The Eastern Suburbs of Sydney is a highly coveted region of Sydney for homeowners and investors, playing home to some of the most expensive suburbs in Australia. In fact, of Australia’s ten most expensive suburbs, the Eastern Suburbs is home to seven of them: Bellevue Hill, Vaucluse, Bronte, Rose Bay, Clovelly, Woollahra, and North Bondi in order of median property prices from highest to lowest.
As these suburbs are highly desirable and residents don’t want to leave, those who hope to move to the area drive up the already sky-high property prices even further. Homes in these tightly held suburbs in prime locations do not change hands often, and in some suburbs across Sydney, only a handful of properties are sold each year.
We’ll be exploring the boundary of the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, delving into some of the most sought-after locations, and detailing why an Eastern Suburbs buyers agent is needed to secure a property in the region.
Where Are The Eastern Suburbs?
Many are familiar with the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, but their knowledge of the region is limited to harbourside suburbs, the iconic beachside suburbs, and the suburbs that stretch up towards Vaucluse. With Sydney Harbour to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Eastern Distributor to the west, and Botany Bay to the south, it comprises many suburbs.
Vaucluse, Darling Point, Point Piper, Double Bay, and Rose Bay boast stunning harbour views, with beaches in Bondi, Bronte, Tamarama, Clovelly, Coogee, and Maroubra stretch along the coast. In the south of the region, La Perouse and Phillip Bay face Botany Bay, with nearby suburbs including Little Bay, Chifley, Malabar and Matraville. In the centre of the region is UNSW, surrounded by suburbs including Randwick, Kensington, and Kingsford. Next to and surrounding Moore Park and Centennial Park are Queen Park, Waverly, Bondi Junction, Paddington, Woollahra, and Edgecliff.
Eastern Suburbs Region Guide
As mentioned, there are plenty of areas to choose from in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, and whilst we won’t be exploring all of the suburbs, we’ll offer insights into different suburbs in the region.
Bellevue Hill
With a median house price of $9.24 million, Bellevue Hill is Australia’s most expensive suburb and one of the most desirable. Commanding a significant presence in the Eastern Suburbs between Double Bay and Rose Bay, the suburb is home to grand estates and mansions that frequently exceed eight figures. Just 5km from Sydney CBD, the suburb has breathtaking harbour views and is an ideal location for families, and those who are looking for a safe and friendly neighbourhood. Whilst units aren’t cheap by any stretch of the imagination, the median unit price in the suburb is $1,450,000, offering a more accessible entry point into the area.
Suburb Stats
- Median house price: $9,240,000
- Past 12 month growth: -7.6%
- Rental yield: 1.7%
- Sold in past 12 months: 80
- Median unit price: $1,450,000
- Past 12 month growth: +4.1%
- Rental yield: 3.5%
- Sold in past 12 months: 133
Bondi
Situated in the Waverley Council local government area, Bondi centres around Bondi Road, a medium and high-density residential area. Neighbouring the commercial hub of Bondi Junction and the iconic Bondi Beach, its position is highly attractive for those who are looking for the best of both worlds. Although not as expensive as neighbouring Bellevue Hill and Bondi Beach, median house prices are $3,850,000. Units offer a more accessible entry point to the suburb, with a median unit price of $1,376,000. More than four times as many units as houses have been sold over the last 12 months.
Suburb Stats
- Median house price: $3,850,000
- Past 12 month growth: +2.7%
- Rental yield: 2.3%
- Sold in past 12 months: 41
- Median unit price: $1,376,000
- Past 12 month growth: -0.76%
- Rental yield: 3.7%
- Sold in past 12 months: 170
Bondi Beach
Internationally renowned even amongst those who have never visited Australia, Bondi is perhaps the most iconic of Sydney’s suburbs. Its laidback lifestyle and warm community draw many to the area, with properties in the suburb always in demand.
