Lakemba, NSW 2195

When the national census finally asks the sexual orientation of how a person identifies then we will finally have a good indication at how many LGBT people actually live in Lakemba, and as an LGBT person myself I would guess that their would be less than 50 individuals in a suburb that has a population of more than 17k people.

My partner (Transman) and I (a Queer Bi fem person) moved to Lakemba in Feb (2024). We have noticed a handful of other LGBT people in the neighbourhood and it seems like it's a growing demographic in the area. I have bought an unit in the area and this is where I could afford. Lakemba has been a good move for us so far, affordable but still close to the inner west and places we go to offer like Marrickville.

I am looking to buy too. What street was the apartment?

MacDonald St

oh yeah I have been to that street. Yes I agree with you. I was told by a few agents that the best side of Lakemba is on the Canterbury Road side. Not sure if that is true though. I have had a look at Sproule, Ernest and Croydon Street and it looks to be alright.

Lakemba may seem like and overpopulated suburb especially now, on Ramadan but you have to admit that we are one of the most safest Suburbs as we have no crime according to NSW's crime rate website. we have transportation, shops, healthcare and more. The liveability in this area tops the charts. i have lived here all my life

yes i agree. This suburb is cheaper than i thought.

this is only in some areas. i disagree

its not 'cheap'. Investment and property are growing before you even know it!

investment and property is certainly not growing in Lakemba. I think Lakemba is the only suburb in all of Sydney that still has units in the 300k's

Lakemba is good to go for groceries but better to live neighbouring suburb Greenacre or chullora south strathfield

No shopping malls nearby but there are some small shops. Life can be a bit boring there.

There is Roselands Shopping Mall

Al
I just moved to lakemba 3 months ago
Cons: lots of spitting and very dirty
Pros: peaceful and quiet
Religion: I dont care.... I respect anything
If just people in lakemba would be more cleaner, I would give 5 stars

yes I agree with you. I really do not know why Lakemba has a bad name. The suburb is close to everything and the people are very friendly and there is no trouble.

I AGREE.

Hzha

I do not think Campsie is going through the gentrification process, but in saying that there is nothing wrong with Campsie either. It is a good suburb close to the CBD.

AGREED

Congratulations on your purcahse. I couldn't agree more with your prediction and comparrison for the future of Lakemba.

Thanks KnaptonProperty,I'm actually in the process of selling my unit in Campsie which I bought 2 years ago,only meters from Woolworth.The timing was bad because I bought it during high tide of 2010,I'd be lucky if I breakeven .Location is the key in chosing great investment but Ive learned that an undervalued property is paramount.Im hoping to find another house in Lakemba once the unit is sold.

Thats great news, If we can be of assistance at either end, please contact us directly on 9750 3999. regards, Lee Knapton

Congraulations also on your purchase. That is a very good price to have purchased a property. Lakemba is very good value, particularly for investors. There was an article in the SMH some time ago with Lakemba near the top of the list for return on purchase price.

I lived and grew up in Lakemba. Caught the train and buses everyday. A few of the comments and remarks further down are spot on. The real state agents making commissions should be ignored 100%. Go to youtube.com and type in lakemba. The videos will give you a very good idea of what to expect. Then if you still not convinced of your families long term safety go google Lakemba police station. What you say it does not exist anymore? Yep that is right shot up by arabic men. The Police who carry guns were so scared of the local islamic men they had to shut it down due to fear of their lives and well being. All facts that can be verified. Now you know why me and my family moved out over 10 years ago and never looked back.

Glad to hear youre gone John- been here 18 years with no problem ever and love it! My only complaint is theres a lot of rubbish

Have heard of bashings & stabbings all throughout Sydney, even in "safe" suburbs on the Northern Beaches & North Shore. It's the FREQUENCY you need to look at, and the close-knit areas of Lakemba & Belmore & surrounding areas do tend to look out for each other. You won't find the locals just stepping over an injured or ill person in these areas! More like rushing to help!

People that don't live in the suburb shouldn't be allowed to leave comments as they just make up stories - worried that people won't buy in the area they live in -
Pleasantville must not read too well newspapers if violence happens all over Sydney
and i don't wish to sell my property - it's in a Fantastic Location - I have supermarkets and restaurants, banks 2 mins walk 25mins I'm in the city centre -

You guys above are out of your mind if you think this is a good suburb. White flight to Penrith, Gosford and Wollognong is happening for a reason. This suburb is not multicultural it is segregation at it's absolute worst. I can't think of a worse suburb to live between Lakemba, Punchbowl, Guildford, Bankstown, Greenacre etc. These suburbs are not only a disgrace to Sydney but a disgrace to Western Society anywhere in the world. Most people here have not tried to assimilate into the Australian way of life and it is absolutely disgusting that a Real Estate agent and another poster above would try to say any different. Encouraging anyone who does't want to convert to a certain religion or lead a life of crime to live here is wrong.

