Erskineville Suburb Review

Summary: A recent up-and-comer in terms of both desirability and price, Erskineville has increasingly become a darling of the young professional community, with its mixture of easy access to Sydney city, adjacent public greenery and growing array of cafes, pubs and bars all positive points in its factor.

With an extremely convenient, central location, and solid transport connectivity, this compact suburb is terrace-heavy and has undergone additional significant mid-rise densification in recent years, resulting in some ongoing traffic issues & is far more ideal for those who aren’t fussy about needing a detached house in order to be happy.

Soaring costs and the effects of gentrification have crept in, however, and buying a slice of Erskineville life may now ironically be becoming out of reach of the average young professional income earner it was initially popular for – if it isn’t already.

Key stats

In terms of overall balance and convenient compact living, Erskineville hits many of the high points one might want in city-adjacent daily life.

It’s a bit of a cliche phrase at this point, but the little suburb does boast a bit of a “village” vibe, with its happening little main street & tightly-packed residential streets and terrace-heavy vibe packing a fair few people into a relatively small space, without going full-blown highrise-style high-density.

As a result, while Erskineville is fairly dense, it doesn’t suffer from the block-the-sun type of streetscape that other CBD-adjacent suburbs often deal with; there’s still an airiness here that retains some desirable atmosphere on top of the suburb’s raw convenience, which comes in multiple forms.

First and foremost, its station provides city access without being too busy or bustling, and is slowly being surrounded by more establishing small businesses and restaurants as time goes by.

The Sydney CBD is just a 10 minute train ride away, yet Erskineville retains a fairly laid-back feel all while the city skyline still clearly looms on the horizon – a difficult line to walk, but one the suburb still does quite well.

There’s plenty of pockets of greenery both big and small to service pets’ and kids’ play needs alike, and it’s a very walkable and bikeable suburb that’s not too hilly or awkward to navigate. For the adults, there’s a nice and diverse bar and pub scene, and several upcoming boutique breweries sit nearby within walking distance at which to sample quality craft beer in the presence of those with overly-well-groomed beards.

In addition, all the action, nightlife and dining options of Newtown are so close you don’t even need to drive or take public transport – a bonus should you have a big night or one-too-many drops of the good stuff in an evening.

Gentrification has sapped some of Erskineville’s past character and made it a bit more generic in recent years, and there’s a slight uptick of elitism and pretentiousness that comes along with it; hence the ripple effect of why Newtown has (or had?) become the new go-to for artsy and creative types, whereas Erskineville trends more towards those within finance, I.T and other white-collar sectors.

Few inner Sydney suburbs outside the ultra-expensive are as pet friendly as Erskineville however, particularly for those living on its southern side where the expansive Sydney Park is located.

It’s a huge hub of greenery, wetlands and pathways that makes for an awesome spot for a dog walk, a bike ride, or a picnic, while kids can burn off energy in the playground – truly one of Sydney’s better public greenspaces. Even the little parks close to Erskineville train station are enough in a pinch, as well.

Price of admission

Erskineville’s streets can probably best be divided into two main “sub-categories” – its older, narrow, terrace-lined roads, and its newer section that consists largely of more modern mid-rise, higher-density residential apartments.

The terraces themselves are charming – although some are showing their age and many could use a fresh coat of paint – and offer a chance at a bit more space while being slightly more affordable than similar offerings in similar suburbs even closer to the CBD such as, say, Surry Hills.

We say slightly, because they’re still pricey and in short supply, however, and on-street parking is incredibly tight and remains an exercise in frustration. A trip to Erskineville will be an eternal test of the scope of your parallel parking skills for sure.

In the present day, terrace hunters can expect to fork out around $1.8 million big ones for buyers on a good day, while renters will be forced to pay over the $900 per week mark for an entry-level terrace. Erskineville’s a cool little suburb, sure, but that’s a pretty substantial price of entry.

Apartments have also become a hot commodity in Erskineville in recent years, with newer developments and renovated older offerings alike going quite quickly.

Erskineville’s trendiness has also made it a highly desirable spot to rent, with the demand quickly soaking up much of the suburb’s newer apartment supply. They’re all a short walk from the station as well; add it all up, and even 2-bedroom apartments rent for upwards of $900 per week themselves, which is well above the Sydney average.

All the required amenities for daily life are all close by, including gyms, supermarkets, miscellaneous small goods stores and the like, and while there’s no bigger superstore or outlet style retail within close proximity, a quick train trip can soon remedy that.

Sticking to the train wherever possible is the name of the game here, as its combination of narrow streets and growing popularity make driving in Erskineville an unenjoyable chore. Its namesake Erskineville Road is a virtual carpark during peak times, and getting back into its smaller side lanes and navigating the whole parking situation isn’t much better.

The recent addition of its newer apartment buildings certainly hasn’t helped things from a road perspective, and the associated noise and congestion has tainted a bit of Erskineville’s formerly peaceful charm somewhat.

“Erskineville retains that cliche “village” feel while the city skyline still clearly looms on the horizon.”

This additional dense housing also has had an onflow effect of overpopulation to some of its formerly more relaxed respites – pubs and cafes are busier and seating is more limited, schools are harder to get into with less personal attention, and petty crimes have seen a slight uptick.

Crime-wise, Erskineville still remains largely safe, which is no mean feat given where it sits sandwiched between, and especially compared to some of the more “lively” and public housing-heavy suburbs adjacent to it.

With a 0.10% crime rate per capita, it sits right bang around the middle of the Sydney average; considering its proximity to the city and when directly compared to neighbours such as Redfern or Marrickville, that’s substantially lower and pretty darn good.

The Verdict

In many ways, Erskineville is a microcosm of Sydney’s growth as a whole, as with increased convenience and desirability has come all the associated negatives along with them.

Price is thus likely going to be the main factor keeping families out of Erskineville, as those after more space and not content with apartment living will find their options limited unless they have money to burn.

For those who have a bit of cash, no kids, and don’t mind calling a unit home while relying on public transport, Erskineville remains an excellent “all-rounder” with relatively few negatives, and a fair bit of self-contained entertainment within its own borders.

For visitors, Erskineville also makes for a nice day trip or quieter night out, as echoes of its prior, more unique, environment are still sometimes visible and it boasts a pleasant atmosphere overall.

Just how much longer they remain will be an interesting situation to keep an eye on, as progress has changed the face of the suburb quite rapidly in a matter of relatively few years..