StreetAdvisor Blog

StreetAdvisor joins forces with realestate.com.au to bring you local voices!

We are very excited to announce that StreetAdvisor.com.au and Australia’s biggest real estate website, realestate.com.au, have partnered to launch a new community known as local voices.

Throughout Australia, StreetAdvisor will be rebranded as local voices becoming an integral part of the realestate.com.au website.

Whether you’re looking to buy or rent StreetAdvisor’s patented technology enables you to see how the locals rate the streets and suburbs that you are looking at, helping you find the perfect place to live.

So come in, get the inside word and share your views on your suburb by visiting realestate.com.au local voices - we want to hear your voice.

What does this mean for StreetAdvisor members?

Other than a new name, the main difference is more people to share and connect with! You will now be able to share your street reviews, photos, discussions and lists with over 5 million people that visit realestate.com.au every month. Your account and profile details are unchanged and the site will continue to be free.

Our goal has always been to help people learn more about their communities while helping others make better decisions about where they want to live. This partnership with realestate.com.au and the launch of local voices gives everyone a much greater opportunity to participate.

See you on local voices!

StreetAdvisor delivers new site features including new scorecards

In the coming weeks StreetAdvisor will be explaining the details of many new site features and updates including new scorecards, improved StreetView, enhanced photo functions in user profiles and a new 'QuickRate' review function.

The first feature we want to talk about is the new enhanced scorecard for cities and streets. Here is an example of a scorecard for a city. The city in this example is Richmond, Victoria, Australia (City Rank in Victoria #95, Overall Score 72 / 100). You can see that the 'Great for' and 'Not so great for' sections are highlighted in the center of the scorecard.

Below are two screenshots of the new scorecard for streets, in this case Clay Street, New Farm, Queensland, Australia (Street Rank in New Farm #1, Overall Score 100 / 100). In the first one you can see that StreetView is now the default view (if available) in street scorecards.

The second screenshot shows how, if you hover over the 'All ratings' link, a pop-up window shows all the data from the extended rating factors that can be used when writing a review.

With these revised and improved scorecards StreetAdvisor has made it easier for users to quickly see all the important information about a street or city.

To find out what else is new at StreetAdvisor log in to StreetAdvisor today!

The attraction of living near the beach

Even if they are not regular swimmers or surfers, many people find the fresh sea air and the sense of freedom of living near the ocean to be extremely attractive. Beachside property is at a premium around Australia. Here is what some recent coastal residents have to say about where they live on StreetAdvisor.

At Avalon, New South Wales (Overall Score 72.00), TimelyCopy says:

Avalon is a beautiful beachside suburb, bounded on the north by Palm Beach and the south by Bilgola. East is the Pacific Ocean and west is Pittwater, the home of the famous Pittwater yacht Club. When travelling near the Pittwater it is impossible to miss the many up-market yachts. Their colour adds a certain lustre to an already beautiful scene.

Avalon Golf Course is bordered by Old Barrenjoey Road to the west and Barrenjoey Road to the east. Eating and entertainment for residents and visitors is provided by cinemas, shops, an RSL club, 14 restaurants and cafes, as well as bowling and sailing clubs. The Surf Lifesaving club, Soccer Club, Junior Rugby League Club, and Avalon Netball Club provide an outlet for those who are interested in sport.

For me, I prefer lounging on the beach and working on my tan.

Nearby at Palm Beach, New South Wales (Overall Score 64.83), TimelyCopy says:

When I first went to Palm Beach in the northern beaches of Sydney, it was a quiet and sleepy retirement area. There were a couple of restaurants worth remembering of which Jonahs was the best. I haven't been there for some time but it was always worth the trip from Hunter's Hill on a Wednesday evening with the girlfriend who is now my wife.

Now the place seems to be more the home of more mature professionals. Mainly homes amongst the trees with a few units and businesses scattered along the main routes like Barrenjoey Road. There are no large shopping areas yet which is a real bonus.

The main attractions to me are the beaches which are clean. Palm Beach and Whale Beach seem to be kid safe and have plenty of parking. This is great for the weekend visitors even though I would think that the residents may not totally agree.

