Sydney is blessed with many naturally beautiful suburbs, the kind that are surrounded by lush bushland and hidden beaches, giving the welcomed illusion of being a world away from it all. This is true of Northbridge, a quiet and leafy suburb of the lower north shore, peacefully found beyond its iconic sandstone Long Gully Bridge.
According to Chris Downie, director of Richardson & Wrench Northbridge, who grew up and continues to work in the area, there’s every good reason why the more than 6000 people who call Northbridge home are committed to staying put, given it is a safe and scenic peninsula suburb and a great place to raise a family.
“For a long time, Northbridge was a well-kept secret, but it has, beyond doubt, become a much sought-after suburb,” says Downie. “It’s surrounded on three sides by Middle Harbour, meaning it’s filled with waterfront properties, most of which have been purposefully designed to best capture sweeping water views.”
Sending a strong message to support its postcode’s prestige, Northbridge sports a median house price of $4.875 million, up 13.2 per cent year-on-year, contributing to its 43.4 per cent rise in just five years, according to Domain’s latest House Price Report.
“Affluent buyers love its great facilities such as a number of popular primary schools, a local golf course and sailing club, plus the much-loved Northbridge Baths,” lists Downie. “It’s the type of place where residents can make a quick 15-minute trip to the city to get their fix yet breathe a sigh of relief on their way home.”
Holding a deep connection to the area and its residences, Lauren Mahoney is the owner of luxury interior design practice Studio Trio, operating in the suburb for the past 15 years, with many notable projects completed in the area.
“We currently have four large-scale projects in Northbridge alone and have been lucky enough to have become very familiar with this small but buzzing community where we see familiar faces daily,” says Mahoney. “While it’s ever-evolving, it remains a tranquil and secluded place to live just moments away from the city.”
When describing her favourite ways to pass the time, she speaks of grabbing a bite to eat at local cafes like Ritual Coffee Traders and Bonds Corner Cafe and dinners at the boutique restaurant Martha’s for something more delicate.
“Of course, I also love to spend a sunny day by the Northbridge Baths, going for swims and watching the boats sail by,” she adds. “Spending spring and summers here is always great, which is when we can take full advantage of its great water access and head off to explore its many walking tracks and parks.”