M S
Reviews
"Peaceful suburb"
Really beautiful suburb. Peaceful vibes. Nice places to walk. Small businesses in the area like the Friendly Grocer with great products. Quick drive to the city.
"Peaceful suburb"
Great suburb. Easy access to the train station and shops at Crows Nest or Waverton.
Who lives here?
- Professionals
- Families with kids
"Stigmatised area in the Hills"
I’ve lived in the Hills District my whole life and I wouldn’t recommend this area. The area has a stigma from most of the Hills residents who look down upon the area. I recall it was the pit of jokes while growing up and even my parents dodged a bullet buying in this area back 20 years ago. The metro was placed in the middle of nowhere, without being near any schools or shops, and is inconvenient for most commuters. You basically need a car to get there which almost defeats the purpose of the metro. You have to travel to get to most major locations, such as Castle Towers, Hornsby Westfield, etc. The suburb is basically in the middle of nowhere and I wouldn’t recommend it.
I spent my whole life in the Hills Mickj6, why are you gaslighting
I shall add the poor literacy skills of residents in Cherrybrook who cannot read posts. Dont forget the eyesores of powerlines and radiation from power towers.
Great area, lots of luxury cars, big houses, very green.
City buses, short Metro trips to Macquarie University and Chatswood, simply amazing.
I shall add the median house price of 2 mil on the list, definitely not an area for the Westies.
And yes, there are power lines where electricity is carried and transmitted to every household here.
Cherrybrook also has locals who dont know how to write their own seperate reviews.
You're obviously a sour grape who can't afford that place. I have friends who own houses in Cherrybrook and are millionaires today.
Do people in Cherrybrook know how to read? Ive lived in the Hills my entire life lol. I also wrote positive reviews for Waverton and Artarmon that dont compare to Cherrybrook.
it depends on what languages you are talking about
"Great street in the hills"
I lived here for 15 years. It's the most peaceful street i've ever lived in. There's a huge water tank behind the street which was great - didn't have to deal with any neighbours living behind me and I had much privacy.
Who lives here?
- Families with kids
"I grew up here"
I previously lived here. Extremely quiet and nice neighbour. It was nice to be near Emma Crescent library and the other shops nearby. The only problem is the school catchment - Toongabbie East Public is near all the public housing. Pendle Hills High isn't the best school either.
Who lives here?
- Professionals
- Families with kids
"Great suburb and very safe"
A quiet and safe suburb. Grew up in this suburb. Great schools nearby - both public and private (except Model Farms, they have a very low ranking). They also have two stations nearby - the Norwest and Bella Vista metro.
Who lives here?
- Professionals
- Families with kids
"Not recommended"
Most of the people that have moved here are clueless Sydney siders. Luckily I listened to the locals instead of the agents for an opinion on this suburb. There is a caravan park opposite the shopping centre that has much crime and drugs. Apparently they’ve broken into many houses in the area - and even up the road in North Gosford as well. I wondered why there was so many dodgy people at the Pacific Highway bus stop until a friend advised me about the caravan park right behind it. There’s also many housing commissions in the area - and surely you don’t want your kids going to school with those people. The local medical centre there has three to four hour waits so forget receiving medical care there. The price of the cheap housing might tempt you to move here, but there is a catch to it.
So have you lived here? Or this is what youve been told?
Its quite prejudiced to imply that people from housing commission are bad people, sure there could be a few but most are disadvantaged people, no different to living next to a dodgy property developer, lawyer or politician.
Ive lived here for 7 years near the housing commission area, never had an issue- I had issues with safety and neighbours in sydney, not in Wyoming.
Joer101, this is a suburb review website, not community forum.
As such, your review has faulty logic as somebody that actually LIVES in the suburb can safely say that, based on your other reviews you seem to really have it against the coast.
I should, and anybody else, is welcome to leave a review.
"Wouldn’t recommend"
A suburb with basically no businesses except one dodgy store near the station. There’s a lack of diversity and the residents couldn’t stop complaining about a Mosque being built in the suburb (I would prefer to deal with the Muslims at the mosque rather than the Jenovah Witnesses constantly knocking my door). The bus services are lacking and the train only approaches about once an hour. The area is known for having non stop blackouts. The area isn’t safe either and there are many crazies hanging out on the walking paths and children park there. I wouldn’t recommend.