My memories of Palm Beach go back for more than 30 years and I have watched the area change and mature. It is still a favourite place. It is as laidback as any busy suburban professional area can be but still retains the atmosphere of a beach suburb.

At Dee Why, New South Wales (City Rank in New South Wales #65, Overall Score 58.71), sulley says of Arthur Street, Dee Why, New South Wales (Street Rank in Dee Why #2, Overall Score 87.24) that:

Lived here for 3 years, top end of the street has amazing views to Long Reef and Dee Why Point, out of the way yet within 2min walk of all amenities, and a 10min walk to the Beach. When the new town centre opens, it'll lift the entire area and the streets close by. Big plots are a rarity on the Northern Beaches, but Arthur Street has a lot of them. Very pretty green street, with lots of trees and a great school. Generally very quiet and friendly. Definitely one of the best in Dee Why.

At Elwood, Victoria (City Rank in Victoria #133, Overall Score 70.56), Twin says:

Elwood is unique as you are walking distance if you want the busy life of St Kilda or you can step back and enjoy the more quieter life of Elwood. It's walking distance to the beach and has great parks and tree lined streets. Ormond Rd, the main shopping strip, is always improving with the quality of shops and cafes. It's a terrific place to live.

Is where you live terrific? Or terrible? Share your local knowledge today on StreetAdvisor.com.au.

Putting some small towns on the map on StreetAdvisor

StreetAdvisor receives many street and suburb reviews in city areas, but fewer in regional areas. Gradually, however, reviews for smaller country towns are being added to StreetAdvisor. Here are some of the latest reviews of country towns around Australia.

At Wondai, Queensland (City Rank in Queensland #49, Overall Score 57.29), BunyaDave says of Burns Crescent, Wondai, Queensland (Street Rank in Wondai #2, Overall Score 85.16) that:

Burns Crescent is the sort of street where you know if you need a hand you could ask any nieghbour and they would lend a hand. Also our resident Emu keeps the little and not little kids entertained.

At Yering, Victoria (Overall Score 54.00), lauryn says:

Home to one of Victoria’s first wineries, Yering is a delightful suburb based roughly 40km from Melbourne. Bordering Christmas Hills, Tarrawarra, Yarra Glen, Bend of Islands, Coldstream and Gruyere, Yering is home to a lot of history and features a mansion built in 1854, part of which is today a restaurant, a group of self-contained cottages, the Yering Gorge, an equine centre and part of the Yarra River.

At Moss Vale, New South Wales (Overall Score 83.25), aqua says:

An English visitor might find that Moss Vale is home from home. It's green and lush with a decidedly cooler temperature than Sydney and a fresher, crisper atmosphere than the mugginess which permeates the coastal areas. Lying just in from the coast, Moss Vale is part of the Southern Highlands region of NSW and is only a drive of an hour and a half from Sydney on a very straight and comfortable freeway.

Moss Vale is a fantastic day trip for any visitor to Sydney, and if time permits; a great place to settle down for a few days and recharge the batteries while enjoying the countryside. Surrounding areas offer everything from forest to mountain to sea: so it's well worth the trip.

At Tanunda, South Australia (City Rank in South Australia #4, Overall Score 82.76), BVStar says of Langmeil Road, Tanunda, South Australia (Street Rank in Tanunda #1, Overall Score 85.87) that:

Langmeil Road is a long street, lined with big houses on quite large properties (some up to 1-2 acres) backing on to the North Para River. The views are spectacular, with rolling countryside and cliffs.

This area is only a couple of streets from the Main Street, but feels like it could be 1,000 miles from anywhere. It is a wonderful place to raise a family. The children will grow up with a true sense of adventure, having spent days exploring the hills, the nearby quarry and the creek. There is a large sporting complex across the road, with an oval, tennis courts and a swimming pool.

If you're online somewhere in regional or country Australia log in to StreetAdvisor.com.au today and tell us about where you live! If you're a traveller you can also tell us about what you find unique about the places you visit as you explore the country.

New city and suburb reviews in Queensland Australia

In previous recent posts we have looked at some of the better suburbs and cities in Victoria and New South Wales in Australia. This post continues on with this theme to look at what is new in the state of Queensland.

