Suburb profile: New Lambton attracting families, city-dwellers

To save up for their first home, Mr Burgoyne and wife Jess moved into her parents' place in the suburb's northern pocket.

They soon fell in love with what it had to offer.

"We loved the community - we're big fans of Corner Lane, the coffee shop around the corner from them," Mr Burgoyne said.

"They call it New Lambton village and it has that village feel - you have everything you need in that one spot."

The pair bought their first home in Cliftleigh before selling up this year and briefly renting in New Lambton.

After a string of Saturdays attending open houses, they found a property within their budget in Birdwood Street.

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The were delighted when their pre-auction offer was accepted.

"We never dreamed that New Lambton would be a suburb we'd get into because of the housing market and the prices," Mr Burgoyne said.

"It was kind of our ideal suburb, especially with the in-laws in the same suburb.

"It was something we didn't expect and now we're in the same boat - we're 200m from the Blackbutt shopping area which is very similar vibes to the other side."

Their move puts them within a four-minute drive of Blackbutt Reserve and Westfield Kotara, and a "$20 uber ride" to the city.

"The plan with this place was to buy our family home," Mr Burgoyne said.

"We bought this keeping in mind that we'll be here for the next 10 to 20 years and we'll raise a family here."

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New Lambton is home to about 10,000 people and has a well-balanced age demographic.

The most common age bracket, 40-49, makes up just 15 per cent of the population.

According to CoreLogic, the suburb's median house price rose from $720,000 to $860,000 between July 2020 and July 2021.

McGrath New Lambton's Todd Mason, also a resident of 20 years, said the suburb's rental market of about 25 per cent was slowly being eaten up by owner-occupiers.

He said the suburb's proximity to great public facilities made it an attractive family destination.

"I think New Lambton Public and New Lambton South Public schools are a huge drawcard for family buyers," he said.

"Most of the people buying into the area tend to be owner-occupiers wanting to take advantage of the schools, the village shops, the central location to [the John Hunter Hospital], major retail precincts and inner city CBD.

"A lot of people that are getting priced out of inner city are seeing New Lambton, with the variety of properties on offer, as the next best alternative."

Dalton Partners' Lisa Macklin said New Lambton's status as one of Newcastle's premier family suburbs was being reflected in rising house prices.

"It's almost an entry level of $1 million to buy into the suburb now," she said.

"We've had a couple of sales recently that have been in the $900,000s where people are knocking them down and rebuilding.

"We're seeing people from the beach suburbs selling and coming back to the more family-village lifestyle.

"People move here and they stay."

The suburb also boasts McDonald Jones Stadium and Blackbutt Reserve on its northernmost and southernmost borders.

"I go through Blackbutt every day ... and every day I think 'how blessed are we to have this in our backyard'," Ms Macklin said.

"That's a real drawcard to the suburb and adds to that calmness and family environment."

A newly built and renovated five-bedroom home at 122 Victoria Street is for sale for $1.65 million to $1.75 million with Robinson Property.

Mr Mason has listed a four-bedroom, 639 square metre home at 39 Knight Street with an auction guide of $1.15 million.

Ms Macklin is guiding $800,000 for a two-bedroom home at 14 Greta Road.

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