"Not recommended"
I came here from Sydney because my partner lives on the Central Coast. It’s the most overrated area I’ve ever come across. There’s no good schools in the area (except Gosford High, which is full of Sydney kids, no surprise there). There’s also a lack of cultural diversity and many residents complain about too migrants moving to the area - which ironically would improve the area! The Main Street in pretty dead and there’s also a lack of transport services, and way too many bogans. Even the main supermarket there - Woolworths, is a pain to shop at. The area is so trashy that they have security guards at the store all the time following customers constantly. I've never seen that at any other Woolworths store. Theres a run down caravan park and burnt down building that nobody has done anything about nearby too. Not a family friendly place and not recommended.
Hi M S, I grew up on the Central Coast and am trying to "break my prejudices" against these areas in order to buy an affordable home, but I just can't get past these facts. What affordable neighbourhoods have you seen on the Coast that aren't so bad? By affordable, I mean $550-$650K. I'm asking because I like your recent comments and am interested in your opinion!
I factor many things in my decision - good schools, good public transport, access to a range of services (24 hour medical services and the such), etc, that the Central Coast lacks. My opinion - you basically pay for an area and get what you pay for. There's no such thing as a nice, affordable area.
I like that comment, there's no such thing as a nice affordable area. I'm looking for a unicorn.
Hahahaha I'm only laughing cause I'm looking for that unicorn too! It's so difficult isn't it
Good morning, I loved the central coast until I moved in 2002 to Brisbane. Then the boom happened and the houses are way overpriced for what you actually get. Had considered moving back but not now
"Fantastic location"
I was on Hampden Road and it was great. Close to the station with many great cafes and businesses nearby. The Wilkes was my favourite. Artarmon Public is one of the best primary schools in the state. Recommended. Lovely park nearby too.
Who lives here?
- Professionals
- Families with kids
"Inclusive and boring"
There’s a lack of diversity and the residents are extremely inclusive. I was looking at a property at Kent St and one resident thought the Ray White agent and I were robbers which shows how odd and uneducated the people there are. The schools there aren’t on top of the NSW best listed schools and there are only some small businesses there which I’m surprised are still in business. There’s pretty much nothing there.
Ive lived in Niagara Park for 19 years (I grew up in Engadine in the Sutherland Shire)educated my children here,(they have done well for themselves and are now employed in good jobs) and have lived here with absolutely no problems at all in that time. It is nice and leafy like Engadine minus the ridiculous house prices that you will pay down there, and its less crowded...you make your own fun, its only boring if you see it that way...I'm into the outdoors so there's heaps of things to do on that front...Bushwalking mountain biking, Kayaking just to name a few...problems are there to be found if you look, yes but the good times are too.
Lived Niagara park for few years. Dont have problem to live here. Streets are clean, easy to travel to Sydney.
You can also leave your own seperate review rather than comment on mine
Wow youre still writing stuff about this...i like it, you dont fair enough. I still stand by my comments and next time i will post my own comments...but its a free country and so i responded to show my own perspective as its mine to give.
@aj9 You can write a seperate review. Its a few country and people can write their own reviews. Youre giving a bad name to Niagara Park.
Im giving it a bad name? What are you talking about? Go to my initial reply and you will see how i feel about Niagara Park. Its not a bad place...i am still here and have no intention of leaving. Its not for everyone and thats ok too. But I love it...ok?
@aj9 My experiences and feelings of the suburb arent up for debate. You can write your own review elsewhere.
"Great place"
Fantastic. Great facilities. Shopping centre, restaurants, home maker centre, parks, metro and schools.
Who lives here?
- Professionals
- Families with kids
"Beautiful area"
Grew up here and lived here half my life. I love the mix of people here and the housing is fantastic. Great access to transport, shops and schools. The metro has improved the area. Very family friendly. The only thing I dislike is Model Farms High School which has extremely low NSW school ranking. I recall they used to accept students from the Blacktown area which completely degraded the school rated and reputation - and it hasn't recovered since. I would suggest Baulkham Hills Selective High, Crestwood High or a private school.
Who lives here?
- Families with kids
The M2 is still an absolute carpark as of Jan '20! Honestly, the only way to get from Baulkham Hills > City in 30 minutes is by helicopter. BH is pretty but it is genuinely a commuters worst nightmare...nothing is worse than catching a packed bus home everyday. We moved and we are much happier and less stressed now.
