Australia's most popular suburbs in every state in 2023

December 1, 2023

Few things in life are more certain than Australia’s property obsession, and in 2023 the focus has been more on some suburbs than others.

The Domain End of Year Wrap 2023 report has revealed the suburbs potential buyers set their sights on this year, with Melbourne’s Hampton East taking out the top gong.

Once an unassuming suburbangem south-east of Melbourne’s CBD, Hampton East rose to fame nationwide when it became home to this year’s season of The Block, with the number of property views in the area soaring as everyone’s attention turned to Charming Street.

Here are the top 10 most viewed suburbs for every state in Australia for 2023.

NSW

Rank State Suburb
1 NSW Clovelly
2 NSW Bronte
3 NSW Castlecrag
4 NSW Mcmahons Point
5 NSW Balmain
6 NSW Lilyfield
7 NSW Marrickville
8 NSW Woollahra
9 NSW Paddington
10 NSW Haberfield

Highest views per listing, houses and units combined, Jan-Nov 15, 2023. Source: Domain End of Year Wrap, Dec 2023

Clovelly, a small beachside suburb in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, topped the list for NSW. It was followed by its neighbour, Bronte, Castlecrag on the lower north shore, McMahons Point on the lower north shore harbourside, and Balmain in the inner west.

Mark McPherson of McGrath Coogee says Clovelly attracts young families seeking a big-country-village lifestyle without leaving the city. 

“It’s like a country town; it’s hard to leave it because you got everything at your doorstep,” he says. “You’re close to the city, the airport, and [have] accessibility to all the other beaches.

SOLD - $5,264,000
12 Andrew Street, Clovelly NSW 2031
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“It offers the opportunity to bring up a family in a great, tight-knit community. The density is probably not as high as surrounding beachside suburbs in regard to apartments.”

McPherson says the calm surrounding beaches are among the reasons Clovelly may have been high on people’s search-lists. 

“It’s got an unbelievably friendly, safe beach, which is appealing to a lot of young families,” he says. 

VICTORIA

Rank State Suburb
1 VIC Hampton East
2 VIC Middle Park
3 VIC Albert Park
4 VIC Carlton North
5 VIC Toorak
6 VIC Portsea
7 VIC East Melbourne
8 VIC Canterbury
9 VIC Fitzroy North
10 VIC Flinders

Highest views per listing, houses and units combined, Jan- Nov 15, 2023. Source: Domain End of Year Wrap, Dec 2023

Hampton East, a small, unassuming suburb to anyone outside of Melbourne, was quickly put on the map when The Block contestants picked up their power drills for the show’s 20th year.

“In terms of why it was the most viewed suburb, it’s got to be The Block – but at the same time, Hampton East has gained momentum and popularity in the last eight years,” says local agent Angus Graham of Hodges Real Estate Sandringham.

Hampton East may have had a little help this year from The Block TV series. Steph and Gian's house at 20 Charming Street sold for a record-breaking price over reserve, netting them the biggest profit in the show's history: $1.75 million. Photo: Supplied

Graham believes that once the area’s suburbs transitioned away from being heavily commissioned houses, young families began flocking in due to its affordable price. Families stay or want to enter the suburb because it has shown excellent price growth.

SOLD - $3,125,000
16 Charming Street, Hampton East VIC 3188
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“There is a growing population of younger families,” he says.  “I think it is its proximity to the city and beach [that attracts families to Hampton East]. It’s a 20-minute train or drive to the city, and realistically, it’s a couple  of minutes’ drive to the beach as well.”

Other heavily sought-after suburbs were Middle Park, Albert Park and Carlton North.

QLD

Rank State Suburb
1 QLD Brookfield
2 QLD Pullenvale
3 QLD Hawthorne
4 QLD New Farm
5 QLD Holland Park West
6 QLD Ascot
7 QLD Morningside
8 QLD Indooroopilly
9 QLD Brisbane City
10 QLD Chelmer

Highest views per listing, houses and units combined, Jan- Nov 15, 2023. Source: Domain End of Year Wrap, Dec 2023

The luxury acreage suburb of Brookfield took the top spot for Queensland, followed by neighbouring tree-change dream Pullenvale. Inner-east favourite Hawthorne – famous for being home to Gina Rinehart – was high on the wish list, as was New Farm, Brisbane’s premium inner-city riverfront address.

Brookfield agent Jarrod Hooley of Brisbane Real Estate.com.au says people looking at Brookfield are searching for big houses with a lot of land that are still relatively close to the city. 

