Australia’s backyard pool capital is not where you think

When it comes to house sales with backyard pools, you would think that warm-weather cities like Brisbane and Darwin would lead the way. 

But surprising new research has revealed that Melbourne is home to eight of the top ten Australian suburbs with the highest number of pool sales. 

“It not only defies the relationship between climate and pool ownership but also appears to overshadow Sydney as the most popular region for swimming pools,” says Atom Go Tian, senior data analyst for the Ray White Group. 

In total, 909 houses sold in Melbourne last year came with a pool in the backyard, particularly in beachside suburbs like Brighton, Hampton and Mount Eliza. 

It’s only a whisker behind Sydney, which led the nation with 923 pool sales last year. 

Go Tian explains that a suburb’s socioeconomic status has a strong influence over the number of houses with backyard pools. 

“Ultimately, the data suggests that while climate creates the conditions for pool ownership, wealth and location ultimately determine where pools become defining features of residential real estate,” he says. 

Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs is an example of a ‘pool precinct’ where many houses for sale boast a backyard pool. 

One of the most spectacular pools for sale in the area right now is at 4 Ahearn Avenue, South Coogee. 

The owners have created a backyard waterpark complete with a twisting slide and an underwater viewing window. 

The heated freshwater pool overlooks a sunny terrace where parents can relax with a glass of wine while the kids splash around in the pool. 

The house itself is a sleek, minimalist pad with vast windows overlooking the sea. 

Early in the morning, you can watch the sun rise over the Pacific Ocean from bed. 

Auction

4 Ahearn Avenue, South Coogee NSW 2034

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A muted palette of warm oak flooring and white Venetian plaster frames the views out along the coast. 

The house comes with five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a home cinema, and a temperature-controlled wine cellar. 

The property is for sale with Conor Howard from NGFarah, in conjunction with James Ball from Sotheby’s International Real Estate. It will go to auction on 15 February 2025.