SET your eyes on Wattle Park, and its tranquil, leafy setting within 15 minutes of the city might just put a spell on you.
Co-vendors Gordon Lee and daughter, Katherine Lee, (above, with daughter Victoria), are selling their updated, four-bedroom investment home in Kensington Rd, sitting on a 744sqm allotment.
“It’s time to redirect the funds into alternative investment areas,” Ms Lee says.
“We have lived in the eastern suburbs for decades and saw it as a secure investment, and it has been.
ON THE MARKET: 512 Kensington Road, Wattle Park is a four-bedroom home on 744sqm. it is on the market with Ouwens Casserly Real Estate for $899,000 to $968,000.
“My father fell in love with the home’s spectacular views to the city when he bought it in 2010. It’s a good place to raise a family. It offers space, it’s quiet and safe.
“It is such a comfortable spot with lots of amazing scenery to enjoy, just 7km from the city.”
Ms Lee says being in the Burnside Primary School zone is another plus.
“Many people don’t think of Wattle Park when searching for a house but you’re getting an eastern suburbs lifestyle with more space to move and lots of parks and walking trails nearby,” she says.
“The Skye Lookout is another neat little feature within walking distance, along with little-known Penfold Park and Penfold Estate Winery also close by.
“Wattle Park has great community parks and schools so close as well as Burnside Village and Norwood Parade shops within easy reach.”
According to CoreLogic, Wattle Park’s median house price has increased 16 per cent in the last three years.
Sales agent Mark Bressington of Ouwens Casserly says it’s popular with young families.
“They also see it as a very safe place for kids and most buyers stay for many years, usually until children leave home and they want to downsize,” he says.
“Penfold Winery is a real attraction too and you’re close to The Parade and Burnside Village shops too.
“Quite a few people have demolished older homes in the past couple of years and built larger ones in their place to take advantage of the views,” he says.
WATTLE PARK FACTS AND FIGURES
LOCATION
Wattle Park is a leafy suburb about 7km east of Adelaide ‘s CBD, near Auldana, Stonyfell, Rosslyn Park, Erindale, Burnside, Kensington Gardens, Magill, Skye and Leabrook. It is bounded by Kensington Rd, Coach Rd, Hallett Rd, Stonyfell Rd, Penfold Rd, Knox Tce and Gandys Gully Rd.
MEDIAN HOUSE PRICE
$871,500.
AVERAGE HOLD PERIOD
6.6 years.
MEDIAN ASKING RENT
$550 per week for houses.
ORIGIN OF SUBURB NAME
A descriptive name given to it by Simpson Newland and J. H. Luxmoore in 1882 when they subdivided part of the area. Historian Geoffrey H. Manning says they may have adopted the name from “Wattle Grove”, a home built on nearby Kensington Rd in 1850. The mansion was bought by the State in 1956, to become the Wattle Park Teachers’ College before being sold in 1989.
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SCHOOLS
There is a wide mix of quality private and public schools within a 3.4km radius, including primary schools — Magill School, St Joseph’s School (Catholic), Burnside Primary School, combined schools — St Peter’s Collegiate Girls’ School (independent), Rostrevor College (Catholic),
Pembroke School (independent), Norwood Morialta High School and Marryatville High School.
TYPICAL FEATURES
Undulating terrain provides many properties with scenic views over the suburbs and the city.
Detached homes make up almost 78 per cent of all homes in the suburb, with apartments and semi-detached dwellings accounting for more than 11.5 per cent of its housing stock, CoreLogic data shows. About 10 per cent of homes are rented.
LOCATION ATTRACTIONS
Sitting in Adelaide’s foothills means many properties in the highest points enjoy expansive views to the west, including the city. Take your pick of community reserves, playgrounds and walking trails to enjoy. Kensington Gardens Reserve offers sports ovals, tennis and bowls arenas and a bush setting playground, and there is also the Burnside Adventure Playground nearby. Penfolds Magill Estate Winery and Restaurant are within walking distance, while bigger retail and cafe precincts on the Parade, Norwood and Burnside Village are less than 10 minutes away. Hills locales Basket Range, Norton Summit, Cherryville, Lenswood, Lobethal and Woodside are all easily accessible.