How demand for co-ed schools is shaping the property market in NSW
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How demand for co-ed schools is shaping the property market in NSW

Families seeking co-education schooling for their children in and around Sydney will be pleased with a new local government initiative.

By Josh Bozin
Wed, Mar 13, 2024 12:00pmGrey Clock 3 min

You’d be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t indulged in the on-going furore that was caused by the announcement in 2022 that Sydney private boys’ school Cranbrook would become coed.  Since then, somewhat of a domino effect has ensued, with a string of affluent private schools joining the effort to switch their educational offerings to both female and male, including the prestigious boys’ school Newington College in Sydney’s inner west, and Barker College in Sydney’s north. Others, such as Bethlehem College and De La Salle Ashfield, also in the inner west have announced they will merge to create co-ed learning, starting next year.

In Melbourne, Catholic girls’ school St Aloysius College transitioned to co-educational schooling last year, while Christian Brothers College St Kilda merged with Catholic girls’ school Presentation College Windsor to create St Mary’s College in 2022.

While the question of whether co-educational schooling will provide a better outcome for students continues to be debated, in New South Wales, it’s also influencing the property market in local districts thanks to a recent local Government promise.

In 2023, it was announced that the NSW Government will rezone the catchments of 20 state schools schools in the inner west of Sydney from 2025, a commitment to ensure every student in NSW has a place in a co-educational public high school by 2027. It’s a move that will give families unprecedented access to co-educational schooling, but in the process, will widen the net for those looking to buy a home that’s near a reputable school. No longer will prospective buyers, often young families, be constrained to a specific area in their search which ticks all the boxes, such as location, affordability and distance to quality schooling.  

“We committed to this complex reform after hearing time and again from parents that they want to have their children to have access to co-educational environments throughout their schooling,” says Prue Car, Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning, via the NSW Government website.

“This is about giving all NSW students guaranteed access to a co-educational public high school.”

Newington College. Peter Rae
Newington College. Credit Peter Rae

Michelle May, director of Michelle May Buyers Agents, says that the Government’s solution to growing demand for co-ed education will help families search for homes outside of a narrow geographic area, thereby increasing their chance of success.

“Searching for the right home to settle into is a competitive and high-stakes process for families, and up until quite recently, there were areas with only single-sex schools available,” says May. “The move to grant families access to co-ed education is obviously in line with the times. On top of factors like lifestyle and accessibility, schools are a major part of finding a home that’s the right fit, and families who previously avoided looking for homes in particular areas because there was no school for their son or daughter will no longer be bound by such considerations.”

If you look at the statistics, Australia has 304—soon to be 302—single-sex schools that educate over 284,000 students, with numbers dwindling. Of these students, around 54% attend girls’ schools, 86% are in secondary education, and 85% are in non-government schools, according to a recent study. Over three-quarters of single-sex public schools are in NSW. Yet, despite a growing demand for co-education, many parents have been limited in choice because they live in 1 of the state’s 25 single-sex public school catchments.

Now, under the proposed changes by the NSW Government, families in Sydney’s inner west and south west currently zoned for a single-sex high school will be able to send their children to a nearby co-educational high school.

In Sydney, May is already witnessing how the rezoning plans will affect future buyers looking in alternative areas.

“They are checking out up-and-coming suburbs and are more open minded about areas they have previously overlooked due to school zones. There is high confidence that the inner west rezoning will soon be extended to the rest of Sydney and NSW,” adds May.

Looking at the highly-competitive property market in Sydney, the Government’s plan for rezoning will also make the purchasing process a lot less stressful, evening out the buyer pool in what has otherwise been high concentration areas. This, in turn, could have a “knock-on effect” on property sales results across the state.

“If a family is looking to purchase a home that ticks all the right boxes and now there are suddenly more options to choose from, it’s definitely a very wonderful thing,” adds May. “This means parents are less worried about competing for expensive and less spacious inner city properties and are more able to buy into the classic family home they always dreamed about.”

 



MOST POPULAR
11 ACRES ROAD, KELLYVILLE, NSW

This stylish family home combines a classic palette and finishes with a flexible floorplan

35 North Street Windsor

Just 55 minutes from Sydney, make this your creative getaway located in the majestic Hawkesbury region.

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Property of the Week: 8 Robertson Street, Toorak

This exemplary property in the heart of Toorak boasts a Paul Bangay-designed garden.

By Josh Bozin
Wed, Jul 10, 2024 2 min

Toorak and its surrounding suburbs have always been one of the most sought-after regions of Melbourne. One of the city’s best examples of a prestigious locale, Toorak encompasses a level of style, beauty and desirability that many aspire to. From its exclusive cul-de-sacs, idyllic surroundings, and proximity to the city, Toorak has it all.

This property at 8 Robertson Street offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase a true statement of elegance in the heart of postcode 3142.

The first thing to be noted about this elegant four-bedroom, three-bathroom, circa 1920s solid brick Arts and Crafts residence is its meticulous renovation, which embodies luxurious modern living. The perfect home to create both an idyllic setting for relaxed living as well as lavish entertaining, the single-storey property set over a generous 1,811sqm block also presents its future owners with the opportunity to further extend, or even rebuild to factor in potential city views from a second storey (STCA).

Elegantly designed living spaces include features such as French oak floors, a sky-lit reception hall (leading to a spacious sitting room), a formal dining room, a peaceful library or study space, an expansive gourmet kitchen with Calacatta marble benches and solid oak joinery. The main light-filled bedroom suite with original fireplace overlooks the garden, while beautiful floor-to-ceiling joinery in the dressing room behind it provides extensive storage for clothes, shoes and accessories. At the rear of the house, an equally spacious bedroom has its own ensuite, with a third bathroom in the other wing of the house next to the home gym.

In the north-facing garden, you might notice a familiar aesthetic; the “country-style” garden has been designed by sought-after, award-winning Australian landscape designer Paul Bangay. Perfect for entertaining, the mature, seasonal garden includes a mosaic-tiled pool and outdoor living room with reclaimed stone paving from Ireland, as well as a domed fountain, aqueduct-style water feature and rose covered arbour.

For those that have, perhaps, been searching for the right home opportunity, 8 Robertson Street, Toorak could signal the end of your search. Located in one of Toorak’s most picturesque and sought after streets, it’s a country estate in the heart of the city.

Address: 8 Robertson Street, Toorak, VIC

Price guide: $19,950,000

Auction: Private Sale

Agent: The listing is with Marshall White Stonnington; Marcus Chiminello (0411 411 271), Mandy Zhu (0411 893 168), and Alan Crawford (0423 747 155).

 

MOST POPULAR
11 ACRES ROAD, KELLYVILLE, NSW

This stylish family home combines a classic palette and finishes with a flexible floorplan

35 North Street Windsor

Just 55 minutes from Sydney, make this your creative getaway located in the majestic Hawkesbury region.

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