Not sure Paul87 how much time you've actually spent in Lakemba. As an employee (that is an office worker employee not a salesperson) I can honestly say I've never had a problem with Lakemba. I've met heaps of people who live here and not all of them are immigrants or Muslim either. Yes you will get some people who won't make an effort when they've moved to a new country such as Australia, but they are all over Sydney and are the loud ones who everyone notices and therefore give all the others a bad name. Shame to tar everyone with the same brush. I highly recommend for people to spend time at a place and get to know it's people before making such statements.

My wife works in lakemba and we live very close by.
I have spent alot of time in the suburb over many years and must confess, i agree with Paul87.
Congratulations Paul on speaking your mind and for saying things a lot of others would be worried about saying.
It is a disgrace indeed!

There is way more to this area than TV shows. Please remember people that TV is all about the ratings and far less about the news. These sensationalist "news" oftens twist or manipulate a certain viewpoint in order to increase their ratings. You may remember that during the Cronulla riots that some news & talkback were criticised for their participation as well.

Being Anglo-Saxon and working in this area every day I have absolutely no problem. I have found that some very "white" areas to be far more judgemental and non-accepting of others than around here. I actually feel that because it is very multicultural that it is MORE accepting of others than a lot of other places.

Don't let TV decide for you. Come find out for yourselves.

Hi Mathew,
On which basis are you saying "you guys are terrorizing"... Its not the ordinary people who tell you about any religion. Before making any comment, its better if you try to understand from Scripture or through Scholars. As per my knowledge, according to holy scriptures, killing of an innocent person in Islam is like killing the whole humanity. Its not only Islam, if you want to understand any religion, go for its authentic scripture. Ordinary people of all religions are similar. You must know that Alcohol and Pork are not even permissible in Christianity BUT lot of Christians are doing so. Should anybody say that Christianity guides like this?

Lakemba is a quiet and peaceful suburb. It is also dirty(noone can claim Haldon st or close by is clean by Australian standards, its not), full of renters and very very conservative Islamic people. Shops blare middle eastern music in the streets and everywhere you will see them pushing the message of Islam.

That being said its no dirtier than nearby Campsie, but the price of house is about 200K less. I think its great buying there still. Especially in good streets closer to nearby Belfield or Belmore where prices already reflect gentrification.

It's such a shame the people who defend this trashed grotty unsafe suburb have never been/ lived anywhere else in Sydney. If you spent 6 months living somewhere decent like the North Shore, you'd then realise. It's not acceptable to have frequent bashings, stabbings and drug deals. I would be embarrassed and ashamed to live somewhere like lakemba, and even more so trying to defend it. It is a disgrace, it is trashed and it is unsafe.

So Good australian! come and live here!!. The place is great and still OK Price and still one of still good location. Blend in the area and make this place equally and multicultural (by the way it is many nationality living here happily too). We need good people like you!! ..it not the suburb is Bad but fews people same like others suburbs has some mad people but they won't carry guns and shoot here everyday..must be bad luck /wrong place & wrong time!! ..the suburb only a land and it is belong to all Australian. The more you run away of course some others will get together like community because they feel the belonging but I don't think they will kill you if you moved in. This Areas used to be full of white Australian but you move out north (expensive now)...so others move in here help this place a better place and peaceful..well.. The more you anti people here you should come and live here so this place won't just has Muslim as you too scared.

I wonder what Im doing so right that I have never had a problem with anyone here?! Im happy for the racists to keep away - you will only give us decent and respectable people a bad name. Ive lived in lots of places and Lakemba is my favourite place live out of all the places Ive lived in Australia.

I spent the first 20 years of my life growing up in Lakemba until the mid 2000s.
2 years ago I moved back to the suburb with my very Australian husband who really enjoys living here, and we're now looking for a place to buy. My family still live here and I have always visited regularly even while I wasnt living here.

For context, Ive always worked in the CBD, am University educated, travel often, am not Muslim, speak perfect English and Ive lived in the inner west (Enmore, Leichhardt), North Sydney and London over the last decade. Just to reassure all the haters that Im not talking from inside a biased and brainwashed Lakemba bubble; but I can insult you in several languages an advantage of going to school with so many cultures.

As an adult, I appreciate how unique and blissfully multicultural the community of Lakemba is, how close to the city and inner west we are (driving or via train) and how incredible Haldon street is. Yes you may see rubbish, and its not sparkling clean. This is not a deal breaker for me. There is far more disgusting rubbish daily on any Manhattan street.

As a female, I have never personally experienced or witnessed any violence or felt unsafe at any time (I need to stress this, as I am someone who is very aware/paranoid about personal safety) and my home is about 15 minutes walk from the station. A walk which I have done alone thousands of times, at virtually every single time of the day and very late at night.

