Gymea is an excellent suburb for new and established families alike, it also appeals to singles and couples as it offers an array of amenities that ensure you have everything you need close at hand during the week, and on the weekend.
Situated right in the middle of the Sutherland Shire, it also has convenient access to much of the rest of the area (including Westfield Miranda and Cronulla’s Beaches), and isn’t too far by train from the CBD even in peak hour.
Benefits of living in Gymea
Schools
Gymea is well-located for schools, with access to quite a few depending on where you live in the area. Generally, the schools are well-regarded, and children with special needs or behavioural disorders also have options in the broader vicinity.
For young ones, Gymea North Public School, Gymea Bay Public School, Kirrawee Public School and St Catherine Laboure Gymea are the closest, catering from kindergarten children up to year six.
Moving into high school, Gymea Technology High School, Kirrawee High School and Port Hacking High School take students from different parts of Gymea, and in fact Port Hacking was the original co-ed school in the Sutherland Shire.
Bates Drive School is within close proximity, catering for children of all ages with special needs.
Transport links
At the heart of the Sutherland Shire, Gymea is a well-connected suburb with convenient routes in and out. With the Cronulla railway line passing through Gymea village, providing a 45 minute commute to the CBD, two-minute trip to Miranda station (adjacent to Westfield Miranda) and 10-minute trip to Cronulla Beach.
Princes Highway also connects to Gymea, passing along its outskirts. That gives you an easy route to the rest of Sydney by car, and into the Royal National Park and beyond to the South Coast.
Retail and Dining
Gymea is home to the oldest shopping strip in the Sutherland Shire, its Chamber of Commerce having been established in the 1950s. The Gymea Village Festival is also a staple of the suburb, attracting tens of thousands of people to hundreds of stallholders each year.
The foodie scene here is growing rapidly, with quality restaurants and cafes offering most cusines seeing Gymea becoming one of the trendiest villages in the Shire. You will find the main shopping and dining strip along Gymea Bay Road with many great local small businesses offering a variety of goods & services, alternatively Westfield Miranda is close by for those larger shopping needs.
Sports and recreation
The Gymea Bay Baths are a popular spot for locals looking for a swim or a short walk, and fishing is available here too. More bush walks can be found around the various waterways in and around the area, and of course Cronulla isn’t far if you’d like a little weekend beach day.
For families with younger children, Old School Park on Gymea Bay Road offers a great level playground and bushland reserve, lots of play equipment options, accessible toilets and picnic shelter.
Another popular daytime attraction is the Hazlehurst Arts Centre, a hybrid art gallery and garden featuring an excellent cafe. Then there’s the Gymea Bay Oval, which has facilities for cricket, netball and soccer.
Of course, given its central location, you’re pretty close to everywhere else in the Shire so there’s plenty to see and do around the area, and the Nasho is practically on your doorstep.
Gymea property market snapshot
Note: These figures present a snapshot of the Gymea property market at time of writing. Figures may have changed since then. To get a more up to date idea of property prices in the area, check out listings for sale in Gymea or contact us for advice.
Gymea features a number of homes and units, and has recently sold more of the latter than the former. The recent increase is unit sales suggests a growing interest in low-maintenance living options, possibly attracting younger families or downsizers.
While rental yields are reasonably healthy indicating a strong rental market, most of the mainly middle-aged population here (average 40 to 59 years) are owner-occupiers. With good schools, shopping areas nearby, Gymea is a desirable Shire suburb for many residents.
- Median house price: $1,712,000 (up 9.6% since last year)
- Median unit price: $905,000 (up 0.8%)
If you wish to invest in Gymea, you’ll see that vacancy rates are particularly low (likely as much due to lower numbers of available rentals as high demand from tenants) and rental yields look good for units in particular. Rental income is also on the rise.
- Average rental yields, homes: 2.8%
- Average rental yields, units: 4.0%
- Median weekly rent, homes: $900
- Median weekly rent, units: $650
- Current vacancy rate: 1.10%
Sources: Data from realestate.com.au, Domain, Real Estate Investar
Frequently asked questions about Gymea
Is Gymea a good suburb?
Gymea is a popular suburb for both new and established families, with a convenient central location which gives it lots of access to amenities across the Shire. There are many good schools in the area plus a popular historic village, as well as sports facilities, tidal baths, walks and a well-placed train station.
How many people live in Gymea?
According to the 2021 Census, the population of Gymea was just over 8,200 with a median age of 39. Domain puts the population a little smaller (7,500) with a higher average age, 40-59 years.
The nearby suburb of Gymea Bay (where the baths and some additional parks are located) houses an additional 6,900 or so people.
What is the history of Gymea?
Gymea was named after a type of lily which grows well in the area, known as the kai’mia in the Dharawal language. While first established by surveyor William Greaves in the mid-1800s, the suburb didn’t see most of its development until after World War II, when land was needed for a flood of young families.
The Gymea lily remains the symbol of the suburb to this day, often featured on the crests of local organisations.