Katie08
Reviews
"Over-rated"
I used to live in Strathfield and hated it so much I couldn't wait to get out of it! The houses are seriously over-priced. Once people live there for a few months, many of them are clamouring to get out of the place! Strathfield is noisy, crowded with a mediocre shopping area that is completely without atmosphere. I moved to the leafy, waterfront village of Oatley which is absolute BLISS compared to Strathfield! The prices in the St George and Cronulla/Sutherland area are comparable but the district is SO much better. Strathfield is surrounded by ugly, high-rise apartment areas such as Homebush and, worse, within the boundaries of gang-ridden areas such as Bankstown. My son-in-law is a policeman in the nearby area of Ashfield and tells me it is absolutely crime-ridden! I certainly would not recommend this area to families! I am so glad I made the move to Oatley - wish I had done it sooner!
Not great for
- Crowds, crime, pollution
- Overpriced, over-rated
Who lives here?
- Trendy & Stylish
In the past I have lived in Hurstville, Strathfield and other areas. I believe that Oatley, the Cronulla/Sutherland and Northern Beaches areas of Sydney are the best places to live in this city.
Well it's fine to leave an opinion but I think hating on every suburb that isn't Oatley is unnessacary.
Not everyone can afford to live in Oatley.
As you say, missyjane, I am just expressing my opinion. I understood this site was to provide your opinion and experiences of living in certain area(s) and that is what I have done. My opinion(s) may not be shared by everyone but I make no apology for them and feel justified in providing a critique on how I found certain areas. A democracy means that you are entitled to give an opinion (good or bad) about a topic. Oatley was not the only area that I praised .. there are many areas in the Cronulla/Sutherland and Northern Beaches that I love as well.
I don't think oatley is that flash....no major shopping or transport. It has only recently surpassed the million dollar mark whilst Strathfield has always held it's value and don't be a hater...every suburb has it's crime they are not perfect. The st George area is cheaper cos it's further away from the city and property's not that special not are their school.
Absolute rubbish! Oatley reached the million dollar mark years ago .. you don't have a CLUE what you are talking about HN! Strathfield is a nasty little slum surrounded by truly vile suburbs whereas Oatley is a garden suburb on the shores of the Georges River, surrounded by trees and parkland. The St George area is, actually, MORE expensive than Strathfield which is, and has always been, second rate and very over-rated. That is WHY most people who move in there want to leave the area quickly. People who live in the Oatley, Lugarno or Sutherland shire area stay for many years. Strathfield is a HUGE crime area and I know this because my son-in-law is a policeman who has told me that the Strathfield/Ashfield area is one of the TOP crime spots for break and enter and drug-related crime. Don't know where you get YOUR facts from but you are wrong!
My oh my, JJ11, do I detect a very strong current of xenophobic racism throughout your reply! You sad little person. I am not of aboriginal descent but I do find your response offensive and rather typical of the smug, condescending attitudes that prosper in parts of Strathfield where (for some unknown reason) you think you are superior to anywhere else ... you are not! It still stands that Strathfield is, indeed, drastically over-rated which is why I moved out and why many people I know do not like the area. You forget that I used to live there ... JJ11, only the lowest, most uneducated idiot would resort to racism in an attempt to win a trivial argument about suburban areas ... tch! tch!
To compare an area such as Strathfield with Oatley is just laughable! Just look at property prices, one house in Strathfield could get you five houses in Oatley, if you once owned a house in Strathfield then sold it to go live in Oatley wouldn't you be kicking yourself!!! There's a reason why the price of property in Oatley is a fraction of that in Strathfield, the St George area more expensive than Strathfield??! Katie what planet are you on??!!!
Katie08, My daughter was scrolling through these comments, for her Geography assignment, and was horrified by your use of language to describe her suburb. Next time, please consider who may be viewing the comments, when you post them. I am completely fine with you sharing your opinion, but please so no use words such as 'nasty little slum' and 'vile'.
Katie 08.Suprised you didn't seek the advice of your "Son-in-law the policeman,"before moving into such crime ridden areas.
By the way.....It's Homely not Twitter.