Bardon, Queensland (City Rank in Queensland #23, Overall Score 73.20) is an excellent suburb to live in, in the greater Brisbane area. It's most definitely on my top ten list of suburbs I'd settle down in. It's streets are mostly quiet and tree lined, featuring lovely cottages and renovated old Brisbane dames. It's close enough to the city for a quick commute and the public transport system is excellent from here.

The road works that plagued the area in the last few years are now over and traffic is a lot more manageable. There are some great schools and daycare centres here, not to mention awesome cafes and boutique shops. Bardon has all of the benefits of living in the city, without the noise, hustle and bustle and grittiness. I do so love Bardon.

Hawthorne, Queensland (City Rank in Queensland #26, Overall Score 72.19) is located on the south east side of Brisbane, close to both Balmoral and Bulimba. I think that it's a fantastic suburb with much to offer anybody, from the elderly, to the young families that reside there. The Hawthorne cinemas have long been an institution in the suburb, with most people in Brissy attending them at some time in their life. With an old world charm, they offer a cheaper alternative to the faceless theatre complexes.

The cafes in Hawthorne are excellent and there are some fantastic public primary schools in the district. The commute into town is a comfortable drive, but there's also ferry and bus options. It has a rather well to do feel to the area and it's quite green with plenty of parks. Mums pushing prams are common sight.

Ipswich, Queensland (Overall Score 74.00) is about a 40km drive west of Brisbane and is a thriving community with plenty of growth. There is plenty to do including looking at the many historic buildings this town has. The suburb has some really good restaurants and bistros as well as plenty of shopping with major shopping centres as well and smaller boutique and specialty shops scattered area the district. Living in Ipswich has many advantages with schools, sporting and recreational facilities and home prices still with reach but rising quickly.

Toowong, Queensland (City Rank in Queensland #37, Overall Score 66.04) seems to be right in the thick of things, but manages to retain it's charm and individual flair. Chock a block full of students from St Lucia, it's buzzing with energy and fun. There are some awesome restaurants- i.e Sushi, Italian, etc. The shopping is great with almost all of the retail outlets you could ask for. The main drag past the suburb, Coronation Dve, is a little busy for me, but further west in the burbs are some cute character houses that are still quite affordable.

The pubs in the area are famous with Brisbane Uni students and the night life is sensational. Transport is great, with ferries, buses and close proximity to the CBD. I thoroughly recommend the suburb for anybody, from student to young families.

Life in St Lucia, Queensland (City Rank in Queensland #9, Overall Score 84.11) is surprisingly quiet and reflective when you consider the amount of activity and buzz surrounding the suburb. The colleges at U.Q mean that the suburb is always teeming with young people and the energy that goes hand in hand with the youth. I was once one of those youth and thoroughly loved living there.

The house blocks seem quite generous, the older brick style houses sit on pretty, winding roads and cafes and restaurants all compete for the patronage of bludging students. The transport from the uni itself is also top notch, with ferries and buses available most of the day and night. The village itself offers grocery stores and some great entertainment venues.

You can share the love about where you live today on StreetAdvisor.com.au.

City and suburb recommendations in New South Wales, Australia

In my last post I listed some of the highly recommended streets in popular suburbs in the state of Victoria, Australia. This post will do the same for the state of New South Wales. It's a satisfying experience to be able to tell others about what you love about where you live!

At Forster, New South Wales (Overall Score 81.11), scottinforster describes Gleeson Avenue, Forster, New South Wales (Street Rank in Forster #1, Overall Score 81.11) like this:

As a couple in our early 30's, when we moved into Gleeson Ave we were the youngest residents in the street. Actually we were the youngest by about 30 years.

The good thing about having retired neighbours is that they're there to look after the place when you're away.

We couldn't believe our luck in buying a place in this street. What makes Gleeson so special is that the street runs straight to the Nth end of One Mile beach - the locals end. Across the road is an 18 hole golf course with an excellent 19th hole.

The street is sort afters by locals in the know and over the past six years there has been a few newer residents, and I am happy to say they are younger again. So now we're not the youngest and our daughter will have more kids to play with as she grows up.

