run or go for a stroll taking in the harbour air and city views. Glebe is filled with lovely old Victorian terraces, giving it character and charm, the fish markets are a big attraction and are on their way to being redeveloped into something spectacular. Glebe Point Road is home to many cute restaurants with a huge variety to choose from, and most restaurants are quite affordable. Broadway shops are close by as are all the attractions of the city, just a few stops on the light rail or short cycle away.

Glebe does possess the burdens of Sydney inner-city life such as traffic congestion and public housing. Congestion is being addressed with Bridge Road having it's speed limit reduced to 40km/h and bike lanes added but the noise and pollution from traffic is still an issue. Public housing is also noticeable with a high rate of 19%. While most people living in government housing are just elderly or vulnerable people in need of a hand, there are some spooky characters too – this is reflected in Glebe’s relatively high crime rate. Dumping of rubbish and alleyways permanently littered with grubby bins are also a common site in Glebe. These negatives are characteristic of inner Sydney more broadly.

The majority of people in the Glebe are young professionals, young families, and students. Restaurants and parks buzz with youthfulness and life. The close proximity to the city cuts out the mind-numbing commute to the suburbs that many Sydneysiders endure. The future is bright for Glebe as this suburb right on the edge of Australia's leading city continues to gentrify and develop.

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  • Professionals
  • Singles
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"Very leafy evolving suburb with a lot to offer!"

After living here for over 2 years, I am still finding new things to see in Glebe. I love walking around the suburb to see the streets and buildings and they always give me a European feel. It is surrounded by parks and river bays and has lots of trees that makes the suburb very green. Not to mention that it is close to everything such as CBD, Darlingharbour, Fish Market, University of Sydney, UTS, Victoria Park, Harold Park, Blackwattle Bay etc. making your property more valuable. Good developments are still on going and I can't wait to see what the future Glebe can offer.

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  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
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"Noisy suburb - stay away from St John's Road and Bridge Road"

It's convenient but depending on which part you stay in, it is not worth the noise, traffic and crowd. There is heavy traffic on Bridge Road and St John's Road late into the night.

Most of the buildings in Glebe (putting aside the expensive places nearer Blackwattle Bay) are old with thin walls and bad windows, and units are extremely small for the price you pay. Our building on Bridge Road is also roach infested.

If you need air-conditioning for the summer, it will be hard to find such a place in Glebe.

Overall, Glebe is not worth the extra price you pay for the daytime convenience if you're not getting any sleep at night because of the noise from the traffic, and stuck in an old filthy building.

Not great for

  • Buildings are old and rundown
  • Traffic noise
  • Expensive
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"A small town that has a unique Europe vibe"

0
moors

I think you have the wrong Glebe

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"Glebe is like Europe and has a village feel to it. I love it here!"

Glebe is so close to the CBD that you can walk over the pedestrian bridge at Darling Harbour into Market Street in about 20-30 minutes. At Wentworth Park there is free gym equipment and a wholesale butcher and is near the Fish Markets where you can buy fresh seafood or eat it cooked for you there. It is close to Broadway Shopping Mall where there is Coles, KMart and Target, etc. There are about 160 restaurants offering different cuisines and you can BYO at most. There is light rail to Central (and soon to Circular Quay) and buses from Glebe Point Road to the beach at Coogee, Leichhardt for the Italian area. Balmain and the city, Central, China Town, Town Hall, Wynyard and The Rocks or catch a taxi for about $15-18 to the Opera House. I have lived in Glebe for 23 years now. It is so convenient and you can usually get a spot to park in the street, Every Saturday night you can see and hear the fireworks at 9pm at Darling Harbour. It is also near two universities - Sydney University and UTS as well as TAFE. There are three swimming pools in the area and many parks and a lovely walk to do alongside Blackwattle Bay where there is a great cafe. If I had to move, i would not know where to go.

