Balgownie is a small but growing suburb in Wollongong, situated between the ocean and the escarpment. It is notorious for its homely yet classy estates that grow from public housing areas to multi-million-dollar mansions as you get further into the mountains.

Cafes, Restaurants & Bars

The food and drink scene in Balgownie is fast expanding, with a variety of cuisines now appearing along the main street and surrounding suburbs. Locals have the option to choose from cafes, restaurants, or bars, with an assortment of cuisines including Italian, Chinese, Thai, or simply a classic dine-in at the local Balgownie Hotel or Collegians Rugby League Football Club Balgownie. 

Shops

Along the main street of Balgownie lies a small commercial cluster, home to a collection of stores and eateries. For your leisure, you will find supermarkets, boutiques, cafes, and restaurants, as well as your necessities such as a pharmacy, optician, chiropractor, and pathologist.

Things to Do

Although Balgownie is one of Wollongong’s smaller suburbs, it still caters to all your essentials, home to a petrol station, community centre, and perhaps most notably, the Balgownie Hotel. Located in the centre of the suburb, The Balgownie Hotel is a laid-back historical pub where you will experience live music, TV sports, food and drink, and a serene beer garden.

If this is not enough, Balgownie also has its own war memorial, a peaceful and historical park just below the escarpment.

Sport

Judy Masters Oval is Balgownie’s main sporting facility located just walking distance from Balgownie Village. With its new LED lighting and ongoing improvements, it is quickly becoming a popular ground for football teams to train and play games all year round, especially Balgownie’s Junior and Senior football teams.

Schools

Balgownie Public School is the local primary school located at the top of the main road. In the surrounding suburbs of Fairy Meadow, Mount Pleasant, and Mount Ousley, there are several other public and private primary and high schools, including:

• Good Samaritan Catholic Primary School, Fairy Meadow
• Pleasant Heights Public School, Mount Pleasant
• Mount Ousley Public School, Fairy Meadow
• Elonera Montessori School, Mount Ousley
• Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts, Wollongong

Parks

For those with children, Balgownie is also home to James Pearson Park, a local green right next to a bus stop with a playground and tables.

Water

Living in Balgownie also provides you with a choice of beaches that are only a short drive away in Fairy Meadow, Towradgi or further north or south along Australia’s beautiful east coast.

If you are in the mood for a day trip, Balgownie is just over an hour away from world-famous national parks including the Royal National Park to the north and Jervis Bay National Park to the south. 

Transport

Balgownie is located to the north-west of Wollongong, less than a 15-minute drive from Wollongong CBD. It is surrounded by the picturesque Illawarra escarpment, with quick, easy access to Sydney via Mount Ousley Pass.

With buses that travel both North and South, Balgownie is easy to travel both too and from. If bus travel is not your favourite method of travel, you are in luck! Fairy Meadow train station is only a 5-minute drive or a brisk walk from the suburb’s centre which gives you access to the entire Illawarra railway line.

Fun Fact

Balgownie is home to Australia’s oldest active soccer club, the Balgownie Rangers, founded in 1883.

MARKET INSIGHTS

Wollongong & Illawarra Illawarra & South Coast	2519 NSW	5527 Population

 

$1,075,000 Average House Sale Price 12 months prior	$717,500 Average Unit Sale Price 12 months prior
$675 PW Average House Rent Price July 2023	$413 PW Average Unit Rent Price July 2023
3.27% Implied Gross Rental Yield July 2023	2.99% Implied Gross Rental Yield July 2023
5.44% Compound House Growth Rate  Over 5 Years	0.42% Compound Unit Growth Rate Over 5 Years
80 No. of Properties Sold 12 months prior