At Eschol Park, New South Wales (Overall Score 85.66), ProudCtowner says of Spumante Close, Eschol Park, New South Wales (Street Rank in Eschol Park #1, Overall Score 85.66) that:

The street is almost too good to be true, really. Two minutes away is a walking track that spans almost 2km. It's got a conventional shopping centre 10-15 minutes away by walking, or 2 minutes by car. For $3.20 (or $1.60 for concession) you can travel by bus to the Campbelltown CBD, which contains everything you need.

The local pubs there are very... local, and it has its fair share of clubs both formal and informal. For an extra dollar or so, you can also take the same bus to Macarthur Square, which to me is retail heaven! The street is good for anyone who loves a friendly, serene neighbourhood. I've been living here for around 17 years, and have noticed the steady incline of the neighbourhood, and of the CBD's businesses. Campbelltown's flourishing, so come along to Eschol Park to enjoy the view...

At Liverpool, New South Wales (City Rank in New South Wales #14, Overall Score 70.79), senia says that Bathurst Street, Liverpool, New South Wales  Street Rank in Liverpool #1, Overall Score 72.00) is

Great for professional couples or families. Close to hub of Liverpool city with Westfield, Hospital, schools and transport nearby. Walking distance to restaurants, parks and CBD life.

At Hunters Hill, New South Wales (Overall Score 88.15), PhilipSigglekow speaks highly of Abigail Street, Hunters Hill, New South Wales (Street Rank in Hunters Hill #1, Overall Score 88.15). He says that:

Hunters Hill is a heritage area and my home is a 3 year old 5 bedroom 3 bathroom on the high side of the street with views looking at Chatswood CBD. I built a new house in Hunters Hill because the historical growth of the suburb is 10.6% since 1930 which is better than money in the bank.

People stay here forever it is a tree heaven and neighbor friendly with a bus at the end of the street that takes my girls to the front door of their school or a 15 minute trip on the 506 to town hall. Several major shopping centers are within a 15 minute drive and I am only 10 minutes from the CBD in non peak hour traffic.

At Pyrmont, New South Wales (City Rank in New South Wales #9, Overall Score 73.42), Ella says that Tambua Street, Pyrmont, New South Wales Street Rank in Pyrmont #1, Overall Score 84.38) is

A fantastic place to live. There is a park at each end of the street: the park at the intersection with Bowman Street is on the waterfront with lovely water views and the barbecues and seating are great for enjoying your purchases from the nearby Sydney Fishmarkets. The street is quiet with no through-traffic.

There is a great friendly vibe and the area is clean and safe: we know our neighbours, the residents have CCTV monitoring, a 24 hour security patrol and the strata cleaners keep the street clean and tidy. The strata by-laws do not allow short term letting and the property and rent prices tend to attract professionals and retirees and not students or young singles.

There is a great range of local cafes and restaurants within 5 minutes walk from the street and it is very close to the city. Light rail, ferry and bus services are all close by too.

With this many great reviews available, choosing where to live could get complicated. Why not share the love about where you live today on StreetAdvisor.com.au.

City and suburb recommendations in Victoria, Australia

Residents of the state of Victoria, Australia have been speaking highly of their suburbs and cities in StreetAdvisor recently, and here are some of their recommendations.

At Moonee Ponds, Victoria (City Rank in Victoria #16, Overall Score 83.34), Cyborgys says:

Living in Moonee Ponds is hard to beat for city fringe convienience and stunning heritage homes. With leafy streetscapes and amazingly well maintained homes and gardens you are likely not to find anything that matches Moonee Ponds on the north or western inner city areas of Melbourne.

Moonee Ponds' city fringe location is most comparible suburbs such as Northcote, Brunswick and Ascot Vale, however Moonee Ponds is clearly a jewel given that there are no government high rises, only stunning parks and the Maribrynong River at your doorstep. Highly recommended!

At Hampton, Victoria (City Rank in Victoria #106, Overall Score 69.79), ReviewWizard says:

This is a great place to live. I grew up in the area but is nicer now. It was very dominated by Ministry of Housing homes back then. The area has changed for the better!

