Buying in Paddington & Woollahra.
Victorian terraces, leafy streets and village shopping, a few minutes from the city and Centennial Park.
Character homes close to everything.
Paddington and Woollahra are two of my favourite suburbs to buy in, and I know them very well. They suit buyers who want a character home in a walkable village, close to the city, the parks and good schools.
Most homes are Victorian terraces, from small two bedroom cottages to wide, double fronted homes with gardens. Woollahra also has larger freestanding houses on quiet, leafy streets.
No two terraces are the same. Width, light, rear access and parking make a big difference to value, and so does the quality of past renovations.
From army village to heritage treasure.
Paddington began in the 1840s as a village for the workers building Victoria Barracks, which started in 1841. The estate was named after Paddington in London. Most of the terraces were built in a boom that ran from the 1870s to the early 1900s.
After the Second World War, terraces fell out of favour and parts of Paddington were labelled slums. From the 1960s, students, artists and young families moved in and began restoring them. The Paddington Society, founded in 1964, fought to protect the streets, and the suburb is now heritage listed.
Woollahra takes its name from an Aboriginal word recorded in 1788 and translated as lookout, and from Woollahra House, the Cooper family mansion built on the site of Captain Piper’s old villa. Its village grew around Queen Street, now known for antiques, galleries and cafes.
The pockets I know.
These two suburbs have very different streets, often side by side.
Beaches, schools and getting around.
- Parks. Centennial Park, Trumper Park, Paddington Reservoir Gardens and Cooper Park nearby.
- Shops and cafes. Oxford Street, William Street, Five Ways, Queen Street and the Paddington markets on Saturdays.
- Schools. Paddington Public, Glenmore Road Public and Woollahra Public are local. Sydney Grammar’s Edgecliff campus, Ascham, SCEGGS and Cranbrook are close by.
- Getting around. Buses along Oxford Street, Edgecliff and Bondi Junction stations, and an easy trip to the city.
What I tell buyers here.
- Check heritage rules first. Most of Paddington is a heritage conservation area. What you can change at the front, the roof and the rear is limited.
- Look at the width and light. A wider terrace, or one with a north facing rear, is worth a lot more and is easier to sell.
- 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. A careful building and pest inspection is essential.
- Party walls matter. Terraces share walls with neighbours. Boundary and party wall issues are worth understanding before exchange.
General information only, not financial, legal or tax advice. Please read my terms and disclaimer.
Looking in Paddington or Woollahra?
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