Great for

  • Public transport to beach/city
  • Walk to City, close to everything Parks, Pubs, Restaurants
  • Diverse mix of professionals, students, overseas visitors

Not great for

  • The older public housing part of Glebe has been demolished for a new development
  • re-development so there are NO cons now.

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Tourists
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  • Trendy & Stylish
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"Glebe Estate - Near Sydney Uni"

Keen to buy a Victorian Terrace in the Glebe Estate (adjoining Parramatta Road, near Sydney Uni). Does anyone know when they are going to be sold off to private buyers?

Great for

  • Public Transport to beach/city etc.
  • Walk to town - Proximity to everything Parks, Pubs, Eating Out

Not great for

  • There is the older part of Glebe which is public housing

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
0
loveg2

Does anyone know when the public housing estate is going to be sold off?

moors

Hopefully never. Poor people have the right to live in a central location.

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"Glebe is great spot close to everything"

Yes glebe is great I own a terrace house here and it's great close to my doctor , close to my petrol station , close to my shopping centre , close to uni , close to tafe, close to the city , close to harbour , close to parks. Close to the sydney fish markets should I go on ?? It's great but hurry because u will not be able to afford it in the future !!!!

Great for

  • Diverse mix of students, overseas visitors and locals
  • Public Transport to beach/city etc.
  • Walk to town - Proximity to everything Parks, Pubs, Eating Out

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Tourists
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters
  • Students
  • Country Lovers
  • Trendy & Stylish
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"Glebe is two suburbs in one (Glebe Point, Glebe)"

Glebe is a great place to live within walking distance to Pyrmont, Sydney, and Cocke Bay. The Harbour Bay walk is constantly being improved by the council, space for the kids/dogs in the parks, spac. The IGA is a fantastic and the staff willing to stock goods you want.

Great for

  • Walk to town - Proximity to everything Parks, Pubs, Eating Out
  • Diverse mix of students, overseas visitors and locals
  • Public Transport to beach/city etc.

Not great for

  • There is the older part of Glebe which is public housing

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Tourists
  • LGBT+
  • Students
0
rainb

All of Glebe is old, you live in Glebe, you should know it's history.

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"Rough and dirty"

I live here for a year. Initially I quite liked a choice of eateries, but looks like that's about all! I wouldn't call it refined and sophisticated. It is a bit too rough and dirty. Not my area, moving to the Eastern suburbs!

Who lives here?

  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters
  • Students
2
RoF

Clearly you don't live down near Glebe point! We have a lovely 5 bedroom terrace and wonderful neighbours. Wouldn't want to live anywhere else. Not sure where you were living!

camb2

The public housing is extremely high. Its unsafe to walk at night, is constantly littered with rubbish and dumped furniture. Im currently listening to a group of guys yelling and drinking in a park and revving their cars. Glebe is larger than your one street.

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"A beauty in the city"

Living here for quite a while and enjoying the scenery and the lively Glebe Point Road with its cafes and the saturday market. Still central, but out of the trouble of CBD, that's a nice style of living...

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  • Professionals
  • Singles
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"My favourite suburb in Sydney"

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  • Professionals
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"Buzzy and convenient"

Glebe has excellent transport links to the CBD (or you could walk) and other parts of Sydney... The shopping is great; quirky shops along Glebe Point Road mixed in with the Broadway Shopping Centre means there is something for everyon. The Glebe Foreshore walk is lovely and the sporting facilities (countless gyms, Victoria Park with its pool and gym, rowing club, capoeira classes) and parks are great.

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
0
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"Vibrant, Energetic, and Bouncing Back"

Glebe continues it's "transition" after a number of setbacks.
The reduction of government housing, increasing house prices, and thriving eateries have continued the suburbs gentrification.
As others have said, there is a distinct bohemian feel to the place, especially if you visit the weekenend market, or a local festival.
A recent setback for local businesses has been the road works taking place on Glebe Point Road (to remove old tram tracks). This has been a disaster for many residents and business owners alike. However it has been necessary to prepare for Glebe's inevitable bounce back and continued growth.
Every day more people learn about what Glebe has to offer - location, restaurants, some of the prettiest streets and houses in Sydney, unique feel and atmosphere.
If you're looking for a unique, vibrant, energetic (and still largely affordable) suburb that hasn't begun to peak yet, then you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere better than Glebe.

