The Eastern Suburbs, area by area
Three councils
For statistics, the ABS defines the Eastern Suburbs as the Woollahra, Waverley and Randwick council areas. The main centres are Bondi Junction, Double Bay, Randwick and Maroubra Junction.
Units and terraces
At the 2021 Census, 57.8% of occupied homes in the region were flats or apartments and 18.5% semis, terraces or townhouses. Only 22.5% were separate houses.
Heavily rented
45.2% of occupied homes were rented, so landlord consent is part of a lot of jobs.
Harbour bays and surf beaches
The region stretches from the harbour foreshore to the Pacific beaches and on to La Perouse, so homes sit in different corrosion bands depending on which water is closest.
Harbour side and ocean side
| Harbour side (Double Bay, Rose Bay) | Ocean side (Bondi, Coogee, Maroubra) | |
|---|---|---|
| Corrosion band at the water | C4 (calm sea-shore) on the foreshore | C5 within 200 m of the surf |
| A little further back | C3 from 50 m to 1 km around sheltered water | C4 from 200 m to 1 km, C3 out to 10 km |
| What to push for | Coil protection and a yearly service | A sheltered position, coil protection and a wash-down at every service |
Terraces and units
In a terrace, the back courtyard is the usual home for the outdoor unit, and the narrow lot means the neighbour is never far away. NSW's 2026 noise rules restrict use when a unit is heard inside a neighbour's home, so ask for the outdoor unit's sound level and keep it away from bedroom windows next door. If your street is in a heritage conservation area, ask your council before work starts.
In a unit, the strata votes first. NSW counts a new reverse cycle air conditioner as a minor renovation, and anything that changes the outside of the building may need a special resolution. Renters also need the landlord's written permission.
What we'd do
If it were our Eastern Suburbs home
We'd work out which water we're closest to and how far, and choose the outdoor unit's spot and protection to suit. In a terrace we'd think about the neighbours; in a unit, the strata. Then we'd want an installer who does coastal installs in these streets every week. Licence-checked installers like that can see your job, and only the one who takes it gets your details. If nobody in the Eastern Suburbs takes it within 48 hours, installers elsewhere in NSW may see it as well.
