'Lively and diverse': Glebe offers city living with a village vibe

Once a true working-class neighbourhood, Glebe is now one of Sydney’s coolest addresses, thanks largely to its winning inner-city location. Yet, despite soaring in popularity, Glebe has held on to its original low-key character.

It’s the epitome of inner-city living with two prestigious universities, Prince Alfred Hospital and the major business hubs of Pyrmont and the CBD all within walking distance or a short bus ride away. Plus, Newtown is just down the road.

“Glebe has transformed over the years – some would say gentrified – from a once-gritty area of Sydney to a fashionable harbourside neighbourhood,” says Noel Lucas-Martinez, director of residential sales and projects at Belle Property Pyrmont. “However, in reality, much of its true appeal has not changed.

“It’s still a lively and diverse place to live and in many ways unique, particularly as a melting pot of all kinds of people from different backgrounds and social classes. The village feel of Glebe Point Road shops is another part that has endured and one of Glebe’s great appeals.”

Whether browsing local bookstores and boutiques or popping in for after-work drinks at one of the many pubs, the options are endless, especially on the foodie front. Glebe’s assortment of BYO eateries and its international dining scene has long been revered, be it along Glebe Point Road or at the Tramsheds and the new Sydney Fish Markets at Blackwattle Bay (slated for completion in 2024). 

Yet, you can’t discuss this treasured locale without mentioning the foreshore parks that locals campaigned hard to keep from redevelopment, or the much-loved Glebe Markets with its eclectic mix of stalls.

“Glebe is a community – a village – it’s one of those suburbs where everyone fits in nicely,” says local businessman Mouhamed Alameddine. “No matter who you are, what colour you are, how much money you have, you just fit in.

Having opened his floristry business, Flowers on the Point, on Glebe Point Road in 1988, Alameddine has seen Glebe evolve over the past 30-odd years. Students and backpackers coming and going, grand terraces restored to their former glory, and new developments popping up. Yet, the very fibre of what makes Glebe the suburb it is remains unchanged. 

“Many immigrants came here because it was the cheapest area in town, now there’s a lot of wealth with people coming from the Northern Beaches, eastern suburbs and the north shore. Even with this influx of money, the people haven’t changed,” Alameddine says.

Although gentrification has swept through, Glebe still has an element of grit. Its love for all things creative shines bright, with street art, creative studios and art galleries sprinkled throughout.

“Glebe is such a vibrant and diverse area. Exciting adventures in food, nature and culture are everywhere, while a short walk or a few minutes of transport can take you to cinemas and artisan grocers and roads heading in every direction,” Lucas-Martinez says.

Combining its top-notch location with parklands and historic streets, it is easy to see why people want a slice of this desirable neighbourhood. And it is high-end boutique developments like Millard Place on Wentworth Street that are catering for the demand.  

A contemporary spin on the historic terrace form, Millard Place is a collection of 15 new homes designed to blend with the existing fabric of the streetscape. Each terrace houses four bedrooms, spacious living areas, an internal atrium garden, private internal lifts and double parking. 

“Millard Place is unashamedly contemporary while resonating with Glebe’s unique heritage,” Lucas-Martinez says. “It embodies all the luxuries of a modern home to create a calming yet contemporary lifestyle. The interiors deliver a refined design sensibility that showcases the quality of finishes and workmanship in light-filled spaces.”

Glebe’s newest address, with the area’s ease, convenience, and buzzy vibe, offers an unbeatable lifestyle for those who relish inner-city living.