LGBTI sharers look to northern suburbs
Friday March 4 2016
A growing number of Sydney’s LGBTI sharers are shunning so called ‘gay villages’ in favour of the beach and the North Shore, according to the latest data from Flatmates.com.au.
In the first few months of 2016, the Northern Beaches saw the largest increase of LGBTI sharers with a whopping 279% jump in those looking, followed by the St George and the Upper North Shore regions with increases of 132% and 77%, respectively.
Comparatively, Inner city suburbs experienced a 16% drop in interest and the Inner West fell four per cent while, the Eastern Suburbs held steady relative to the same period in 2015.
While, inner city and Inner West suburbs such as Newtown, Darlinghurst, Surry Hills and Potts Point were still the most popular overall, the figures suggested increasing numbers of Sydney’s LGBTI sharers were looking further afield.
Flatmates.com.au CEO, Thomas Clement, suggested there could be a number of reasons for the growth in the suburbs.
“I think members of the LGBTI community no longer feel the need to live in these areas thanks to greater social acceptance.”
“While these suburbs have played an important role for the community over the past 40 years, they may not be as significant to millennials.”
“Generally speaking, high inner-city rental prices and perhaps even a declining night life in these areas may also be prompting people to consider homes in suburbs further out.”
Lower North Shore suburbs had the biggest growth in interest with Artarmon, St Leonards, Waverton and North Ryde featuring in the top ten.
Inner-west and St George suburbs also saw growing interest from LGBTI sharers, including Lilyfield, Ashfield and Hurstville.
At the other end of the spectrum interest from LGBTI sharers in Darlinghurst fell 17%, relative to 2015, while Newtown and Surry Hills dropped by 12% and 8%, respectively.
ENDS//
Figures are based on room wanted profiles created on Flatmates.com.au in January and February for 2016 relative to the same period in 2015, where the member identified as LGBT+.
| Rank | Top 10 Suburb | % Increase of LGBTI sharers looking (JAN/FEB) |
| 1 | Artarmon | 331% |
| 2 | St Leonards | 291% |
| 3 | Lilyfield | 252% |
| 4 | Hurstville | 213% |
| 5 | Ashfield | 213% |
| 6 | Summer Hill | 194% |
| 7 | Lidcombe | 174% |
| 8 | Waverton | 174% |
| 9 | Woolloomooloo | 154% |
| 10 | North Ryde | 135% |
| Rank | Sydney Region | % Change of LGBTI sharers looking (JAN/FEB) |
| 1 | Northern Beaches | 279% |
| 2 | St George | 132% |
| 3 | Upper North Shore | 77% |
| 4 | Parramatta/ Central West Sydney | 76% |
| 5 | The Hills | 59% |
| 6 | Sutherland Shire | 47% |
| 7 | Lower North Shore | 39% |
| 8 | Greater Western Sydney | 25% |
| 9 | Eastern Suburbs | 0% |
| 10 | Inner-West Sydney | -4% |
| 11 | Sydney Inner City | -16% |
