What are the obvious signs a suburb is rich in Australia?

From RM Williams stores to European car-lined streets and even stone-wall fencing, Australians are sharing the tell-tale traits they think makes a suburb ‘posh’. 

An Australian Reddit user posed the question ‘what are the indictors of a posh area in Sydney’ and drew in hundreds of answers from people all over the country. 

Some said looking at what stores are in the area is a good sign of how wealthy it is and dubbed RM Williams, Chargrill Charlie’s, independent ‘off-white’ women’s clothing and homeware boutiques, and gourmet bakeries as ‘posh’.  

More suggestions included unique dog breeds, expensive cars with L or P plates, fig or jacaranda trees, and heritage houses

Others pointed out noticing what a suburb lacks will tell you about its residents’ income like no discarded shopping trolleys on the street, discount supermarkets, fast food joints, public transport facilities and graffiti. 

More suggestions included an abundance of European SUVs with ski racks, electric vehicle charging points, unique dog breeds, expensive cars with L or P plates, fig or jacaranda trees, and heritage houses. 

‘I’ll start with: Chargrill Charlie’s, Bourke Street Bakery or similar, European SUVs with ski racks, RM Williams store,’ the poster wrote. 

‘Good pickings on council collection day,’ one person added prompting people to share what they had found on the streets of affluent suburbs.  

Some said looking at what stores are in the area is a good sign of how wealthy it is like RM Williams, Chargrill Charlie’s, independent ‘off-white’ women’s clothing and homeware boutiques

Others pointed out noticing what a suburb lacks its wealth like no discarded shopping trolleys on the street, discount supermarkets, public transport facilities and graffiti

‘I found a perfectly working Wii console before I moved to the states five years ago. Never change Woollahra,’ someone replied. 

‘Lack of fast food like Macca’s and Hungry Jack’s. Lack of Aldis,’ another said and a second agreed: ‘Lack of fast food is a legitimate indicator.’

‘Porsche Cayennes and Teslas of any description, especially with P or L plates. Further to the Teslas, street charging points for EVs,’ a woman responded. 

She added posh suburbs also have small women’s clothing and homewares shops with ‘prevailing shades’ of ‘off white, oatmeal and biscuit’ and lots of linen garments. 

The submissions kept coming with other suggestions including electronic vehicle charging points kids in school uniforms with straw hats, pruned hedges and well kept gardens

‘People exercising and wearing branded gym wear. Unique dog breeds that aren’t Staffys. European SUVs and hatchbacks. Homes built prior to the 1980s,’ one person said. 

One Redditor pointed out poor suburbs have ‘wire or that cheap metal fencing’, middle class places have no fencing while rich areas have stone-wall fencing.

A second laughed saying they saw a piano shop next to a chandelier store in the upscale Sydney suburb of Paddington. 

One commenter listed: ‘Closeness to the water, lack of public transport, lack of shops/pubs. For example, Point Piper.’

The submissions kept coming with other suggestions including kids in school uniforms with straw hats, streets filled with Moreton bay figs and jacaranda trees, pruned hedges and well kept gardens as well as being located close to water.  

‘People exercising and wearing branded gym wear. Unique dog breeds that aren’t Staffys. European SUVs and hatchbacks. Homes built prior to the 1980s. Lack of graffiti. Posh cafes. Lack of large stores and super centres,’ another contributed.