Buying in Bondi & Tamarama.
Australia’s most famous beach and its quieter little neighbour. Apartments, art deco blocks, family houses and the coastal walk on your doorstep.
Why everyone wants to live here.
Bondi is a few minutes from my home in Waverley and I know it very well. It draws a wider mix of buyers than anywhere else in the east: first home buyers, downsizers, investors, young families and buyers moving back from overseas.
Most homes here are apartments, from 1930s art deco blocks to new buildings with ocean views. Freestanding houses and semis are much rarer, especially in North Bondi and Tamarama, and they are keenly fought over when they come up.
Because there is so much choice, the gap between a good apartment and an average one is large. The building, the aspect and the strata all matter a great deal here.
From a private estate to the world’s beach.
The name Bondi comes from an Aboriginal word linked to the sound of waves breaking over rocks. In the 1800s the beach was part of a private estate, and it was declared a public beach in 1882 after a dispute over access.
The tram reached Bondi in 1884 and the crowds followed. The Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club was founded in 1907 and claims to be the first surf club in the world. Bondi Pavilion opened in 1929, the same year the Icebergs started their winter swimming. In 2008 Bondi Beach was added to the National Heritage List.
Tamarama was once called Dixon Bay. From 1906 to 1911 the gully behind the beach was home to Wonderland City, a large amusement park. Today it is one of the smallest and most sought after beaches in Sydney, known to locals as Glamarama.
The pockets I know.
Bondi is big and varied. This is how I break it up for buyers.
Beaches, schools and getting around.
- Beaches and pools. Bondi Beach, Bondi Icebergs pool, North Bondi rock pools, Tamarama Beach and the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk.
- Parks. Bondi Park and Marks Park, plus Tamarama Park in the gully behind the beach.
- Schools. Bondi Public School and Bondi Beach Public School are local. Waverley College, St Catherine’s, St Clare’s, Cranbrook and Scots are all a short drive away.
- Shops and cafes. Hall Street, Gould Street and Campbell Parade, the Bondi farmers market and everything at Bondi Junction.
- Getting around. Frequent buses to Bondi Junction station, with trains to the city in about 15 minutes.
What I tell buyers here.
- Read the strata carefully. Many blocks are 80 to 90 years old. Building defects, special levies and how well the building is run all affect value.
- Check the aspect. North facing, cross ventilated apartments hold their value. Dark, south facing ones near the beach can be harder to sell later.
- Watch out for noise. Some streets near Campbell Parade and the nightlife are lively. It is worth seeing a street at night and on weekends before you buy.
- Parking is worth paying for. A secure car space in Bondi adds real value and makes a property much easier to sell.
- Houses need speed. Freestanding houses in North Bondi and Tamarama are rare. Be ready with finance and a solicitor so we can move quickly, often before auction.
General information only, not financial, legal or tax advice. Please read my terms and disclaimer.
Looking in Bondi or Tamarama?
Call me for a confidential, no obligation chat about what you’re looking for.