Kate Farrelly

A proposed new town centre is set to bring shops, eateries and 2000 new dwellings to the area.

Sandwiched between St Leonards and North Sydney five kilometres north of the CBD, the suburb is also a major employment hub supported by excellent public transport, with the new metro station due to open next month.

One of the suburb’s claims to fame is the now-closed Prince Henry Hospital, established in 1881 in response to an outbreak of smallpox.

Long-term resident Maryann Twitchings’ home was initially rented by her grandmother, who ran it as a boarding house. It was later home to her extended family, and today, the rear garage, serves as Twitchings’ podiatry practice rooms.

Agent Michelle Stynes has been bombarded with phone calls since it hit the market in late April.

We’ve rounded up our pick of the bunch from across the country’s most luxurious properties.

While the entry hall and two front bedrooms still hold firm to their Federation roots, all bets are off in the rebuilt rear wing.

It needed a little bit of TLC but this charming 1850s cottage ticked all the boxes on Linda Gregoriou’s wish list.

It was love at first sight for owners Tom and Sonja Perri when they inspected this Palm Springs-style home at the foot of the Illawarra escarpment.

This home is not just a good-looking show pony; it’s been expertly designed for both relaxation and entertainment.