I second /third what's been been said above. This is a strange post. Considering the ~$2.5m median house price, if you sold your house in Strathfield it would be very strange if you took your money and moved to Oatley and not somewhere a bit more upmarket. If instead you moved from a unit in busy central Strathfield to a big suburban house in Oatley then you aren't comparing like to like... the crime rates around a big interchange station in the Inner West can't really be compared with a suburb that only has a one-line station down south. It's fine to point out all the negatives about a suburb, but the strength of feeling in your post just comes across a bit over the top when you start making inappropriate comparisons.
"A lovely haven by the river"
I grew up in Como and think it is an absolutely wonderful place to raise children. It is a very pretty, leafy green area with great schools, parks and recreational facilities and close to the larger shopping areas of Jannali, Miranda and Taren Point. It also has the advantage that it is on a rail line that is only about 30-40 minutes from the CBD and very close to the great beaches of Cronulla. The only downside is that it is on the south side of the Georges River and rather remote by road to the city, airport and the large arterial freeways such as the M4 or M5. Unfortunately, Como does not have the lively, trendy restaurant scene that is abundant in other waterside areas such as Oatley, however, it has one of the best pubs in Sydney. Como Pub is a classic historical pub set right on the river with great food and an incomparable ambience! Right now is the right time to purchase a house at Como as the prices are almost half that of Oatley (across the river). Como is on the cusp of being a boom suburb and now is the perfect time to get a good buy in this beautiful suburb before prices will (inevitably) skyrocket when people "discover" what a really beautiful place it is. I'm sure, though, that the locals want to keep it as a secret for as long as possible .... !!
Great for
- Lovely friendly neighbourhood; beautiful, green waterside suburb
- Fantastic local pub
- Rail link close to good shopping areas
Not great for
- Distant by road to city and airport
- Not a lot of restaurants or nightlife in suburb
Who lives here?
- Professionals
- Families with kids
- Retirees
- LGBT+
- Hipsters
- Country Lovers
- Beach Lovers
"The problem with peninsular suburbs like Illawong and Bonnet Bay"
The main problem with areas like Illawong, Woronora and Bonnet Bay is that they are isolated (especially in the frequent event of bushfires in the area). There is one road in and one road out which can be a really scary experience if you have a bushfire racing towards the peninsular! Also areas like Menai and Illawong are not on rail lines and buses are erratic. However, the Menai marketplace is quite a good (but not extensive) shopping centre with some nice restaurants.
Who lives here?
- Families with kids
- Retirees
- Hipsters
- Country Lovers
"The perfect suburb for young families"
We have lived in the gorgeous Jewfish Point area of Oatley West for many years. Oatley West is the best part of Oatley because it does not have the high density (unit/apartment) concentration that applies on the Kogarah Council side (Oatley East). However, BOTH sides of Oatley are a joy to live in. Oatley is clean, leafy/green, child-friendly and because it is a cul-de-sac suburb, the traffic is low (especially on the Oatley West side). The whole suburb has a village atmosphere which is like a country hamlet within easy range to the city. Oatley is situated right on a rail line and is handy to the big shopping centres of Hurstville, Miranda, Riverwood and Bankstown. Oatley is only 10 mins from the M5 (giving drivers an easy 30 mins access to the city) and within 20 mins from the beautiful beaches of Cronulla, Shelley Beach, Gunnamatta Bay and Oak Park. Oatley has its own magnificent 45 hectare tree covered Park (which is one of the largest urban parks in Sydney); in addition the suburb is only a 20 minute drive to the Royal National Park (second oldest park in the world after Yellowstone). Residents of Oatley are spoilt for choice for cafes, restaurants, bars and pubs within the suburb and at nearby Mortdale and the very lively restaurant scene at nearby Beverly Hills and Sans Souci areas. Its a rare suburb that offers the perfect mix of trendiness and convenience in a beautiful leafy green waterfront suburb that provides a wonderful safe environment for its lucky residents (minus the crime, traffic and pollution of inner city areas). It is only 30 minutes from anywhere but, at night, the peace and quiet of Oatley is much appreciated - no trucks, no noisy traffic, no planes roaring overhead. Its the best kept secret in Sydney!
Who lives here?
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
I thought you lived in Hurstville and hated there?