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
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rainb

I wonder about some of these comments. The roadworks only took a month or two. Bounce back from what? It hasn't been bohemian for decades. The eateries have always been there, they've just become more expensive. There is no local festival. If you enjoy the sight of professionals who have the luxury of working from home lining up for their expensive coffees, more power to you.

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"Ross Street - Used to be quiet, the pub and students have changed that"

The Ross Street area closest to Harold Park Raceway has changed beyond recognition. It leads from the Harold Park Hotel, corner of Wigram road up to Parramatta road. The section by the hotel shoudl be avoided.

As residents we have campaigned relentlessly with the council against the noise, violence and mess that results from drunk patrons and live music which continually breaks council rulings. A number of houses have also been rented out to students who seem to have nothing better to do than drink to the early hours and sing karoke till 3am. Above the pub they have built apartments, clearly the people who have moved in are the kind of people who dont mind music and noise, hence more parties! 3 years ago Glebe gardens used to be a wonderful place to live (it still is) but not if your place faces Ross street. So buyer beware....

Who lives here?

  • Singles
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"High Class Hippie/ Bohemian Feel"

Glebe is located in the inner city of Sydney, right next to Broadway. This suburb is very close to The University of Sydney and hence is a popular suburb for university students to live. I often think of this suburb as a “high class hippie/bohemian” suburb.

Glebe is famous for its market and Glebe Point Road. The market happens every Sunday of the week. It is a good place to pick up second hand vintage clothing, clothing by budding local designers, jewellery, second hand books and etc.

Additionally, Glebe Point Road offers a variety of cafes and restaurants to dine at. There is a slight hippie-ish vibe and is nothing like Paddington or Bondi. There are also plenty of houses in Glebe. However, many of these are heritage listed and the streets are very narrow (just like most of the other inner city suburbs in Sydney).

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
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Megazord

Yet more misleading comments from the 200-plus suburb reviewer. Glebe has a very split personality. It has a lot of public housing and student accommodation, but the Toxteth Estate and Glebe Point are two of the most expensive areas in Sydney. Here and among the mansions of Glebe Point Rd there is no hippie vibe whatsoever. Narrow streets seem to be a fixation as she has falsely made this accusation about a lot of suburbs. Some streets in Glebe are narrow but just as many are wide. If you can buy a rundown, two storey terrace, let alone the major homes which fetch over $3 million, for less than a $1 million - good luck

stevev4

I have lived in Glebe all my life. I was born here and grew up in Glebe. Went to school at Glebe pubic and at St James. I played in the run down homes and old abandon rat infested factories scatted from Glebe point Rd to Blackwattle Bay to Darling harbour. I have seen it change from ramshackle poor neighborhood to a trendy yuppie place 1980s to be and again to a mega hipster baby boomer Zone 2000s.
I have watched people stay and move on to the booming out suburbs. I seen people I knew as children been killed murdered and dumped in the very same places that everyone likes to walk around in the parks and praise for being splendor and gentrification conforms to middle-class taste. Only to come back and visit and regret summon up of a time long since past.
So what are left are echoes of Hardworking Old people who have long gone and died out, whose ancestors sprits still settle in some of the old brick terrace homes long after they have been sold to the highest bidders.
Glebe is Sydney history dirty and murky with sun shine, but as the last of the old folks I have benefited watching it change and become more crowed and expensive. Glebe in some respect has lost its sole to pandering rich developers. Yes, its noisy and close to city CBD but its changing and evolving. Like so much of the past its just memories and the only thing that is left are the old terrace homes that get remodeled.

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