Local Insights:
Greater Charlestown

The Charlestown area is often considered the ‘Hub of the Hunter’, due to its rapid growth and development in recent years. These suburbs fall within the Lake Macquarie Council’s catchment area, and generally offer larger homes on big blocks, within close proximity of a number of great local schools.

Suburbs like Redhead and Dudley are proving popular among Sydney-siders, particularly those relocating from the Northern Beaches areas. These suburbs are both by the beach, with closeknit communities who are drawn to the coastal lifestyle. Kahibah is a leafy, hilly suburb with its own small shopping strip and primary school. Similarly, Whitebridge is becoming more and more popular as it offers a mixture of a village-like neighbourhood, but only one suburb away from the commercial hub of Charlestown.

We are noticing a trend among local couples who are not afraid to renovate buying into this area, as many of the split-level homes were constructed in the 1960s and 70s. The blocks are usually generous in size and offer space for pools or extensions. The Pacific Highway connects these suburbs from north to south, making it an easy commute into Newcastle or down to Sydney for work.

Due to the expanse of suburbs this area covers, the average house prices can vary greatly, from the $550,000 mark in Windale to approximately $1.6 million in Redhead. Whitebridge is one of the most popular areas for townhouses, which are selling for an average of $725,000. The best return on investment for houses ranges from 3.91% in Mount Hutton, to 4.65% in Hillsborough, while units in Whitebridge can return 4.92%.