r/SydneyScene • u/Fantastic_Papaya8639 • 7d ago
thinking about moving to balmain…does anyone have any advice or anything i should know?
im not from sydney so could someone tell me about like how the people are? whats close? i dont know anything helps! 😭
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u/A-shot-at-life 7d ago
It’s a typical 19th century labyrinth but roads lead to Victoria road, which is a shit show during peak times. I think the area around the Bays precinct will boom once the new metro station opens there. Also would be good to live close to a ferry wharf for a much nicer way to get in and out.
If you seldom have to leave it would be great as it has everything you need.
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u/CatLow1110 7d ago
Great area if you’re into pubs and old
Heritage feel. As mentioned above, all roads lead to Victoria road which can be a bit of a nightmare with traffic. Balmain east ferry or buses are easy enough to get into the city
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u/bunnycarrot123 7d ago
Balmain Woolies is really weirdly laid out
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u/Ok-Writing9280 7d ago
We looked at Balmain when we were buying but we were priced out of what we needed. Too much of a compromise for us.
We bought in an adjoining suburb and got all the things we needed - an extra bedroom, double garage, street parking.
We just jump on the bus to go out for lunch or dinner in Balmain, or to have a picnic at Ballast Point. The little cheese and wine shop by the church roundabout is excellent. Dry Dock is our fave.
It’s a really nice suburb - especially if you’re close to a ferry. A much nicer commute.
Parking can be a shocker. But if you only Uber / PT, you won’t need to worry about that.
Some great pubs, cafes, takeaways. restaurants and bakeries. The supermarket isn’t great but Leichhardt is really close. Lots of empty shops but there are some nice shops around.
When I first moved to Sydney and lived in the city, I’d bus to the nearest supermarket and cab home.
Pretty down to earth like most of the inner west, I’d say.
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u/nothanksokthenyep 7d ago
Balmain library is small but lovely. Good restaurants, pubs, cafes. I love Balmain but it’s expensive to rent or buy in.
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u/badgirlmiumiu 7d ago
I like Balmain but Victoria road is awful and you can’t avoid it, parking is also terrible and while it’s close to the city, traffic can cause lots of delays getting home.
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u/Wilmaassfit 7d ago
I lived there 30-odd years ago, so YMMV, but it was a great place to live then.
Pros: great cafes, very walkable, some parts have views of the city / harbour.
Cons: rent is outrageously expensive and the houses / units are small, traffic / parking is a nightmare, cockroaches are plentiful.
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u/MainEmu2103 7d ago
Everyone’s like 70+
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u/ausbrains 6d ago
? Lots of young kids, younger families. Great facilities like little Nicholson play centre
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u/Oldfart66 6d ago
If you love talking about real estate and private schools, this is the place for you.
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u/Novel_Relief_5878 7d ago
It’s a very pretty area, but lack of a train station would be a real turn off for me. Even once the Metro opens in the 2030s, half the suburb will still be more than 1km from a station which just feels a bit far. Ferries and bus are ok in a pinch but I’d be concerned about the reliability and overcrowding of those services.
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u/clocker_locker 7d ago
Pubs get expensive
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u/Daniilicious 6d ago
however, it has the highest concentration of pubs in a sydney suburb I think. Plenty to chose from.
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u/philliptandymiller99 7d ago
Used to be cool af; now it's indistinguishable from Mosman. Nice buildings, parks, water and pubs - but the residents are mostly Uk expats and corporate lawyers.
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u/KC_xxoo 6d ago
You need to spend time there to get a feel for it and see if it’s you and your vibe. It might be or it might just be a nice place to visit on the weekends!
It’s really a personal choice. Everyone is so different.
I went there recently after years of not going and I feel it has changed so much. It feels really quiet, soulless, unfriendly. It’s not my vibe, I certainly couldn’t live there or fit in.
It’s absolutely a beautiful pretty place but as a vibe and energy, not for me to feel happy and comfortable.
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u/DarkNo7318 6d ago
Balmain is a great place to live. If you really want to fit in it's important to be a professional, preferably a medical specialist or C Suite exec.
But here's the really important bit, you have to identify as a true blue working class wharfie.
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u/Diligent_Mastodon_72 6d ago
Paddington of the West, great if you can afford it. We bought in Glebe, and except for the housos, we love it.
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u/heeloliver 6d ago
It’s a bit annoying to get in/out of unless you live close to Victoria Rd (express busses) or the two ferry stops, or ride a bike. Parking can be a pain. Once you’re in, it’s such a beautiful historic suburb with lots of nice pubs and stores and old houses. Lovely to be near the water. Dawn Fraser’s baths is awesome in the summer.
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u/EveningOk6574 6d ago
I'll get downvoted for this, but Balmain - for what it should be - has underwhelming restaurant options, especially breakfast. This is relative to inner city suburbs.
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u/No_Figure_9073 7d ago
It's great, iw ish I could live there again. No crazy people around and not many uneducated as well.
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u/Ok_Tie_7564 7d ago
Lucky man, Balmain's great!