At Heathmont, Victoria (City Rank in Victoria #18, Overall Score 82.82), Suburbanite says:

Nice 'middle class' suburb, north / west corner not so great, South side has some great streets, a few cool contemporary 60's & 70's homes. Great value but a bit of a drive into town. If you have more to spend try Glen Waverley (Appletree area), Vermont South, Inner east trumps it though - Camberwell, Surry Hills etc.

At Bentleigh, Victoria (City Rank in Victoria #91, Overall Score 72.68), sweetas says:

The best combination of calm/quietness and proximity to the buzz. Step out and within moments you are close to the biggest malls (Southland) or old style shopping strips (Centre Road) and a variety of eating options. Just 15 kms from the CBD.

The area is surrounded by good kindergartens, primary / secondary schools and clinics/health services. Has plenty of open space and walking strips nearby. On evenings or weekends, you can see parents with children on the bikes / trikes riding on the pavement. Best place to raise a young family

At Reservoir, Victoria (City Rank in Victoria #5, Overall Score 86.08), SLRKING says:

It is located close to Crispe Park, Edwards Lake and and Moore Park. It's 5 minutes walk to Edwardes St. and public transport. Would love to buy in this street again. I miss it so much!

These satisfied residents are happy to recommend their suburbs to fellow community members in StreetAdvisor. What would you like to share about where you live? Log in to StreetAdvisor.com.au today and write a review of your street or suburb.

The best of what's new in Australia

At StreetAdvisor we don't mind if your reviews of streets and cities are positive or negative, beautiful or ugly, as long as they share something genuine and original about the place. Fortunately, many of the recent reviews in Australia have been very positive, and people seem to be enjoying their homes and their local areas. Here's a sample of the latest great reviews from around Australia.

At Closter Avenue, Nunawading, Victoria (Street Rank in Nunawading #2, Overall Score 87.72), closteriscool says:

Closter Avenue is a gorgeous little street just of Springfield Road. Springfield Road is a really useful thoroughfare but not a horrible, noisy street by any means. Closter Avenue is in a quiet location with lovely tree lined pavements especially down the end towards Springfield Rd where there is a little bend.

There is lots to do nearby with great access to walking, running and bike trails and within easy walking distance of Blackburn Lake. Nunawading Aqualink is also nearby which has a great gym and huge pool. Awesome for aspiring Olympians and little kiddies doing their swimming lessons.

Blackburn North shopping centre is fantastic with 2 supermarkets and everything someone needs at short notice. There are heaps of great little restaurants, the Blackburn Hotel nearby and fabulous little Asian takeaway and pizza places.

At Wolfe Street, Jamestown, South Australia (Street Rank in Jamestown #1, Overall Score 84.38), Giraffian says:

Lovely little street, nice people, nice and wide. There's no through traffic down it despite a recycling centre at the end of the street - people take a different route to get to it. So the only cars that come down the street are from people who live on the street.

The most interesting feature of the street is one perfectly symmetrical house built on Mannenarie road has been built at an angle just to LOOM down Wolfe St. You can't miss it!

At Lockrose Street, Mitchelton, Queensland (Street Rank in Mitchelton #1, Overall Score 80.18), Pauly says:

Just off Samford Rd and 8kms to the city this great street is built with quality standalone townhouses and executive homes. It has parks, kids playground and good walking and cycle paths. You can hear the whipbirds and see the bush turkeys running around during the day. It's a very peaceful and quiet area, around the corner is Brookside shopping centre and the Blackwood Street Cafe Precinct even closer!

At View Street, Peppermint Grove, Western Australia (Street Rank in Peppermint Grove #1, Overall Score 90.00), jamesp101 says:

Peppermint Grove sure is an exclusive suburb - in fact the smallest one in WA. - and View Street, which is the only street that runs from one end of the suburb to the other, is lined with manicured gardens and a bright and happy street presence, shaded by the blooming Peppermint trees which give the suburb its name. But it's not only the look of the road and verge that set this street off. Also, like the rest of Peppermint Grove, the classic federation homes - which were built by wealthy West Australians many years ago, and often passed down through generations - line View Street as well as new mansions which are like no others in the state.