In the last few years Ive noticed a lot more (Anglo) uni students and younger couples/families moving to the area. They dont seem to be walking around in fear, eying the ethnics suspiciously, nor do they seem tense or uncomfortable. A good sign.

In my experience the people who badmouth Lakemba are a combination of the following: racist, ignorant, have never actually spent any real time in Lakemba, are going by the sensationalist news stories they hear, dont like any display of ethnicity beyond delicious food.

If you are suffering from any of the symptoms above, please stay away and leave us in peace. Were doing just fine without your negativity.

I spent the first 20 years of my life growing up in Lakemba until the mid 2000s.
2 years ago I moved back to the suburb with my very Australian husband who really loves living here, and we are actively looking for a place to buy. My family still live here and I have always visited regularly even while I wasnt living here.

For context, Ive always worked in the CBD, am post graduate educated, travel often, am not Muslim, speak perfect English and Ive lived in the inner west (Enmore, Leichhardt), North Sydney and London over the last decade. Just to reassure all the haters that Im not talking from inside a biased and brainwashed Lakemba bubble, but I can insult you in several languages an advantage of going to school with so many cultures.

As an adult, I appreciate how unique and blissfully multicultural the community of Lakemba is, how close to the city and inner west we are (driving or via train) and how incredible Haldon street is. Yes you may see rubbish, and its not sparkling clean. This is not a deal breaker for me. There is far more disgusting rubbish daily on any Manhattan street.

As a female, I have never personally experienced or witnessed any violence or felt unsafe at any time (I need to stress this, as I am someone who is very aware/paranoid about personal safety) and my home is about 15 minutes walk from the station. A walk which I have done alone thousands of times, at virtually every single time of the day and very late at night.

In the last few years Ive noticed a lot more (Anglo) uni students and younger couples/families moving to the area. They dont seem to be walking around in fear, eying the ethnics suspiciously, nor do they seem tense or uncomfortable. A good sign.

In my experience the people who badmouth Lakemba are a combination of the following: racist, ignorant, have never actually spent any real time in Lakemba, are going by the sensationalist news stories they hear, dont like any display of ethnicity beyond delicious food.

If you are suffering from any of the symptoms above, please stay away and leave us in peace. Were doing just fine without your negativity.

Kishore Muthu is people like you that give areas a bad name. Lakemba has more bangladeshi, afghanistan and pakistani than lebanese, however in saying that there is nothing wrong with the suburb. What monoculture? I have walked the streets and like I said I see different cultures on the street and not just one culture. However I do agree that the council should spend more money on the place and the people should be a bit more hygienic and clean up after themselves.

My parents lived in Hampden Road, Lakemba, back in the early 80s, before I was born. They moved out due to somebody coming to their door with a gun (before guns were banned in 96). I then came across a client recently who coincidentally lives in the same unit in Lakemba. He was saying how the area is great and he doesnt see any crime.

Rents are cheap because most respectable people would never live there

Spot on Pleasantville. Good to see a person who is not of a certain religion or a real estate agent, commenting on how bad this place really is.

Paul87. Just because an real estate comments that doesn't mean it's a bad thing. Agents actually take the time and effort to know their area. That is part of our business.

I am actually Anglo-Saxon & Christian. And I have friends who are of all different cultures & religions. I don't judge people on their race, their colour or their faith. I accept people for who they are as people.

I have lived in Lakemba for three years. I am an anglo-saxon mother of two. I love it. I take my dog jogging at night all around the area and I feel completely safe. It is completely under-rated.

Yes my family has worked in the area for over 75 years and agree with all your comments. A great place to eat and shop. Knapton property Agents.

Four of the 6 children in my family went to St Therese Primary School before moving on to secondary education and then to graduate from University and pursue professional lives. St Therese is a fine school. Haldon St was my paper run. The place is now more cosmopolitan and better for it. Whenever you have a problem the neighbours are always on hand to help out. Knapton has been there since before I was born.

Four of the 6 children in my family went to St Therese Primary School before moving on to secondary education and then to graduate from University and pursue professional lives. St Therese is a fine school. Haldon St was my paper run. The place is now more cosmopolitan and better for it. Whenever you have a problem the neighbours are always on hand to help out. Knapton has been there since before I was born.

Lakemba is a well established area and yes a much more cosmopolitan place to be.

You are'nt respecting what u have. u have to be smart and know the fact that people ae having units and flate for a reason. firslt is because there are many migrants who need affordable prices to earn a better life just like we all are and whoever that is provding it is being smart as they get so much profit through it. Wdym by rude people?? Lakemba has the most welcoming people on the planet believe it OR NOT. All of us started from the bottom ;):