Suburb Stats
- Median house price: $9,240,000
- Past 12 month growth: -7.6%
- Rental yield: 1.7%
- Sold in past 12 months: 80
- Median unit price: $1,450,000
- Past 12 month growth: +4.1%
- Rental yield: 3.5%
- Sold in past 12 months: 133
Bronte
Neighbouring Tamarama and Clovelly, Bronte is a highly desirable beachside suburb with a vibrant atmosphere, a close-knit community, and iconic cliff-top walking paths connecting the suburb to Bondi and Coogee that offer residents stunning views. With just 3,002 private dwellings–half of which are apartments–it is a fairly exclusive location. Houses in the area are tightly held, with the price of property reflecting that. The median house price in Bronte is $5,387,500, a figure that has declined slightly over the last 12 months. Units are also in high demand and have a median price of $1,450,000.
Suburb Stats
- Median house price: $5,387,500
- Past 12 month growth: -0.7%
- Rental yield: 2.0%
- Sold in past 12 months: 46
- Median unit price: $1,450,000
- Past 12 month growth: -9.4%
- Rental yield: 3.3%
- Sold in past 12 months: 36
Clovelly
A small suburb that is far less known than some of its neighbours in the Eastern Suburbs, Clovelly offers a small pocket of paradise for its residents. Clovelly Beach is positioned at the end of Clovelly Bay, giving residents a beachside lifestyle without crowds like those in neighbouring suburbs. Due to its size, there aren’t as many properties coming to market, however, those that do are in high demand. Houses spend a median of 59 days on the market, and apartments are highly sought after, spending just 41 days on the market. The median price of houses and units sold in the last 12 months is $4,318,000 and $1,810,000 respectively.
Suburb Stats
- Median house price: $4,318,000
- Past 12-month growth: -1.0%
- Rental yield: 2.1%
- Sold in past 12 months: 36
- Median unit price: $1,810,000
- Past 12-month growth: +2.0%
- Rental yield: 3.0%
- Sold in past 12 months: 35
Coogee
Further down the coast, Coogee offers a similar coastal lifestyle to Bondi, Tamarama, Bronte and Clovelly, and whilst it has traditionally offered a lower price point, than comparable suburbs, this is now changing following significant recent growth. With charming streets, plenty of cafes and restaurants, and retaining access to the city, Coogee is a desirable place for many looking to live in the Eastern Suburbs. The suburb has a median house price of $4,067,500 and unit prices of $1,450,500, both experiencing double-digit growth in the last 12 months.
Suburb Stats
- Median house price: $4,067,500
- Past 12-month growth: +18.6%
- Rental yield: 2.5%
- Sold in past 12 months: 42
- Median unit price: $1,450,500
- Past 12-month growth: +10.1%
- Rental yield: 3.5%
- Sold in past 12 months: 242
Darling Point
Nestled between Potts Point and Point Piper, Darling Point is an inner-city suburb home to blue-chip real estate on Sydney Harbour. A highly desirable area with stunning views and easy access to Sydney CBD, property commands a premium with units holding a median price of $2,330,000. The vast majority of properties in the suburb are apartments, with the few houses in the area rarely changing hands. Thanks to its bustling lifestyle, great transport links, and priceless view, Darling Point is at the top of the list of many buyers looking to find a home in Sydney’s inner-east.
Suburb Stats
- Median house price: -
- Past 12-month growth: -
- Rental yield: 2.1%
- Sold in past 12 months: 3
- Median unit price: $2,330,000
- Past 12-month growth: -20.8%
- Rental yield: 2.9%
- Sold in past 12 months: 98
Double Bay
Neighbouring Bellevue Hill, Point Piper, and Darling Point, Double Bay is nestled in a very desirable pocket of the Eastern Suburbs. Its harbourside location and proximity to the CBD make Double Bay particularly enticing for buyers and is a key factor for its substantial growth. The median house price in the suburb has skyrocketed over the last 12 months, increasing 27.2% to $7,850,000. Units in the suburb are also in high demand, which has driven median prices up 10.6% to $1,825,000 in the last 12 months.