SOLD - $1,400,000
18 Parklane Terrace, Brookfield QLD 4069
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“The smallest block within Brookfield residentials comes in at 500 square metres, and they all range up to 10 acres [four hectares],” he says.

“[Since the pandemic], there’s been a huge push in people looking for more of that tree change. A bit more of a lifestyle working from home, and they just want to get away from each other, as in not being as close to neighbours.”

ACT

Rank State Suburb
1 ACT Forrest
2 ACT O’Connor
3 ACT Yarralumla
4 ACT Narrabundah
5 ACT Deakin
6 ACT Garran
7 ACT Evatt
8 ACT Curtin
9 ACT Kambah
10 ACT Bruce

Highest views per listing, houses and units combined, Jan- Nov 15, 2023. Source: Domain End of Year Wrap, Dec 2023

Located in Canberra’s Inner South region and home to Canberra’s most exclusive residences, Forrest dominated as the most-searched suburb in ACT. 

One of the few suburbs in Canberra built to the original plans, Forrest borders Parliament House and is considered one of the most expensive suburbs in the city. 

Other highly viewed suburbs included O’Connor and Yarralumla.

SOLD - $620,000
23/14-16 New South Wales Crescent, Forrest ACT 2603
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SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Rank State Suburb
1 SA Unley
2 SA Goodwood
3 SA Bridgewater
4 SA Stirling
5 SA North Adelaide
6 SA Glenside
7 SA Parkside
8 SA Belair
9 SA Norwood
10 SA Torrens Park

Highest views per listing, houses and units combined, Jan- Nov 15, 2023. Source: Domain End of Year Wrap, Dec 2023

Adelaide’s long-standing favourites Unley, Goodwood and Bridgewater dominated buyers’ wish lists this year.

The state’s suburbs skyrocketed in demand amid Adelaide’s booming market. It avoided a downturn and saw its house prices rise by 8.4 per cent and unit prices by 15.1 per cent in the past year.

Contact Agent
75 Frederick Street, Unley SA 5061
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WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Rank State Suburb
1 WA Bedfordale
2 WA Gidgegannup
3 WA Gooseberry Hill
4 WA Darlington
5 WA Roleystone
6 WA Mount Nasura
7 WA Fremantle
8 WA Parkerville
9 WA Mount Helena
10 WA Stoneville

Highest views per listing, houses and units combined, Jan- Nov 15, 2023. Source: Domain End of Year Wrap, Dec 2023

Western Australia’s most-viewed list for 2023 was a mixed bag of city and semi-rural suburbs near Perth, such as Gooseberry Hill, Darlington and Roleystone.

The top spot went to Bedfordale, which features expansive bushland and scenic hills, attracting city dwellers who need a tree change. It was followed by Gidgegannup, which offers similar countryside vibes.

SOLD - $915,000
8 Grono Road, Bedfordale WA 6112
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TASMANIA

Rank State Suburb
1 TAS Battery Point
2 TAS Hobart
3 TAS West Hobart
4 TAS Sandy Bay
5 TAS North Hobart
6 TAS Acton Park
7 TAS South Hobart
8 TAS Taroona
9 TAS Mount Stuart
10 TAS Mount Nelson

Highest views per listing, houses and units combined, Jan- Nov 15, 2023. Source: Domain End of Year Wrap, Dec 2023

All of the top 10 most-viewed suburbs in Tasmania were around Hobart. Inner-city Battery Point maintained its top spot, while other suburbs in the Tasmanian capital city, such as South Hobart, West Hobart, Sandy Bay and North Hobart, also made the rankings. 

Offers Over $1,795,000
12 Bath Street, Battery Point TAS 7004
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NORTHERN TERRITORY

Rank State Suburb
1 NT Cullen Bay
2 NT Howard Springs
3 NT Fannie Bay
4 NT Rapid Creek
5 NT Alawa
6 NT Humpty Doo
7 NT Nightcliff
8 NT Millner
9 NT Leanyer
10 NT Darwin River

Highest views per listing, houses and units combined, Jan- Nov 15, 2023. Source: Domain End of Year Wrap, Dec 2023

Most of the top suburbs viewed in the Northern Territory were around the capital city of Darwin, with many of the desired locations being close to lovely ocean views.

Cullen Bay, the marina west of the CBD, was number one. It was followed by the rural suburb of Howard Springs, 29 kilometres away from the Darwin city centre.

Expressions of Interest
4 Emery Court, Cullen Bay NT 0820
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