Sylvania and Sylvania Waters are two of the most desirable riverside suburbs in the whole of the Sutherland Shire. One is a charming residential town packed with amenities, the other a unique paradise for boaties and water-lovers.
The property markets in Sylvania and Sylvania Waters are quite different to one another, giving you a lot of choice when buying. Whether you’re looking for a small unit to get onto the property ladder, you’ve got a growing family or it’s time to add to your investment portfolio, you’ll likely find something here that suits.
In this suburb profile:
- Benefits of living in Sylvania & Sylvania Waters
- Sylvania property market snapshot
- Sylvania Waters property market snapshot
- FAQ about Sylvania & Sylvania Waters
Benefits of living in Sylvania & Sylvania Waters
Schools
There’s no shortage of great schools in the Sylvania area. Sylvania Public School takes children up to year six from most of both suburbs and has become well known for its sports and arts programs. Then there’s Sylvania Heights Public School, which accepts children mainly from the western side of Sylvania.
Moving up to secondary school, most children go to Sylvania High School. That said, buyers searching in the Sylvania Waters area of Hawkesbury Esplanade will likely fall into the Endeavour Sports High School intake area instead, so it’s always worth a check.
As for families with other requirements, the Shire has plenty of options to suit every family’s needs. That includes schools for children who require special learning help, like Bates Drive School, as well as religious school offerings such as St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School.
Transport links
With Tom Uglys Bridge right on your doorstep, Sylvania and Sylvania Waters have easy access in and out of the Shire (not to mention that gorgeous river view). Princes Highway runs through Sylvania and is an excellent road artery for going up into the CBD or down towards the Royal National Park. Port Hacking Road also travels along the edge of Sylvania Waters, connecting you directly to Miranda – including both its big Westfield Shopping Centre and train station.
With two major road routes going right through both areas, you’re never far from a convenient bus stop here. The 970, 971 and 972 can get you to Miranda in a matter of minutes. Or, if you’re commuting to the city, pop on the 970/971 the other way up to Hurstville and it’s an easy 20-30 minute train right to Town Hall station.
Retail and dining
The big drawcard of Sylvania is easily Southgate Shopping Centre, featuring over 50 shops, a Zone Bowling, plus Coles, Woolworths and Kmart. There are several fast-food places here for a quick lunch, with more dining options and specialty shops to be found along the Sylvania shopping strip just by Tom Uglys Bridge.
Of course, when it comes time for that big shopping fix, Westfield Miranda is just down the road. Plus, in the Sutherland Shire you’re never far from all the big chains – Bunnings, Harvey Norman, they’re all here including Flower Power and Home Co at Taren Point.
Sports and recreation
Residents of Sylvania and Sylvania Waters love the Georges River, so you’ll often find locals out boating, swimming or walking the waterfront at the weekend. If you’re buying in Sylvania Waters there’s a good chance, you’ll have direct, private access to the water, and for everyone else Holts Marine Beach and Foreshore Beach are lovely on a sunny day and there’s a public boat ramp below Tom Uglys.
Prefer to keep dry? There’s a surprising number of things to do packed into this corner of the Shire. Sports lovers should check out Sylvania Par 3 Golf & Soccer, Sylvania Waters Tennis Centre, Forshaw Rugby Park, or any number of sporting clubs – netball, soccer and badminton are all close by. There’s also an athletics track and baseball club along Belgrave Esplanade, plus a few sports ovals and parks dotted about the area (examples include Corea Oval, Canberra Road Oval and Box Road Reserve).
If that’s not enough, remember that this is the Sutherland Shire so you’re never far from some of Sydney’s best natural playgrounds: Cronulla Beach, Kurnell Peninsula and the Royal National Park.
Sylvania & Sylvania Waters property market snapshot
Note: These figures present a snapshot of the Sylvania and Sylvania Waters property markets 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 Sylvania or contact us for advice.
Sylvania
The Sylvania property market is ideal for families looking to move up the ladder and get into something bigger. It’s easy to find space in this part of the Shire, and there’s a lot of variety in the property types available – mainly houses of two or more bedrooms, though townhouses, duplexes and units are catching up.
- Median house price: $1,815,000 (up 5.4%)
- Median unit price: $1,145,000 (up 4.1%)
Sylvania’s rental market isn’t as large as some of the other Shire suburbs, but there’s still clear (and growing) demand for good leasable properties – evident in low vacancies and a general upward trajectory in weekly rental prices.
- Average rental yields, homes: 2.7%
- Average rental yields, units: 3.7%
- Median weekly rent, homes: $1,075
- Median weekly rent, units: $700
- Current vacancy rate: 0.49%
Sources: Data from realestate.com.au, Domain, Real Estate Investar
Sylvania Waters
The waterside luxury of Sylvania Waters has to be one of the Sutherland Shire’s most desirable real estate markets. The neighbourhood was purpose-built with beauty and river access in mind, leading waterfront properties to make up a large proportion of house sales.
- Median house price: $3,135,000
- Median unit price: $780,000
There aren’t many units in Sylvania Waters, though a few pop onto the market each year and the prices are often surprisingly affordable – so they get snapped up quickly (spending half the time on the market than houses). Given the area’s desirability, it’s no shock that rental prices are trending upwards and great properties are leased fast.
- Average rental yields, homes: 2.5%
- Average rental yields, units: 3.4%
- Median weekly rent, homes: $1,400
- Median weekly rent, units: $650
- Current vacancy rate: 0.42%
Sources: Data from realestate.com.au, Domain, Real Estate Investar
Frequently asked questions about Sylvania & Sylvania Waters
Is Sylvania a nice suburb?
Yes, Sylvania is a very nice residential suburb which has become popular for families and investors alike looking to get into something a bit larger. The area is packed with amenities making life easier (like Southgate Shopping Centre), and with Tom Uglys Bridge right next door it’s easy to get in and out of the Shire from here by car or bus.
Is Sylvania Waters man-made?
That’s right, Sylvania Waters is man-made. The whole area was developed by LJ Hooker in the 1960s, which reclaimed part of the Georges River to build three man-made islands lined with stunning houses that front right onto the water.
This makes Sylvania Waters truly unique in Australia, in that the seabed and adjoining waterways are privately owned by a non-profit company controlled by the property owners. Additionally, it’s one of the only places in Sydney where you can own your own jetty.
What is the population of Sylvania & Sylvania Waters?
According to the most recent Australian census, there are about 14,000 people living in the Sutherland Shire’s Sylvania and neighbouring Sylvania Waters. Of those, most (just fewer than 11,000) live in Sylvania itself, with Sylvania Waters housing a much smaller, tight-knight boating community of around 3,200.