Myrtle St, Stanmore, NSW 2048

The previous review on Stanmore is not correct. The reviewer has written 202 suburb reviews in NSW from Adaminaby to Woollahra and many of them are also incorrect.

Stanmore has some of the finest 19th century mansions in Sydney and the entire suburb is heritage-listed. That means its character will never change. Even if a house is knocked down, any replacement building cannot be more than 3 stories high and the facade must be in keeping with the heritage appearance of the suburb. Popular heritage walks are undertaken by the local heritage society each week. Not only for the distinctive architecture but also because many famous people have been born or have lived in Stanmore - former prime minister, Harold Holt, Sir Asher Joel, actress Noelene Brown, Leo Schofield etc.

The suburb has a long history and was once part of Annandale farm. Major Johnston rode out to quash the Rum Rebellion from Stanmore in the early days of the colony and the original gates of Annandale farm are still to be found here. Gordon Crescent and Bruce St - listed by the Sydney Morning Herald as one of the finest terraced streets in Sydney - have a special heritage listing.

Stanmore Village is small but features several trendy cafes, a patisserie, architect, real estate and legal offices. It does not need to be larger because Stanmore is within walking distance of Norton St Leichhardt, two to three minutes drive from Glebe Point Rd and King Street, Newtown and is on the edge of the city. The transport links are exceptional - it takes only 7 minutes from Stanmore station to Town Hall, 15 minutes to both Bondi Junction and North Sydney etc. Road links are excellent, too, Only 15 minutes to Woollahra and McMahons Point and a fast track in either direction on the City West link.

Once one of the wealthiest areas in Sydney - hence the large houses on large blocks of land - Stanmore has beome increasingly gentrified in the past 25 years. Like Annandale, Newtown and Camperdown, it has one of the highest percentages of professional inhabitants in Sydney because of its proximity to RPA, Sydney University and the city - mainly doctors, university staff, the media and businesspeople. There are plenty of students, too, because Sydney University, Notre Dame University and UTS are lose by.

Stanmore is a tightly held suburb. The smaller houses - semis and two to three bedroom single-fronted cottages - have the highest turnover and generally go for the suburb average of between $700,000 and up to $900,000. Over the past two years double storey terraces have sold for between $1.1 and $1.6 million. Double fronted, renovated federation properties have sold for between $1.3 and $1.8 million. Even unrenovated they sell for a million or more. The mansions very rarely come up for sale and a recent sale netted over $2.5 million.

Stanmore is a great place to live because it is very quiet itself but is very close to restaurant and nightlife "strips". Most of the streets are quiet except for the through roads of Douglas, Salisbury and Stanmore Roads. There is some aircraft noise but it is not too annoying and has done little to affect house prices in the area.