Real Living Australia - February 2018

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WHERE WILL I FIND IT? In the heart of Newcastle,
Cooks Hill is 117 kilometres north of Sydney – roughly
a two-hour drive or three-hour train ride. But with property
prices here often significantly less than those in Sydney’s
inner suburbs, it’s no surprise many Sydneysiders are
making the move... along with the odd Swedish transplant!
“It’s an amazing city and we’re blessed with one of the
most pristine coastlines on the eastern seaboard – who
wouldn’t want to live here?” says Mike Flook, licensed
property consultant with Robinson Property. Mike likens
the location to Sydney’s Paddington, famous for its
Victorian terraces and heritage-listed houses. “Leafy, quiet,
village like – it’s a beautiful suburb complemented by a mix
of older style and period homes, with Centennial Park
taking centre stage. It’s also within walking distance to the
famous Darby Street shopping and dining precinct, along
with all the city’s attractions. This makes it an extremely
desirable suburb to live in,” he says. “It’s starting to attract
singles, families, professional couples and investors alike.
Cooks Hill now has the attention of developers and buyers
from all over Australia and the world.” A

WHAT’S IT LIKE?
“There are lots of really great coffee shops popping up around the place, such
as Welsh Blacks, which often has a queue of people out the door,” Libby says.
“It’s also the home of Newcastle Art Gallery, Cooks Hill Galleries and the
Newcastle Studio Potters.” The suburb enjoys some notable natural beauty,
too. “Many streets are lined with enormous, mature fig trees, which are a real
draw to the area,” she adds. So it’s no wonder Cooks Hill is enticing to both
locals and blow-ins. “Everyone loves the fact we can walk to a great restaurant
for dinner, have loads of choice for breakfasts and lunch and can also easily
access some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.”

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WHAT WILL YOU FIND THERE?
In addition to galleries and eateries, you’ll be greeted with quaint terraces and
semi-detached dwellings. Around a quarter of residences are units, but that
number is on the rise. For young families, there’s a private primary school and
Centennial Park, a sought-after sanctuary. By all accounts, the only challenge
to living in Cooks Hill is finding a car park. “Try finding one anywhere near
Darby Street around lunch time,” says Mike. “It’s becoming harder by the day!”
Libby has managed to bypass that problem altogether. “Cooks Hill is central
to everything that we do, so not needing to rely on a car is a big plus for us!”

COOKS HILL

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