Focus on Gordon

With its unique mix of spacious family homes and modern urban apartments, Gordon has something for everyone.

Parents rate its gold-standard schools, commuters love its excellent transport connections, and its convenient cosmopolitan lifestyle and green spaces are enjoyed by all.

History

The Ku-ring-gai area, including Gordon, is the traditional land of the Aboriginal people who lived here for thousands of years.

Gordon was the site of the earliest colonial settlement in Ku-ring-gai. It was home to the community’s first school, in 1816, churches and stores. Originally known as part of Lane Cove, the parish of Gordon was gazetted in 1835, and the name adopted for the suburb in 1879. The name came from Gordondale Estate, located in what is now central Gordon, which itself was named for Sir James Willoughby Gordon, who was Quartermaster-General of the Horse Guards in London in the 1830s.

The area was used for timber-getting, then farms and orchards, until the railway came through in the 1890s. This prompted the subdivision of the land, which was snapped up for family homes by businessmen attracted by Gordon’s high elevation, clean air, rural setting and easy access to the city.

Gordon is home to many outstanding examples of the architectural styles popular during the Federation and interwar periods, and several of its homes and buildings are listed on the State Heritage Register. Two of the best known are Eryldene, in the Colonial Revival style, and Tulkiyan, in the Arts and Crafts style. What the locals love about St Ives

What the locals love about Gordon

1. World-class schools

Gordon is home to excellent schools. The suburb is serviced by two highly-regarded public primary schools, Gordon East Public School on Rosedale Road and Gordon West Public School on Ryde Road. Ravenswood School for Girls, an independent school catering for girls from prep to year 12, has been located on Henry Street since its inception in 1901. Ravenswood, affectionately known as Ravo, is celebrating 120 years in 2021, and offers its students both the HSC and the International Baccalaureate Diploma program.

2. Excellent transport connections

Gordon is incredibly well-connected. Gordon train station, built in 1888 and now listed on the State Heritage Register, is a major stop on the T1, T9 and CCN train lines. Thanks to the train line, Gordon residents enjoy quick access to the city and the rest of Sydney, as well as the Central Coast and Newcastle.

Gordon’s position at the intersection of the Pacific Highway and Ryde and Mona Vale Roads makes it something of a transport hub, with easy access to the Northern Beaches to the east, Homebush to the west, Chatswood, North Sydney and the city to the south and Hornsby and the M1 Pacific Motorway to the north. Buses operate from the train station to St Ives, Macquarie Uni, West Pymble and Warriewood and Mona Vale.

3. Ultra-convenient lifestyle

Gordon locals enjoy a wide array of quality services and amenities at their doorstep, making living here a pleasure.

The local shopping centres, Gordon Centre and Gordon Village Arcade, are home to Woolworths, BWS and Harvey Norman, as well as a range of specialty retailers and eateries, and a Bunnings branch can be found a little further up the highway. There are some fantastic cafes in Gordon too, including local institution Pottery Green and the ever-popular Chalkboard Café.

Since the first Shire Council building was constructed here in 1911, Gordon has been the administrative centre of Ku-ring-gai1. Ku-ring-gai Council is still located on the Pacific Highway in Gordon today, as is Gordon Library, the main and largest branch of Ku-ring-gai Library.

Gordon residents have plenty of options when it comes to outdoor recreation. Gordon Golf Club calls itself the friendliest golf club on the North Shore, and its 18-hole course is enjoyable for golfers of all skill levels. Gordon’s Flying Fox Reserve is home to Sydney’s largest flying-fox colony, and a brand new playground was opened last year at Gordon Recreation Ground.

Gordon Private Hospital, built in 2018 and situated on the Pacific Highway, is an independent 57-bed mental health services hospital with an affiliation with the University of New South Wales.

Today, Gordon is home to 22,433 people and 6,436 families. The median age sits at 41 years old, a tad older than the NSW median age of 39 years old. Moreover, 44.1% of families in the suburb live in a 4+ bedroom property, with 24.7% occupying a 3-bedroom home, and 22.1% in 2-bedroom houses2.

Sales market update

Units make up almost 40 per cent of dwellings in Gordon, which makes it unique among its neighbouring Upper North Shore suburbs, where houses are predominant. The prevalence of units clustered around the commercial centre and the train station gives Gordon an urban and cosmopolitan feel. Gordon’s units are favoured by downsizers, professionals and property investors alike.

Gordon’s March 2021 median house price is $2,680,000, 15.3 per cent higher than April 2020’s median of $2,325,000. Meanwhile, unit prices have remained steady over the past twelve months, with today’s median price of $930,000 virtually unchanged on April 2020’s median of $926,500. Over the past five years, houses in Gordon have experienced a compound growth rate of 5.3 per cent, while units have risen 0.9 per cent.

Rental market update

Gordon is home to more renters – just over 28.1 per cent of the suburb’s population – than other areas on the Upper North Shore, making it attractive to investors. In early 2021, houses in Gordon lease for $1300 per week and units $690. The vacancy rate as of April 2021 was a trim 2.09 per cent, reflecting the area’s popularity. The median rental yield for houses in Gordon is 2.1 per cent and units 3.9 per cent3.

Gordon’s seamless blend of modern living and world-class amenities makes it the perfect hometown for driven individuals and families looking for bigger opportunities. With top-rated schools and well-established transportation systems, you can experience convenience and ease of access from home to work, school, shopping & entertainment.

References:

[1] The Dictionary of Sydney: Gordon

[2] Australian Bureau of Statistics: Gordon NSW 2021 Census

[3] realestate.com.au: Gordon NSW December 2022-November 2023 Suburb Profile