Petersham NSW 2049

Suburb

Suburb Summary

Petersham is an Inner West Sydney suburb in NSW 2049, governed by Inner West Council. In Sydney’s Inner West & Inner West Fringe, it is known for Italian heritage and dining, with an urban character, strong walkability, solid retail and cultural appeal, and tree canopy cover of 20.68%. Petersham has train access on the T3 line, nearby L1 light rail, many bus services, and around 20-minute public transport and driving trips to the CBD. Housing is mixed, with apartments outnumbering separate houses. Family income appears generally above average. Major shopping centres serving the area include Marrickville Metro and Broadway Sydney.

PART 1
Geographic Profile

Property Type Mix

The mix of houses and apartments that make up the Petersham NSW 2049 property market, and the sale price range each achieved over the past 12 months.

Houses vs Apartments
39.5%
44%
16.5%
Houses (39.5%)
Apartments (44%)
Townhouses/Villas/Unclassified (16.5%)
House Price Range$95k–$4.1MPast 12 months
Apartment Price Range$290k–$4.5MPast 12 months

Major Road Frontage & Noise

How close Petersham NSW 2049 properties sit to major roads or rail, and how much traffic noise that brings compared to properties set back from them.

Road & rail proximity
24.4%
54.2%
21.5%
On a major road (24.4%)
Near a major road
Away from major road or rail
Major Roads in Petersham
LIVINGSTONE RD6.6% of suburb properties
NEW CANTERBURY RD6.5% of suburb properties
CRYSTAL ST4% of suburb properties
STANMORE RD2.2% of suburb properties
SHAW ST2.1% of suburb properties
TRAFALGAR ST1.2% of suburb properties
PARRAMATTA RD1% of suburb properties
GORDON ST0.8% of suburb properties
ADDISON RD0.1% of suburb properties

Public Transport

Train, metro, light rail, ferry and B-Line services accessible from Petersham NSW 2049.

Services in Petersham NSW 2049
Lewisham
Petersham
Stanmore
Taverners Hill

Schools

Primary and secondary school catchments serving Petersham NSW 2049, with star ratings and the share of suburb dwellings each catchment covers.

Primary School
Petersham Public School
Strong level47.4% of suburb properties in catchment
Primary School
Taverners Hill Infants School
Developing level35.9% of suburb properties in catchment
Primary School
Wilkins Public School
Strong level28.7% of suburb properties in catchment
Primary School
Stanmore Public School
Strong level19.3% of suburb properties in catchment
Primary School
Annandale Public School
Strong level4.6% of suburb properties in catchment
Secondary School
Marrickville High School
Developing level42.9% of suburb properties in catchment
Secondary School
Sydney Secondary College Leichhardt Campus
Strong level35.9% of suburb properties in catchment
Secondary School
Sydney Secondary College Blackwattle Bay Campus
Developing level35.9% of suburb properties in catchment
Secondary School
Dulwich High School of Visual Arts and Design
Good level21.2% of suburb properties in catchment
PART 2
Houses

"Houses" in this report includes detached houses, duplexes, and terraces.

Land Topography

How house lots across Petersham NSW 2049 sit relative to street level — topography that affects drainage, flood risk, privacy, and build cost.

High-side vs low-side lots
High-sideFlatLow-side
14%
78.7%
7.3%
High-side (1m above)
Flat
Low-side (1m below)

Risks & Overlays

See which key planning overlays and environmental risks affect this suburb before you buy.

Heritage
46.2%
Of houses affected
Bushfire
0%
Of houses affected
Flood
1%
Of houses affected
High voltage power line
0%
Of houses affected

Train Station Proximity

The share of Petersham NSW 2049 houses within easy walking distance (1.2km) of a train station.

Houses within 1.2km of train station100%Of all houses

Median Price Trend - Houses

The 20-year trend in median house sale prices across Petersham NSW 2049, tracked separately from apartments.

Petersham House Median
$1.3M$2.5M$3.8M$5M$235k · 1996$299k · 1997$310k · 1998$352k · 1999$388k · 2000$440k · 2001$540k · 2002$620k · 2003$638k · 2004$615k · 2005$620k · 2006$686k · 2007$715k · 2008$705k · 2009$847k · 2010$819k · 2011$850k · 2012$894k · 2013$1.2M · 2014$1.3M · 2015$1.5M · 2016$1.5M · 2017$1.4M · 2018$1.4M · 2019$1.7M · 2020$1.9M · 2021$1.8M · 2022$2M · 2023$2.1M · 2024$2.1M · 2025$1.9M · 202619962003201120182026

Land & Property Feature Metrics

Typical land characteristics and common property features across Petersham NSW 2049.

