‘Secret’ inner Sydney suburb where buyers get better value

Monica Wulff and Martin Hesse, with kids Iris and Nicole, at their Marrickville property up for sale. Picture: Rohan Kelly

It’s a well-known suburb that’s frequently flew under the radar with homebuyers and has now become something of a hidden gem within inner Sydney.

PropTrack data has revealed the suburb Marrickville has emerged as one of the best value locations for house hunters wanting properties within a 10km radius of the CBD.

The median house price is high at just over $2 million but it’s the next cheapest areas after a cluster of suburbs directly under one of the main flight paths of Sydney Airport: St Peters, Tempe and Sydenham, along with Mascot.

But local selling agents and buyer’s agents alike have revealed it’s not just the prices that make the area stand out: blocks tend to be bigger than neighbouring suburbs.

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49 Philpott Street, Marrickville is set to go to auction in August.

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Amenities in the area are also among the best in Sydney, with the suburb benefiting from proximity to multiple retail, transport and education hubs.

Local resident Monica Wulff is preparing to sell her home of four years and lifted the lid on why she believes the inner west sleeper suburb has become so appealing.

“It still feels a bit like a secret,” Ms Wulff said. “Everyone always knew about Newtown. But Marrickville? People are just starting to catch on.”

Her home on Philpott St – tucked in one of Marrickville’s quieter residential pockets – boasts a modern kitchen, generous backyard and open-plan living, with private laneway access, among other things.

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But Ms Wulff said it’s the suburb’s blend of convenience and quiet that buyers should be paying attention to.

“We didn’t find you could get that kind of value even in places a little further out like Leichhardt,” she said.

“You step outside and there are breweries, theatres, restaurants – and kids getting face paint at the park. It’s got culture and it’s got convenience.”

Ms Wulff’s selling agent Adrian Tsavalas, the director of Adrian William said: “Most buyers we’re working with are trying to secure the best property within their budget, as close to the city as possible, that’s why Marrickville is such a hit with young families.”

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49 Philpott Street, Marrickville.

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PropTrack data confirms Marrickville remains one of the most affordable suburbs within 10km of the Sydney CBD, despite offering near-identical proximity, connectivity and lifestyle to many more expensive areas.

With three train stations, bus links and the upcoming Metro line, Marrickville’s transport network now rivals some of the city’s priciest blue-chip postcodes.

Ms Wulff and her husband moved into their Philpott St home during the peak of Covid – navigating masked inspections, screaming online auctions, and agents openly mocking desperate buyers.

“Buying real estate is never enjoyable,” she said. “But back then? It was brutal.

“There was one auction where agents were laughing at how badly people wanted the place.”

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Local agent Adrian Tsavalas said families liked Marrickville’s proximity to amenities. Picture: Tim Hunter.

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“But we loved the home we eventually found: the renovation, the energy, the flow of the home. It was move-in ready and it just felt right.”

Four years later, the family is upgrading to a multi-generational home with Wulff’s elderly father-in-law, but said its bittersweet leaving Marrickville behind.

“We’ve lived in the inner west for about 20 years and this house was everything we needed – room for prams, bikes, tools,” she said. “It gave us flexibility and freedom, and we were still right near the city.”

She said the house is perfect for a growing family who refuses to trade lifestyle for a longer commute.

“We didn’t want to give up that youthful vibe just because we had kids,” she said. “Marrickville gave us both space and culture.”

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