Suburb Stats
- Median house price: $7,850,000
- Past 12-month growth: +27.2%
- Rental yield: 1.8%
- Sold in past 12 months: 15
- Median unit price: $1,825,000
- Past 12-month growth: +10.6%
- Rental yield: 3.1%
- Sold in past 12 months: 89
Dover Heights
Nestled between Vaucluse, Rose Bay and North Bondi, Dover Heights is an Eastern Suburbs locale that is in good company. Its high vantage point offers stunning sunrises over the South Pacific Ocean, and from Dudley Page Reserve, residents can enjoy views of Sydney Harbour. It is a highly in-demand suburb with a median house price of $6,850,000 which has grown by 11% over the last 12 months, and a median unit price which has risen 74.7% over the last 12 months to $1,450,000.
Suburb Stats
- Median house price: $6,850,000
- Past 12-month growth: +11.0%
- Rental yield: 1,9%
- Sold in past 12 months: 35
- Median unit price: $1,450,000
- Past 12-month growth: +74.7%
- Rental yield: 3.6%
- Sold in past 12 months: 14
Point Piper
A small harbourside suburb, Point Piper is home to the nation’s most expensive properties. One of just eleven streets in the suburb, Wolseley Road is the most desirable, with prices of $38,900 per square metre, putting it in the top ten most expensive streets in the world. Featuring a spectacular view of Sydney Harbour and notable residents including former prime ministers, it is no surprise that properties exchange hands rarely. In the last 12 months, just seven houses have been sold in Sydney’s most exclusive suburb, and as Point Piper is home to just 136 detached houses–with 18 terraced, semi-detached or townhouses–supply is short.
Suburb Stats
- Median house price: -
- Past 12-month growth: -
- Rental yield: +0.7%
- Sold in past 12 months: 7
- Median unit price: $2,828,000
- Past 12-month growth: -27.5%
- Rental yield: 2.4%
- Sold in past 12 months: 19
Randwick
Although not a coastal suburb, Randwick retains easy access to beaches but benefits from all the conveniences and amenities of a more urban area. Its position in the Eastern Suburbs offers easy CBD access via light rail, and it is neighbouring expansive green space in Centennial Park and Queens Park. Houses and units spend 57 and 48 days on the market on average due to high demand from interested buyers who are looking for a more affordable home or investment property in the Eastern Suburbs. However, thanks to consistent recent growth, property in the area is becoming more expensive.
Suburb Stats
- Median house price: $3,500,000
- Past 12-month growth: +9.8%
- Rental yield: 2.3%
- Sold in past 12 months: 125
- Median unit price: $1,185,000
- Past 12-month growth: +7.7%
- Rental yield: 3.8%
- Sold in past 12 months: 357
Rose Bay
Rose Bay is one of Sydney’s most desirable locations, situated in an affluent harbourside pocket of the Eastern Suburbs. With an expansive waterfront, harbour views, and plenty of green space, the area is an ideal location for prospective residents who want to remain close to the CBD. Due to demand and limited property available, this blue-chip suburb commands a median house price of $6,000,000 and units of $1,574,250. Growth in the suburb is strong, with houses and units appreciating by 4.3% and 5.0% respectively over the last 12 months.
Suburb Stats
- Median house price: $6,000,000
- Past 12-month growth: +4.3%
- Rental yield: 1.9%
- Sold in past 12 months: 53
- Median unit price: $1,574,250
- Past 12-month growth: +5.0%
- Rental yield: 3.3%
- Sold in past 12 months: 134
Vaucluse
Whilst it is a little further from the city than Bellevue Hill, Vaucluse has always been a highly desirable suburb thanks to its affluent community and harbour views. With the Tasman Sea to the east and Sydney Harbour to the west, many residents have an expansive panorama from their homes. Properties in the area are tightly held, an exclusive enclave for many multi-generational families. Despite being one of the larger suburbs in the Eastern Suburbs, just 74 houses have been sold in the past 12 months, which is barely 1% of the area’s total detached houses, attesting to the suburb’s exclusivity.
