Forum

Sydney - Australia

Moving to Sydney - Australia

Contribute to the community by sharing information to help the Desi community connect and support one another. Provide details about apartments where the Desi community resides. Answer questions from those moving here for work, school, or other reasons. Share information about areas or buildings with a significant Desi population, including rent costs, utilities included, accessibility, availability of laundry facilities, and other relevant details. Note: This section is not for posting apartments for rent—please use the classifieds section for that. The goal is to offer guidance and answer questions for people planning to move to this area.

 

1. South Asian Community: Primarily Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, and Nepali populations.

---

2. South Asian Areas

• Harris Park: Known as "Little India" with a high concentration of South Asian families and businesses.
• Parramatta: Diverse South Asian community with strong cultural presence.
• Blacktown: Home to a significant number of Indian and Pakistani families.
• Homebush: Popular among Bangladeshi and Indian communities.
• Westmead: Indian and South Asian professionals and families.

---

3. Main Market Areas

• Harris Park: Restaurants, clothing stores, and grocery shops offering South Asian products.
• Parramatta CBD: Multicultural markets and stores with South Asian influences.

---

4. Grocery Stores

• Spice House (Harris Park): Indian spices and groceries.
• Patel Brothers (Parramatta): Comprehensive South Asian grocery selection.
• Bangla Bazar (Homebush): Specializes in Bangladeshi products.
• Iqbal Halal Foods (Blacktown): Offers halal meat and South Asian items.

---

5. Transportation

• Public Transport:

  • Sydney Trains: Connects most suburbs. Harris Park and Parramatta have their own train stations.
  • Bus Services: Extensive network in South Asian areas.
  • Opal Card: Essential for public transport.

• Ride-Sharing: Uber, Ola, and Didi are commonly used in South Asian communities.

---

6. Religious Places

• Temples:

  • Sri Venkateswara Temple (Helensburgh): A popular Hindu temple.
  • BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Toongabbie): Hindu temple and cultural center.

• Gurdwaras:

  • Glenwood Gurdwara (Glenwood): One of the largest Sikh temples in Sydney.

• Mosques:

  • Lakemba Mosque (Lakemba): The largest mosque in Sydney.
  • Auburn Gallipoli Mosque (Auburn): Popular among South Asian Muslims.

---

7. Cost of Living

• Average Rent:

  • Apartment: AUD 450–700 per week for 1-2 bedrooms in South Asian areas.
  • House: AUD 600–1,200 per week in family-friendly suburbs.

• Groceries: Around AUD 100–150 per week for a family of four in South Asian groceries.

• Utilities: AUD 200–300 monthly for electricity, gas, and internet.

---

8. Best Public Schools

• Elementary Schools:

  • Harris Park Public School (Harris Park).
  • Parramatta East Public School (Parramatta).
  • Blacktown South Public School (Blacktown).

• Middle Schools:

  • Granville Boys High School (Granville).
  • Arthur Phillip High School (Parramatta).
  • The Ponds High School (The Ponds).

• High Schools:

  • James Ruse Agricultural High School (Carlingford): Highly ranked selective school.
  • Parramatta High School (Parramatta): Diverse student body and academic focus.
  • Girraween High School (Girraween): Top-performing selective school.