The little-known Sydney suburb that’s surprised even agents

Many locals haven’t even heard of this tightly held harbourside suburb. But as it finally pops onto buyers’ radars, many are discovering they’re already priced out.

Most waterside Sydney suburbs with big blocks on tranquil, leafy streets are firmly on the wishlist of property buyers, but one seems to have flown blissfully under the radar.

Many residents of the Sutherland Shire haven’t even heard of Burraneer, or know where it is, let alone people living in other parts of the Harbour City.

A narrow slither of land where homes enjoy picturesque views across Port Hacking to South Cronulla on one side and Dolans Bay and Caringbah South on the other, Burraneer offers a superior lifestyle to its better-known neighbours, agents say.

They’ll tell you that, compared to glitzy and touristy Cronulla, it has less traffic, fewer people and bigger blocks, many boasting deep waterfronts.

“Burraneer is the hidden gem of the Sutherland Shire,” said Matthew Johnson at Matt Blak Cronulla.

“Most people who come from outside the area don’t know it exists. But once they realise how busy Cronulla is, they go back one suburb and they find Burraneer.

“It’s a great family area, you’ve got a little shopping village, a couple of coffee shops and a bakery. So everything’s just there.”

Agent David Smith Highland at Sutherland Shire and St George, who lives in the suburb, said Buraneer’s low-profile stemmed from the very few number of sales in the suburb and its geographical isolation. There are no through-roads, with most of its land slipping into harbour.

“It’s wrapped in water. You would only drive down there if you lived there, or you were lost. It has beautiful tree-lined cul-de-sacs full of families. It’s a really easy place to fall in love with.

“Plus it’s the most eastern peninsula that offers waterfronts; in South Cronulla, it’s either esplanade or beachfront,” he added.

But while Burraneer may still be something of a secret, that doesn’t mean you can snag a bargain.

Prices have jumped a massive 78% in the past five years (compared to 51% in Cronulla and 50% in Caringbah South). The median house price is now $3.4m, though waterfront homes can fetch up to $20m.

In Cronulla, by contrast, the median house price is $3.3m and in Caringbah South, $2.3m.

Mr Johnson said Buraneer was starting to attract buyers from Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, Inner West and even the North Shore. 

“People are renovating older-style homes or knocking them down and building big ones. People are spending some serious money in the area.”

Mr Smith said the performance of the upper-middle sector of the market — your five-bedroom homes with two living areas and a double garage — had taken even agents by surprise.

“Not so long ago, you were paying around between $3m and $4m for one of those.”

Then in March 2024, a non-waterfront block at 1A Travelsa Place sold for $6.5m, which he said “blew the doors off every comparison”.

“It was beautifully renovated and landscaped but had none of those hallmarks that you commonly see in an out-of-line sale. Since then, there’s been quite a few trading for above $5m, even $6m.”

One property currently for sale in the upper-middle market band is the six-bedroom, five-bathroom estate at 260 Woolooware Road, being sold through Mr Johnson.

This elegant, Hamptons-style home on $1,970sqm is being offered via expressions of interest. Mr Johnson said it had already attracted plenty of interest from families moving into the area, as well as those downsizing from waterfront blocks.

“It’s private, expansive and is on a level block of land, which allows the property to have virtually a single-level layout,” he said.

The spacious home, renovated around a decade ago, features a living and dining zone with soaring raked ceilings and a stone gas fireplace, while a second formal lounge provides a cosy, wood-burning stove. Outside, landscaped gardens surround a pool and an entertaining cabana equipped with a built-in BBQ.

There’s also a secure double garage plus additional off-street parking for multiple vehicles, boats or a trailer.

The vendor, fintech entrepreneur Leigh Dunsford, moved to Burraneer with his young family around five years ago, relocating from Mosman, another premium harbourside suburb.

“It had a similar village feel but was quieter,” he said. “We like being near the hustle and bustle, but we don’t like living in it. We like to come back to the sanctuary again, which is why we chose Burraneer.”

The family plans to stay in the area, and are renting while they wait for the ideal waterfront block to come onto the market.

“Burraneer is extremely tightly held; we need to have the resources available to jump when the right opportunity comes available,” said Mr Dunsford.

“Good properties in this area tend to get snapped up very quickly.”

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