At Acacia Street, Cabramatta, New South Wales (Street Rank in Cabramatta #1, Overall Score 71.29), az1 says:

Acacia St is just across Cabramatta Rd from the main shopping street. The housing in this street is mainly units and townhouses. The units are 2 and three storey walk ups.

Due to the proximity to the shopping center parking tends to be an issue particularly on the weekends. The council is now assisting and paroling the area to ensure that footpath parking is eliminated. Just at the end of the street is Cabramatta Police station which is the area headquarters.

These are the stories of contented neighbors enjoying life in their streets and cities. What story do you have to tell about where you live? Log in to StreetAdvisor.com.au today and write a review, post a forum topic or comment on the reviews and topics relating to places near you.

Small towns in Australia

Most of the time we write about streets in big cities because that's where most people live. It's fascinating when we receive reviews from more remote places, such as these reviews from small towns around Australia.

One of the most remote places to be reviewed in StreetAdvisor is Eromanga, Queensland (Overall Score 63.68). swampyro says that:

Power is costly, and we have many 'outages' Ergon always says there is nothing wrong, but they don't live here, they only account for outages over a minute long, so we may have 30 in an hour that are less than a minute long. Most people have a back up Generators left over from before we were connected to the 'grid'. Eromanga only got power in 1987.

The Local Quilpie Council is great, they have done a lot for this town, at present they are sealing our old dirt Air Strip.

It's hot and dusty in Summer, and freezing in winter. But in between times its lovely, plenty of places to go and camp and fish, nature walk, all that sort of stuff.

We love it out here. All the best to our visitors, we get lots of tourists, so many that we got a computer at the museum hooked up to the internet for them.....

At Wilmington, South Australia (Overall Score 86.94) Firey56 says:

Having been raised in Wilmington South Australia and also I lived there for about 33 years - it is a good place to live. My grandparents lived there all their married life-raised 5 children including my father who was well known as the mail contractor. He used to do the mail run from Wilmigton to Orroroo for many years. My mum also was involved in many local organisations. Myself, I belonged to the local EFS/CFS until I shifted to WA many years ago. Wilmington is a good place to visit-live and enjoy.

At Lobethal, South Australia (Overall Score 79.97) Roland explains that:

Lobethal is a pleasant 38km drive from the Adelaide City Business District and is known as the 'Valley of Praise' so named by German Settlers in 1842. It offers a relaxing rural lifestyle with all the conveniences of the city only 35 minutes away. Located in the Adelaide Hills Council district and in particular near to the townships Charleston, Mt Torrens, Woodside, Lenswood, Balhannah, Oakbank, Cudlee Creek and Kenton Valley.

At Womboota, New South Wales (Overall Score 49.02) jawjar says:

If you like peace and quiet then this is the place for you!!!! With only a handful of houses you are guaranteed isolation. I would not recommend this "town" for families or couples and definitely not for singles!! However if you are newly retired and looking for a change (challenge) then this would suit you to a tee! Expect to find cheap houses/land. Rentals are hard to come by and are by word of mouth only!

About 15km south/east you will find Deep Creek Marina. Continue a further 15km and you will find Echuca/Moama.

At Myrrhee, Victoria (Overall Score 72.00) MikeW tells us that it is:

A quiet place, access to bush walking, vineyards, forests. I found it a great place for inspiration for my painting, a good variety of buildings, creeks and geographical features.

There's a lot going on in small towns around Australia, and StreetAdvisor.com.au is a great place to share your stories.

StreetAdvisor starts tweeting in Australia

With new technologies and tools being created and added to the internet all the time, it's difficult to know which ones are essential. Twitter is growing in popularity, and StreetAdvisor has added it to our set of communications tools. We're tweeting in Australia now, with the US to follow soon.

StreetAdvisor.com.au is now tweeting from twitter.com/StreetAdvisorAU. Come and join us! Tell us what you'd like to hear about the best places to live, hyperlocal news, real estate or anything else. Suggest Twitterers for us to follow and start following twitter.com/StreetAdvisorAU as we send out samples of the latest contributions on StreetAdvisor and other social media recommendations.