Lower North Shore
Chatswood
Sydney's second-largest commercial centre after the CBD, with a Westfield, two large shopping centres and one of the most active Asian-Australian dining and grocery scenes in the country. Mix of high-rise apartments around the station and Federation homes on the leafy western and northern fringes. Suits professionals, families wanting top schools, and buyers prioritising shopping and connectivity.
- To CBD
- ~12 min
- Schools profiled
- 5
- Pros / Cons
- 4 / 4
Connectivity
Getting around
- Railway
- Sydney Trains
Chatswood station (T1 North Shore line) in suburb. From Chatswood: North Sydney 8 min, Wynyard 12 min, Town Hall 14 min, Hornsby 18 min, Central 16 min.
Sydney Metro M1Chatswood M1 station in suburb (interchange with T1). From Chatswood M1: Crows Nest 4 min, Martin Place 10 min, Macquarie Park 4 min, Tallawong 21 min.
- Buses
Routes 273, 555, 565 along Pacific Highway and Victoria Avenue. North Sydney 18 min, Macquarie Park 12 min, Manly 30 min via 144.
- By car
- Motorway access
Gore Hill Freeway and Lane Cove Tunnel via Pacific Highway; M2 Hills Motorway via Lane Cove Road.
Drive times off-peakSydney CBD 16 min, North Sydney 8 min, Macquarie Park 7 min, Sydney Airport 25 min, Parramatta 22 min, Norwest 18 min.
Local life
What's in Chatswood
The shops, parks, pubs and landmarks that locals actually use.
park
parkJim McCredie Park
A popular park in Chatswood (5★ · 2 reviews). 25 View Street, Chatswood
Photo: Google
cafeThree Beans Chatswood Central
A popular cafe in Chatswood (4.3★ · 96 reviews). Shop P11a, 1/5 Railway Street, Chatswood
Photo: Google
cafeThe Steam Engine
A popular cafe in Chatswood (4.3★ · 374 reviews). Chatswood railway station, 25a/436 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood
Photo: Google
cafeGelatissimo Chatswood
A popular cafe in Chatswood (3.5★ · 170 reviews). Shop 2/376 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood
Photo: Google
restaurantMamak Chatswood
A popular restaurant in Chatswood (4.2★ · 1869 reviews). p9/1-5 Railway Street, Chatswood
Photo: Google
restaurant
restaurantMelting Pot
A popular restaurant in Chatswood (3.7★ · 16 reviews). 10 Brown Street, Chatswood
Photo: Google
venueThe Orchard Hotel
A popular venue in Chatswood (4★ · 1989 reviews). 455 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood
Photo: Google
venueChatswood Hotel
A popular venue in Chatswood (4★ · 565 reviews). 14 Railway Street, Chatswood
Photo: Google
landmarkThe Concourse Chatswood
A popular landmark in Chatswood (4.5★ · 2299 reviews). 409 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood
Photo: Google
landmarkLandcare Australia
A popular landmark in Chatswood (5★ · 4 reviews). level 9/815 Pacific Highway, Chatswood
Photo: Google
landmarkKenneth Slessor Park
A popular landmark in Chatswood (4.5★ · 4 reviews). Pacific Hwy and Western Way opposite, Brown Street, Chatswood
Photo: Google
landmarkBeauchamp Park
A popular landmark in Chatswood (4.5★ · 763 reviews). Nicholson Street, Chatswood
Photo: Google
landmarkNight Raven College
A popular landmark in Chatswood (3.7★ · 6 reviews). 101 Archer Street, Chatswood
Photo: Google
Education
Schools & tertiary
Primary: Chatswood Public or Mowbray Public. Secondary: Chatswood High (high demand — strict catchment).
Primary
- Chatswood Public SchoolPublic
Local catchment primary with selective opportunity classes
- Mowbray Public SchoolPublic
Highly regarded primary on the Lane Cove border
Secondary
- Chatswood High SchoolPublic
Comprehensive co-ed; consistently top non-selective public secondary in Sydney
- St Pius X CollegeCatholic
Catholic boys' secondary in Chatswood
- Mercy Catholic CollegeCatholic
Catholic girls' secondary in adjoining Chatswood West
Selective high schools (entry by exam)
- North Sydney Boys (selective)
- North Sydney Girls (selective)
Real estate
Medians (2026)
Numbers coming soon. We're populating medians from Domain and CoreLogic — this section will fill in as the data lands.
The honest read
Pros & cons
What works
- Major rail and metro interchange — direct to CBD and North-West
- Westfield and Chatswood Chase plus extensive Asian dining
- Top-tier comprehensive public schools
- M2 motorway access for Hills District commute
Watch outs
- Apartment construction and density rising fast
- Heavy weekend pedestrian and traffic congestion
- Strong school catchment demand drives premium house prices
- Limited green space within the commercial centre
Looking to buy or rent in Chatswood?
Browse current listings or talk to one of our agents who knows the area inside out.