Median land value$1.4MOf houses affected
Median lot frontage7.4mOf houses affected
Median land size240m²Of houses affected
Houses with a pool2.1%Of houses affected

Pocket Price Distribution

How property prices vary across the different pockets of Petersham NSW 2049, and how each pocket compares.

Median house price$1.9MDerived from sales
House sales61Past 12 months
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PART 3
Apartments

Median Price Trend - Apartments

The 20-year trend in median apartment sale prices across Petersham NSW 2049, tracked separately from houses.

Petersham Apartment Median
$250k$500k$750k$1M$136k · 1996$188k · 1997$210k · 1998$238k · 1999$220k · 2000$286k · 2001$285k · 2002$350k · 2003$345k · 2004$342k · 2005$365k · 2006$350k · 2007$345k · 2008$376k · 2009$445k · 2010$460k · 2011$507k · 2012$556k · 2013$600k · 2014$675k · 2015$673k · 2016$780k · 2017$740k · 2018$705k · 2019$750k · 2020$755k · 2021$745k · 2022$788k · 2023$770k · 2024$828k · 2025$930k · 202619962003201120182026

Apartment Projects

Where apartment projects are concentrated across Petersham NSW 2049, with project-level sales context.

Median apartment price$930kDerived from sales
Apartment sales62Past 12 months

Median Rent

The median weekly rent for apartments in Petersham NSW 2049.

Median apartment rent$765Per week

Largest Apartment Projects

The largest apartment projects in Petersham NSW 2049, ranked by number of lots.

1
305 TRAFALGAR ST, PETERSHAM NSW 2049Large project (100+ lots)
2
16 FISHER ST, PETERSHAM NSW 2049Large project (100+ lots)
3
1 CORONATION AVE, PETERSHAM NSW 2049Large project (100+ lots)
4
7 REGENT ST, PETERSHAM NSW 2049Large project (100+ lots)
5
1 PHILLIP ST, PETERSHAM NSW 2049Large project (100+ lots)
PART 4
Community Profile

Top 3 Occupations

The most common occupations among Petersham NSW 2049 residents.

Professionals40%
Managers10%
Technicians and Trades Workers10%

Key Demographics & Tenure

Median age, household income, and the renter-versus-owner split that shape the Petersham NSW 2049 community.

Median age36Years
Median income$3,202Household / week
Renters vs owner-occupiers
RentersOwner-occupiers
50%
50%
Renters
Owner-occupiers

Household Composition

How households are made up across Petersham NSW 2049 — from families with children to couples and single-person homes.

Household type
Married with children52.5%
Married without children45.2%
Other2.4%

Top 5 Birth Countries

The leading countries of birth among Petersham NSW 2049 residents, reflecting the suburb's cultural diversity.

Country of birth
Australia62.3%
England4.2%
New_Zealand2.5%
China1.5%
Italy1.3%

Religion

The most common religious affiliations reported by Petersham NSW 2049 residents.

Top 3 religious affiliations
Christianity38%
No Religion12.5%
Buddhism2.3%

Crime in Petersham NSW 2049

How safe is Petersham NSW 2049? A local safety rating based on recorded crime rates in the area.

Suburb safety rating
The suburb safety rating is calculated by knest.ai based on crime statistics in NSW by BOCSAR.

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Living in Petersham NSW 2049: Suburb Profile & FAQs

Common questions about living in and buying property in Petersham NSW 2049 — lifestyle, transport, schools, and the housing market.

Note: Data is sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2021 Census data and knest.ai internal statistical data.

Is Petersham NSW 2049 a good suburb for families?

Petersham NSW 2049 is a mixed option rather than a standout family-friendly suburb. On the positive side, the school ratings are very strong, with both primary and secondary education sitting at 10 out of 10, which is a real draw for buyers focused on schooling. There is also a meaningful family presence in the suburb, with children aged 0 to 4 making up about 5.0% of residents and those aged 5 to 14 about 8.9%, so families are clearly part of the local mix. That said, Petersham is not dominated by large family homes. Separate houses make up about 21% of homes, while apartments account for around 44%, and the average household size is a modest 2.3 people. Safety is rated 2 out of 5, so buyers wanting a quieter, more settled family-friendly suburb may feel the trade-off. Petersham can still work well for families who value schools, Inner West convenience and character over space and a calmer setting.

