Como Suburb Review

Summary: One of the “gateways” to Sutherland Shire in Sydney’s south, Como is an upmarket, peaceful & green suburb which sits perched overlooking the Georges and Woronora Rivers, offering the chance at some impeccable water views.

This is a land of boat ownership and outdoor enjoyment, with some excellent public spaces that are a boon for those with kids and pets alike.

It’s pretty, serene, quiet and safe, however it’s notably lacking in amenities for shopping and dining, and its distance from main arterial roads offsets its train station’s connectivity to the city a little. It’s also not cheap, as you’d expect.

Key stats

Sitting just over the aptly-named Como Bridge, Como’s home to a green and refreshing atmosphere that, along with its often-impressive houses, provides a feeling of overall class. There’s a lot to like here – its streets are wide, undoubtedly pleasant and peaceful, and it’s home to some truly wonderful slices of waterfront and public green spaces.

As the first suburb in “the Shire” most will likely touch when traversing by public transport, it’s fitting that Como is symbolic of what most would want out of Shire life. The roads are wider, there’s less traffic, its houses mostly sit on bigger blocks, and its parklands are spacious and uncrowded.

It’s funny how simply crossing a bridge can make such a difference, but it really is noticeable.

Como’s a “steep” suburb overall, and its architecture largely reflects this. Most of it sits perched on a gradient rising up from the banks of the Georges River, and as a result there are far more vertically-built pole-houses than you’d see in the average Sydney suburb.

It’s a very hilly place that boasts one of the highest elevation variations in Sydney, and getting up and down from its central area to its multiple excellent reserves can sure put a burn in the calves.

This topography also results in some truly excellent views, with many of the higher-end houses in the suburb having unobscured line of sight across the water to Oatley and Illawong. Its this water access that differentiates Como from several other Sutherland Shire suburbs nearby and raises its prices accordingly.

Water World

It’s an aquatic playground for those with some extra money to burn, with a Marina and easy water access that makes Como a haven for boating enthusiasts. The beaches of Cronulla are also not far away for yet more fun in the sun, too.

Average property prices in the suburb thus follow accordingly, and can be a little deceptive as the direct-waterfront larger homes distort the price a little. Despite its upmarket feel and picturesque location, Como is still only “average” when it comes to Sydney property prices as a whole – which is quite impressive given what you’re getting for your dollar.

Prices of homes continue to grow here, and as of writing a ~$1.8 million purchase price can get you a decent-sized 3 bedroom home with a proper yard. That’s obviously not “cheap” of course – it’s above the Sydney median these days – but it’s still substantially less than you’ll pay for the equivalent in, say, the Inner West, or even in Oatley just one stop across the bridge.

Como is also still very house-dominant in that there aren’t many high-density apartment options available. It’s not as “built up” as your average suburb as a result, which has the benefit of less crowds on the roads and in the streets but creates a tightly-held property market that can be hard to get into.

So what else are you getting in Como for that price?

Access to not only the water, but some of the best public reserves in Sydney, for starters. There’s a substantial amount of gorgeous, green parkland here – most of which, again, overlooks the water – highlighted by the wonderful Como Pleasure Grounds.

This is truly one of the standouts of its kind in Sydney, offering a mix of water and bridge views, plenty of picnic and barbecue amenities, and the marina nearby for aquatic access. Head down to the waterfront and you can take a swim in the pool, or grab a drink and a bite from the Blackfish Cafe & Grill while soaking in yet more great scenery.

Add in Carina Bay Reserve, with its bush and waterside tracks and off-leash opportunities for dogs, and Como’s a suburb which you’re not truly taking advantage off if you’re not spending your weekends outdoors. This is a pet-friendly suburb in the extreme, and dogs are a dime a dozen for good reason.

“It’s fitting that Como is symbolic of what most would want out of Shire life”.

Its heritage trail/area is noteworthy as well. The walk winds through a mix of streets and reserves throughout Como, with perhaps its most pleasant spot tying in with one of its must-visit icons: the Como Hotel. This is a gorgeous heritage pub that’s impressive from the outside and great to dine in, with balcony views that look over Scylla Bay Oval to the water.

While it’s great, it’s about the highlights of the amenities Como has to offer, however. There’s little shopping and dining to speak of other then sporadic little restaurants and cafes dotted throughout; you’re pretty much forced to have to go down to Jannali, Tarren Point or further on to Miranda (Westfield) for a proper retail fix.

This makes things a little inconvenient at the best of times. While traffic in Como is generally fine, it comes at the expense of its lack of proximity to major arterial roads, and it can feel a little isolated for drivers as a result.

This is obviously offset somewhat by its rail line. Such a peaceful and pretty suburb still offering express connectivity to the Sydney CBD via a 35-minute or so commute is a major boon, with the ability to zip in for work or shopping during the day and still return to lovely green and peaceful surrounds of an evening.

It’s a good suburb for families, too, with a couple of public schools and kindergartens to choose from and a very low crime rate overall. There’s multiple great little playgrounds dotted throughout the suburb as well – some of which even come with incredible water views themselves.

The Verdict

Como’s a suburb where its many benefits greatly outweigh its small handful of negatives. Is it exciting? No, but that’s not why anyone would choose to live in this part of the world anyway. It’s got enough unique and pretty aspects to make the extra dollar here required fairly worth it, as the waterfront aspect alone is a point of differentiation.

It’s not cheap, although it’s fairly average by Sydney standards, and you’re getting more size and personal space for your equivalent buck closer to the city, so it represents a bit more “value” in that regard. It can be a hard market to get into, as its properties are mostly tightly-held and many residents have been here for a long time with no desire to leave.

It’s not the greatest choice for those who need to drive into the city or other major urban centres, and its lack of shopping and dining may be a bit of a turn off for some. However there’s a lot of choice just a short drive away, and its mixture of quiet, greenery, space, pet-and-child-friendliness and safety more than offset these niggles.

While younger partygoing types may want to avoid Como, the suburb’s great for basically anyone else at another stage of their life without feeling entirely disconnected from Sydney proper.