Most livable suburbs in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane – and some might surprise you 

Inner-city neighbourhoods dominate the most livable suburbs in Australia’s biggest cities, but a few surprises were included in a new report.

Sydney’s eastern suburbs and north shore, Melbourne’s trendy inner-north and riverfront neighbourhoods in Brisbane dominated the list.

However, a surprise inclusion in Melbourne’s top 10 was Footscray in the traditionally working-class western suburbs that jumped to sixth spot.

Expensive Sydney suburbs came out on top with Milsons Point, Lavender Bay, Sydney CBD, Kirribilli, and McMahons Point the top five. Pictured: Milsons Point in Sydney

Sydney’s worst

569. Blairmount

568. Denham Court

567. Bardia

566. Glen Alpine

565. Hassall Grove

564. Bow Bowing

563. Bungarribee

562. Middleton Grange

561. Hinchinbrook

560. West Hoxton 

Sydney’s top 10 

1. Milsons Point

2. Lavender Bay

3. Sydney

4. Kirribilli

5. McMahons Point

6. Wollstonecraft

7. Darling Point

8. Waverton

9. North Sydney

10. Edgecliff

Bonus points were awarded for being close to the beach or coast, and for ocean, river and Sydney Harbour views

Bonus points were awarded for being close to the beach or coast, and for ocean, river and Sydney Harbour views

The Domain Liveable Cities study by Deloitte Access Economics and Tract Consultants examined more than 1,100 suburbs in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

They were ranked on their crime rates, access to public transport, traffic, and education and employment opportunity.

Also considered were the number and quality of cafes and restaurants, open space, tree cover, aircraft noise, and how easy it was to walk around.

Bonus points were awarded for being close to the beach or coast, and for ocean, river and Sydney Harbour views.

Expensive Sydney suburbs came out on top with Milsons Point, Lavender Bay, Sydney CBD, Kirribilli, and McMahons Point the top five.

North shore suburbs Wollstonecraft, Waverton, and North Sydney also made the top of the list. 

Not far behind were several suburbs in Sutherland Shire like Cronulla, Jannali, and Sutherland itself, which scored well despite their distance to the city.

However, some of the richest suburbs scored worse than Parramatta and others deep into the west.

Melbourne's best was dominated by trendy neighbourhoods that were once working class but long since gentrified and populated with hipsters. These included East Melbourne, Carlton, Fitzroy North, and Collingwood, though South Yarra (pictured) claimed the top spot

Melbourne’s best was dominated by trendy neighbourhoods that were once working class but long since gentrified and populated with hipsters. These included East Melbourne, Carlton, Fitzroy North, and Collingwood, though South Yarra (pictured) claimed the top spot

Melbourne’s top 10 

1. South Yarra

2. East Melbourne

3. Carlton

4. Fitzroy North

5. Hawthorn

6. Footscray

7. Travancore

8. Carlton North

9. Kooyong

10. Collingwood

Melbourne’s worst

307. Lyndhurst

306. Hillside

305. Taylors Hill

304. Langwarrin South

303. Narre Warren North

302. Cranbourne North

301. Waterways

300. Narre Warren South 

299. Delahey

298. Keilor Lodge 

Point Piper was ranked 166th, Dover Heights at 159th and Hunters Hill at 225th, because there were few public amenities with everything lock behind iron gates. 

Melbourne’s best was dominated by trendy neighbourhoods that were once working class but long since gentrified and populated with hipsters.

These included East Melbourne, Carlton, Fitzroy North, and Collingwood, though South Yarra claimed the top spot.

Footscray jumped from 76th to 6th, showing how much of a difference an influx of hipsters had made to the once-grimy suburb.

All top 10 in Brisbane were north of the river and not far from it, including Alderley (pictured), Wilston, Ascot, Paddington, and Newmarket

All top 10 in Brisbane were north of the river and not far from it, including Alderley (pictured), Wilston, Ascot, Paddington, and Newmarket

Brisbane’s top 10 

1. Alderley

2. Wilston

3. Ascot

4. Paddington

5. Newmarket

6. Red Hill

7. Kelvin Grove

8. Windsor

9. Albion

10. Grange

Brisbane’s worst 

260. Archerfield

259. Burpengary East

258. Joyner

257. Wulkuraka

256. Redbank Plains

255. Doolandella

254. Crestmead

253. Newport

252. Warner

251. Bellbowrie 

More than any other city, proximity to the city seemed to determine how livable they were – with no river or harbour to make up for the long commutes. 

All top 10 in Brisbane were north of the river and not far from it, including Alderley, Wilston, Ascot, Paddington, and Newmarket.

Anxiety about growing populations weren’t always well-founded as experts found that denser suburbs were often more livable because they had more amenities.

‘Along with people generally comes new services and facilities, such as shops, cafes, open space, and public transport,’ co-author Adam Terrill said.

‘There is a definite correlation between density and liveability, in that a more dense suburb tends to have greater liveability.’

However, this could also lead to traffic congestion and trains packed like sardines that makes the area difficult to get around.

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