Question 1

Is Helensburgh a nice place to live?

Accepted Answer

Helensburgh sits on the northern edge of the Illawarra beside the Royal National Park and feels like a small village, with a compact centre of shops and community facilities set among bushland streets and a mix of early railway and mining cottages alongside later weatherboard and brick homes. Outdoor life is a strong draw, with walking and mountain-bike trails, creek valleys and reserves nearby, and the South Coast train line plus a nearby highway provide straightforward links for commuters.

Family households dominate, with couple families with children at 56.9% and, together with couple families without children, making up 87.0% of families. The suburb has 6,576 people, a median age of 38 and a median total household income of $2,490 a week, roughly $129,480 a year. Homes are mostly owner-occupied, about 85% overall (31.0% owned outright and 53.9% owned with a mortgage) with 15.1% rented. Wollongong City Council is progressing a community centre and library at Helensburgh Park and other local upgrades, and there are planned improvements to pedestrian links and rail infrastructure on the South Coast line.

Question 2

Is it expensive to live in Helensburgh?

Accepted Answer

Housing costs in Helensburgh look different depending on whether you rent or buy. A typical local household earned $2,490 a week at the last Census. The median house price of $1,402,500 is about 10.8 times a typical local annual household income at the last Census. By contrast, the average house rent of $850 a week would take about 34.1% of that weekly income, and unit rent of $735 a week would take about 29.5%.

On these figures, renting generally looks less stretched against what a typical local household earned at the last Census than buying a house does. Whether that feels expensive depends on your own income and circumstances.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

Question 3

Is Helensburgh a good place to invest?

Accepted Answer

In Helensburgh over the past 12 months, house values climbed a strong 12.2% while unit values rose a more modest 3.1%. Unit rents also jumped 12.2% over the year.

Put simply, houses were the stronger performer for capital growth, while units showed the bigger movement on the rental income side. Which of those matters more for you will depend on your own investment goals and circumstances.

This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional financial advice. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.

	Houses	Units
Median price Past 3 months	$1.40M	N/A
Change in value Past 12 months	12.2%	3.1%
Sold Past 3 months	19	6
Median days on market Past 12 months	19	N/A
Average rent Past 12 months	$850	$735
Change in rent Past 12 months	N/A	12.2%

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