What's it like in Rockdale NSW now?

BatmanBeer on 21/02/2018 - 12:45

Times have changed, many things have progressed and reformed and I've seen good things happen to various suburbs. However, I have no experience with Rockdale. Anyone who lives there or knows the area can provide some input?

Context: I am apartment hunting and saw a nice place in Rockdale. I rarely stop in Rockdale and only pass by the suburb two or three times a year so have no experience with the lifestyle and atmosphere there. I found out that people suggesting avoiding certain streets at certain times, such as West Botany Street because of unpleasant and annoying car noises. But this kind of information dates back to 2014. I also know it's got great travelling options with bus, train and direct highway route to city. What's traffic like on Princes Highway in the morning from Rockdale to city during the week? Is Bay street traffic-ridden?

Home & Garden

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 21/02/2018 - 12:51
    +5

    http://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/man-shot-at-fitness-…

    This happened recently lol

    • hashtagbargain on 21/02/2018 - 13:09
      +1

      Apparently he was a bikie leader.

    • BatmanBeer on 21/02/2018 - 13:30

      I saw that, but how often does this stuff happen, and also, in this area?

      • airzone on 21/02/2018 - 15:29

        My next door neighbour in rockdale was a bikie.. That is until the police raided the unit and he became my ex-neighbour.

  • [Deactivated] on 21/02/2018 - 13:09
    +3

    Middle eastern organisationed crime location

    • retiredfeline on 21/02/2018 - 13:11
      +4

      organisationed crime

      extrasyllabilised crime :)

  • sydsm on 21/02/2018 - 13:45
    +4

    Rockdale used to have quite a large Australian, Macedonian and lebanese population - over the past ten years it has dramatically shifted to bengali/nepalese with more focus on the subcontinent (not for everyone…). This means the cafes/food options are also changing and the suburb has become considerably congested both population and traffic wise. Transport options are great (so is the library odly) and Rockdale plaza is good. Its 15-20min walk to brighton beach which is nice, but overrun with day tourists who drop in and leave their Sh..i.t everywhere. Depending on what your price point is it would be a good option. Personally I would consider Kogarah as its more urbanised and spread out and not as ethnically focused (it is one extra stop on the train, not as many trains, but if you hate it you can EASILY rent it out to the medical workforce). Princess Hwy is a bottleneck at Kogarah, Rockdale, then the top near Arncliffe and pretty much ALL the way to the city. Its almost as bad a parra rd but it does move (maybe 75% congested vs 90% for parra Rd).

    • Peter Enis on 21/02/2018 - 13:52
      +2

      the suburb has become considerably congested both population and traffic wise

      Can pretty much say that about every Sydney suburb!

      • sydsm on 21/02/2018 - 14:01

        Let me put it this way..you have to go through Rockdale almost in any direction - its a thoroughfare suburb (transport hub…Princess Hway, Bexley Rd and Bay St). this has pro's and cons.

    • BatmanBeer on 21/02/2018 - 13:53
      +1

      This is good information, thanks sydsm. I know parra road is an absolute nightmare during afternoon peakhour so I can sort of imagine where you are coming from. Growing up in the suburbs, I am used to driving around to certain areas for restaurants and whatnot, so the option of driving to Hurstville is not out of the question for food options.

      How would you say Brighton beach is compared… to say Bondi Beach which also has tourists? Does it have a similar atmosphere (e.g. beach lifestyle, health driven, thongs etc)?

      The closeness to the beach is actually what surprised me — I have never visited or so much looked at Brighton beach, only passed by because I usually miss an exit on the highway. The option of being close to the beach is actually a nice thing to think about.

      • friedsnowdays on 21/02/2018 - 13:57
        +1

        Brighton beach is really different from the famous Sydney beaches in my experience/opinion. I find the beach nice to relax at but wouldn't like to swim there due to the constant Jet Ski traffic. It's also generally quite windy and you have a (lovely) view of planes taking off from the airport and the shipping port across the bay.

        Despite this I actually enjoy Brighton as it isn't as busy as Manly/Bondi and there are decent cafes/ restaurants but finding a car spot is quite hard during the weekend.

        • sydsm on 21/02/2018 - 14:02
          +2

          Go further down towards Monterey. Its much cleaner, quieter and relaxing without the hordes of people.

      • CyberMurning on 21/02/2018 - 14:04

        agree close to the beach. but why properties are cheap over there? if sounds like duck then it is a duck. there are literally million other people with better resources, knowledge, money, access, etc about properties than us - if they think rockdale is good you will see it reflected on the prices

      • sydsm on 21/02/2018 - 14:06
        +2

        I used to live on the beach there and loved it (and miss it as currently living in the inner west).. I personally like Lady Robinson beach (its surprisingly crystal clear where it doesn't rain). Ill be brutally honest, I left and sold up as I got fed up with all the rubbish and rifraf of people as it will get to you eventually (neighbours, day tourists from other suburbs with no regard, traffic). Its no comparison to the beach suburbs as its a bay. Its also alot more ethnic, but this means better food imo. You just need to know where to go. Really, for the relative distance to the City, I think Brighton Beach is a bargain but you see the cracks eventually on why (wogs hate trees..they prefer concrete vs the shire + North shore which is leafy).

        • BatmanBeer on 21/02/2018 - 14:58

          Don't think I'd be looking at places on the beach, but it's definitely good to note what may come my way if I ever decide to go down there. I agree, it is definitely a huge bargain in comparison to the beaches along the eastern suburbs.

  • Peter Enis on 21/02/2018 - 13:46
    +2

    They have good burek in Rockdale, thats about all I know.

  • sydsm on 21/02/2018 - 14:12
    +1

    If you have a car and can drive to work, then I would without questions, buy in Monterey, Kyeemagh or Sandringham (they have a bus, but its more difficult to get to the city). I would avoid Dolls Point like the plague and Brighton (due to parking issues w/ militant council fines (I have seen inspectors measuring cars from the kerb). If you had to pick between Kogarah or Rockdale only, I would pick Kogarah and not in a tatty old red brick unless its very small and well maintained because chances are your neighbours properties will not be well maintained. Iin fact, Banksia is always overlooked but its much quieter and between Wolli Ck and Rockdale as well as having a train station.

  • Findo on 21/02/2018 - 16:32
    -2

    South and south western Sydney? Say no more.

    Anything further north than Hornsby, further west than Carlingford and further south than Strathfield is dangerous.

  • Herodotus on 21/02/2018 - 18:37

    Hi. I live in Sandringham but regularly use Rockdale station, library, theatre, plaza and eateries. I find it to be a thriving suburb in which Macedonians merge with Nepalese and the open plazas off the highway are genuine civic spaces. Don't listen to the Anglo hobbits who want a shire of racial uniformity.
    There is a major Rd development called the f7 in infant phase that will only add value to the area.

    • BatmanBeer on 22/02/2018 - 11:15

      Never heard of the F7 but did a quick search on it. F7 is the westlink, did you mean the F6 road extension from St Peters to Loftus?

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