Yes, there's this thing called peak hour. It happens throughout Sydney or any other city in the world.
I live in Nth Baulkham Hills and the bus from Nth Rocks stop on the M2 to the city even on a bad day during peak in around 30min. Pretty happy with this peak hour commute!
"Not recommended"
I had moved out of Sydney and moved to Islington as I got work in the Newcastle area. I lived in Islington for two years. Being a Sydney sider, I had no idea about it being a red light district until local friends told me and a simple google search. The locals in the Islington area are in denial about the prostitution problem in the area and the problem in the area sadly still exists. I would constantly come across them whenever I did my daily exercise or just a simple walk to the Aldi nearby. I couldn’t even use the bus stop in Islington and had to go all the way to Hamilton to catch the bus. I don’t understand why the locals think so highly of this area - either they are completely clueless or in denial. I ended up moving back to Sydney and getting a job there as this suburb completely turned me off Newcastle. I wouldn’t recommend anyone to live here.
I read about prosecution and drugs used in the area. Is it really bad? Is there a rampant use of drugs there? Planning on finding a place there with my kids. Thanks
We moved here from SYD in Oct 2020 and completely disagree with the last post. Weve been told prostitution used to be a big problem, but apparently a charity group got involved to help the girls and its now completely changed. We havent looked back since moving here. It has all the lifestyle options of SYD but without any of the angst. Love it!
Sorry to say Karen, the prostitution problem sadly exists and strangely many of the residents are in denial about it like I mentioned. Just because you disagree doesnt invalidate what I had witnessed and experienced in all my years there.
Although I have never been a resident of Islington, I have been there twice to buy second-hand vinyl records. The first time that I went there was in September 2018, IIRC, and I bought records of Little Feat, Supertramp, Crosby & Nash, Johnny Cash, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, America, The Temptations, Rita Coolidge, Chuck Berry and Sherbet. I got a piece of crucial advice from my friend Jessica's mum Terri and it was to steer clear of the red-light areas frequented by prostitutes. I assured her that I never go into brothels or to Islington at night, but only the day-time.
There were many seedy guys and prostitutes in the area. I saw them both day and night though (hence why I caught the bus from Hamilton rather than in Islington).
If you'd like an updated opinion (August 2022) Islington has become a vibrant and edgy suburb that is suitable for singles and families and has something for everyone. If it's not here - it's close by. Sure there were prostitutes but my neighbours and I would be hard pressed to tell you when we saw the last one. I have been a resident for 30 years and absolutely love it.
Brad, my review is a recent review. Residents were in denial about the prostitution problem when I lived there, and still are.
As someone who has enjoys living here and has for some time, perhaps us residents are in "denial" about the prostitute "problem", because it doesn't actually pose any real life "problems" for us in our everyday life. I would suggest that if you choose to live in an inner city suburb with a diversity of people, then you are bound to observe people with the various issues that affect people in our society. Homelessness, mental health, and yes, probably there are sex workers that work here! It is a community, but I have never found it to be a "problem" for me, and i am happy to coexist with all members of my community (occasionally there might even be a rather interesting or pleasant interaction with one of these harmless fringe-dwellers who are (shock-horror) different to me. I think perhaps a better way of putting it is to talk less about a prostitution "problem", and focus on the fact that Islington's violent crime is now well and truly under control, and that it is a vibrant and fabulous community with so much to offer; but by all means if you prefer to pretend that these things do not exist , and to only see people exactly the same as yourself, then feel free to move to a leafy suburb further out!
We are urban professionals who lived in Kings Cross for 30yrs. Islington is Newcastle's KX and, like KX, is undergoing exciting urban renewal. If you don't enjoy and celebrate the rich diversity of this fabulous inner-city area, then move to the bland and dull suburbs. Horses for courses MS!
You know you can write your own seperate review Terrence. And if you knew how to read, my review said I moved out. You can enjoy living in the red light district with high crime, I enjoy living in the safe wealthy suburb of Waverton.
People can leave bad reviews, thats the point of this website, get over it Terrence!
Terrence, write your own seperate review. We dont trash positive reviews. Respect the negative ones.
You obviously can't afford to live there