After some recent high-profile sales, Woonona appears to be losing the "bridesmaid suburb" status it once had when compared to nearby Thirroul.
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The recent price results beg the question - is it becoming the new Thirroul for home buyers?
Lifestyle factors and traffic issues are seemingly among the factors influencing prospective buyers looking in these northern suburbs of Wollongong.
A bridesmaid suburb is one that's considered an alternative to the most popular suburb in an area.
These suburbs may offer a similar lifestyle, location and features as the popular suburb, but prices and rents are often cheaper.
Currently the median sales price of houses in Thirroul is $1,867,500. Meanwhile, the median sales price of houses in Woonona is $1,375,000.
Woonona's median house sale price remaining significantly lower than its fellow northern suburb may be influencing prospective buyers - although recent major sales ought to narrow this price gap.
The home at 26 Beach Drive, Woonona sold last week for $3,510,000.
Positioned along the front row location of Woonona beachfront, the three-bedroom, two-storey home boasts a north-east facing corner block.
Selling agent, Vanessa Denison-Pender from McGrath Thirroul said the street was sought-after as it wasn't as busy as the likes of Trinity Row in Bulli, "so it doesn't attract that level of through traffic that other beachfronts do in the area".
"It's a level walk from the road to the beach," she said of Beach Drive.
"It's easy beach access, an exclusive front row location, and it's quieter than the Bulli beachfronts."
Ms Denison-Pender said the home sold to an out-of-area buyer, with plans for it to be a weekender initially before the owners sought to retire there.
This follows a record-shattering sale in the same street.
The home at 60 Beach Drive, Woonona sold for $6,200,000 in May.
The result smashed the residential sale price record for the suburb by $2 million.
By comparison, the residential suburb price record in Thirroul is $4,850,000, set in April 2021.
CoreLogic records show the previous residential sale price record for Woonona was $4,200,000, set in April 2021 by 64 Beach Drive.
Also, 22 Beach Drive, Woonona sold in December 2022 for $3,400,000.
Ms Denison-Pender said Thirroul's busy traffic was likely deterring some buyers, and suggested Woonona was perhaps losing its bridesmaid suburb status when compared to Thirroul.
"I think there's limited stock there, (and) people are moving there because they don't want the traffic and to be stuck north of Bulli Pass," she said.
"That bottleneck of traffic through Thirroul is becoming more of an issue for people. It always has been, but it's just getting busier.
"And it's just quieter overall... A quieter place to settle or retire to, and enjoy the access to the beach, cycleway and pool. It's certainly not as busy as Thirroul."
Thirroul has enjoyed its share of notable sales recently, though.
The home at 56 Redman Avenue, Thirroul recently sold for $2,850,000.
Also, the home at 4 The Esplanade, Thirroul sold in May. CoreLogic records show it fetched $3,300,000.
A heritage-listed, converted church at Thirroul sold after just 13 days on the market.
The property, a four-bedroom and three-bathroom building, located at 2 Lachlan Street, Thirroul sold for $2,600,000 in May.
Troy Johnson from Ray White Woonona agreed that perhaps Woonona was shedding any "bridesmaid suburb" tag it once had in comparison to Thirroul, as buyers recognised its benefits.
"Also, you take Edgewood (estate) at Woonona, I reckon 50 per cent of Thirroul lives there now," he said.
"They're all downsizing and moving to Edgewood as it's a nice central place... And they have some change left in their pocket coming out of Thirroul.
"People from the Shire like Woonona because it's still got the beaches, the cafes; just about everything Thirroul's got except for the railway central hub."
Other recent sales in Thirroul include 104/8 Railway Parade for $1,375,000; 15 Woodland Avenue for $2,260,000; and 2 Lachlan Street for $2,600,000.
Other recent sales in Woonona include 9 Blueberry Circuit for $1,325,000; and 16 Royal Crescent for $2,150,000.
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