Buying in Glebe & Annandale.
Victorian terraces, harbour foreshore parks and easy access to the city and the universities.
Character homes on the city’s edge.
Glebe and Annandale are two of my favourite inner west suburbs, and I know them very well. They suit buyers who want a character home, a short trip to the city and a strong local community.
Most homes are Victorian terraces and semis, from tiny workers’ cottages to grand homes on Annandale’s wide streets. There are also warehouse conversions and apartments near the water.
Heritage controls, flood zoning, parking and aspect can all change the value of two homes on the same street.
Church land and a colonel’s estate.
Glebe takes its name from church land. In 1790 Governor Phillip granted 400 acres to the Reverend Richard Johnson, chaplain of the First Fleet, and from 1828 parts were sold off. The church kept the middle section, the Glebe Estate, until the 1970s.
Annandale grew from land granted to Major George Johnston in 1806 and later subdivided by his family from 1876. It became its own municipality in 1894, and its wide streets and grand terraces date from this era.
Both suburbs fell out of favour in the mid 1900s and were rediscovered from the 1960s and 1970s, when buyers began restoring their terraces. Much of Glebe’s Victorian housing survives today.
The pockets I know.
These two suburbs have very different streets, often side by side.
Parks, schools and getting around.
- Parks. Jubilee Park, Bicentennial Park, Blackwattle Bay and the harbour foreshore walk, plus Wentworth Park nearby.
- Schools. Glebe Public, Forest Lodge Public, Annandale Public and Annandale North Public are local, with St Scholastica’s College in Glebe and Sydney Secondary College campuses nearby.
- Shops and cafes. Glebe Point Road, the Glebe markets on Saturdays, Johnston Street and Booth Street in Annandale.
- Getting around. Light rail through Glebe, buses along Parramatta Road and Glebe Point Road, and a short trip to the city and Sydney University.
What I tell buyers here.
- Check heritage rules. Much of Glebe and Annandale is in heritage conservation areas, which limits what can change.
- Understand flooding. Some streets near Johnstons Creek and the bays are flood affected, which can affect insurance and building plans.
- Rear lane access is gold. Off street parking from a rear lane adds real value in these suburbs.
- Get a thorough inspection. Old terraces can hide damp, cracking, termites and old wiring.
General information only, not financial, legal or tax advice. Please read my terms and disclaimer.
Other Inner West suburbs I cover.
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