Suburb Stats
- Median house price: $7,952,500
- Past 12-month growth: -14.5%
- Rental yield: 1.9%
- Sold in past 12 months: 74
- Median unit price: $1,540,000
- Past 12-month growth: +3.0%
- Rental yield: 3.5%
- Sold in past 12 months: 78
Watsons Bay
The northernmost suburb of the Eastern Suburbs, Watson’s Bay is positioned at the top of the South Head peninsula, with Vaucluse the only neighbouring suburb to the south. Its secluded and isolated location offers residents privacy, stunning views of Sydney Harbour, North Head, and the Pacific Ocean, as well as easy connections to Circular Quay and Manly via ferry. Like other Eastern Suburbs, Watson’s Bay is always in high demand, however, few properties are typically on the market, meaning demand outweighs supply. In the past 12 months, just 10 properties were sold in total, including both houses and apartments.
Suburb Stats
- Median house price: -
- Past 12-month growth: -
- Rental yield: 1.4%
- Sold in past 12 months: 7
- Median unit price: -
- Past 12-month growth: -
- Rental yield: 2.9%
- Sold in past 12 months: 3
Edgecliff
Edgecliff comprises a small pocket in the Eastern Suburbs, mainly comprised of apartments. The suburb doesn’t have harbour side views like its neighbours, but it is just a short walk to the water, and thanks to its centrally located train station, Sydney CBD is just two stops away. Offering a highly convenient location without the hustle and bustle, Edgecliff is the ideal location for those who need easy access but want a quieter lifestyle.
Suburb Stats
- Median house price: $3,075,000
- Past 12-month growth: +23.7%
- Rental yield: 2.5%
- Sold in past 12 months: 11
- Median unit price: $1,400,000
- Past 12-month growth: +7.7%
- Rental yield: 3.7%
- Sold in past 12 months: 47
Centennial Park
Centennial Park is an Eastern Suburbs locale that is mainly parkland. Located south of Edgecliff, it splits the City of Sydney and City of Randwick. Properties in the suburb are located exclusively on the west side of the park, with beautiful homes and modern apartment complexes adorning tree-lined streets, just a short walk away from the park. The suburb is well-connected, with buses on the park’s north side travelling into the city via Oxford Street, and light rail on the south side.
Suburb Stats
- Median house price: $4,412,500
- Average annual growth: +2.76%
- Rental yield: 1.0%
- Sold in past 12 months: 6
- Median unit price: $1,010,000
- Past 12 month growth: +4.4%
- Rental yield: 3.5%
- Sold in past 12 months: 53
For those who are looking to purchase a home or investment property in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, competition is high. Properties continue to appreciate and aren’t currently showing any signs of slowing. As the region attracts affluent buyers who are purchasing locally or from abroad, a buyer’s agent can help turn the odds of finding your dream property in your favour.
With access to off-market properties, an Eastern Suburbs buyers agent can share properties that aren’t publicly listed, removing much of the competition you might otherwise face. Additionally, with expert negotiation skills, you can be assured that you’re getting a property on the right terms and at the right price. Plus, thanks to in-depth suburb knowledge and experience that can be as specific as a single street, an Eastern Suburbs buyers agent can help you find exactly what you are looking for.
Whether you’re actively looking to purchase a property or just exploring suburbs, get in touch with the team at Rose & Jones.
About Rose & Jones Buyers Agents
Since 1998, Rose & Jones has been assisting clients in finding and purchasing properties across Sydney, South East Queensland, and the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. Renowned in the residential, commercial, and industrial property sectors, our property experts adhere to the highest standards, ensuring you never have to compromise yours. With access to an extensive network of off-market properties, our team can help you find the perfect property. We also offer property management services and investment advice, making Rose & Jones your premier choice for property in New South Wales and Queensland.