What is it like to live in Petersham NSW 2049?

Living in Petersham NSW 2049 feels urban, established and full of Inner West character. The suburb’s identity is strongly shaped by its Italian heritage and dining scene, which gives Petersham more personality than many purely residential pockets. Day to day, it offers a fairly convenient lifestyle, with walkability, retail and culture all rated 4 out of 5, so it suits buyers who like being able to get to cafés, shops and local amenities without always jumping in the car. The trade-off is that Petersham is very much a built-up suburb rather than a leafy retreat. Its environmental setting is urban, beach access is none, and canopy cover at 20.68% is moderate rather than especially green. Safety is also only 2 out of 5, which matters for buyers prioritising a calmer feel. Petersham lifestyle will appeal most to people who want atmosphere, food and convenience, and less to buyers chasing quiet seclusion.

Is Petersham NSW 2049 well connected for commuting?

Petersham NSW 2049 is well connected for commuting, especially for buyers who rely on public transport. The suburb has train access on the T3 line, many bus services, and nearby light rail via the L1 at Taverners Hill, which gives commuters more than one practical option. On the numbers, the average commute to the Sydney CBD is about 20 minutes by public transport and about 20 minutes by car, which is strong by Sydney standards and a genuine advantage for daily city travel. Petersham does not currently have metro service, and ferry access is not part of the local transport picture, so it is not the most multi-modal suburb in Sydney. Still, for an Inner West address, the transport mix is solid and efficient. Buyers who want straightforward CBD access without paying for the very closest city-fringe postcodes are likely to see Petersham as a good commuter suburb.

Who does Petersham NSW 2049 suit best?

Petersham NSW 2049 suits professionals, managers and buyers who want an Inner West lifestyle with good access to the city. The resident profile points quite clearly in that direction: professionals make up about 39.8% of occupations, managers about 14.9%, and clerical and administrative workers about 13.0%. Managers and professionals together account for roughly 54.7% of residents, while the median personal income is $1,017 a week and median family income is $2,647, which supports the picture of a relatively established, working professional suburb. Housing choice also shapes who Petersham suits. Apartments make up about 44% of homes, houses about 21%, and close to 49.5% of residents rent, so the suburb has an active, mixed tenure feel rather than a tightly held house-only market. That makes Petersham a strong fit for couples, singles and smaller households, but less suited to buyers who want large blocks, newer family housing or a quieter suburban setup.

What are the pros and cons of living in Petersham NSW 2049?

The main trade-off in Petersham NSW 2049 is that you get strong Inner West convenience and character, but you give up some space and calm in return. Petersham does a lot well for buyers who want an easy urban lifestyle. It scores 4 out of 5 for walkability, retail and culture, has T3 train access, many buses, nearby light rail, and a CBD commute of around 20 minutes by public transport or driving. Its Italian heritage and dining identity also give it real local charm rather than a generic feel. The compromise is that Petersham is a built-up suburb with only moderate canopy cover at 20.68%, limited house stock at about 21%, and a safety rating of 2 out of 5. Nearly half of residents rent, which can make the suburb feel more dynamic and less settled. For the right buyer, especially one prioritising lifestyle and access, those disadvantages of living in Petersham may be entirely acceptable.

What are property prices like in Petersham NSW 2049?

Property prices in Petersham NSW 2049 are expensive rather than entry-level, though they still show a meaningful gap between houses and apartments. Over the past six months, the median house price in Petersham was about $1.9 million across 25 sales, while the median apartment price was about $825,000 across 32 sales. That tells buyers two things. First, buying property in Petersham is not cheap, especially if you want a freestanding house in this part of the Inner West. Second, apartments provide a much lower price point for buyers who want the suburb’s location, transport and lifestyle without stretching to house-level budgets. The trade-off is straightforward: houses cost materially more because land is limited and demand for Inner West family housing stays strong, while apartments offer better access but usually less space and less long-term flexibility. For many buyers, Petersham house prices may feel competitive, but apartment prices can still make the suburb accessible.