Living in Fairy Meadow

If you are wondering where to buy property and looking for a suburb close to the city of Wollongong, that’s family-friendly and has everything you need to sustain great health and wellbeing, Fairy Meadow is really one of those Illawarra suburbs. Living in Fairy Meadow means you're only 4kms from the centre of the city and with a population of 7,400, it caters to a variety of different family makeups, living options and shopping needs.

Here’s just a taste of what living in Fairy Meadow can be like for you:

Fairy Meadow Attractions for Families

It’s close proximity to the beach makes Fairy Meadow an appealing location for those who love the outdoors, water and staying healthy. The two beaches are Fairy Meadow Beach and Puckey’s Estate. The Fairy Meadow SLSC, started in 1950 and has become an integral part of the community

Speaking of the beach, Park Run starts at Fairy Meadow Beach every Saturday and is a free community event that brings the area together.

If ball sports are more your style, the suburb has its own Fairy Meadow Bowling Club, which features regular entertainment outside of its games roster, and a Tennis Club, which is popular with all ages.

Other sporting and active living options for those who love to stay fit and healthy include United Divers, McKeon Swim Centre, Fairy Meadow Surf Life Saving Club and Wollongong Surf Leisure Resort.

Those with a creative streak may be drawn to the Fairy Meadow Community Centre. It has a full calendar of events for various ages and demographics, including music classes for little ones, dancing for older students, martial arts and church groups from different cultures meet at the centre. It’s also used as a function centre for different events.

Another place to meet with friends is the Fraternity Club, which includes different restaurants, play space for the kids, regular giveaways and promotions, and more. Or maybe the Illawarra Woodworkers Group in Fairy Meadow might be more your scene if you have a passion for woodcraft.

There are also many churches, including Fairy Meadow Anglican Church, St John Vianney Catholic Cathedral, Citylife Church, Towradgi Congregational Church, Wollongong Christian Reformed Church and Fairy Meadow Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses all in the area.

Whether you’re thinking about your own eventual transition into aged care or wanting to be close to a loved one in aged care, Fairy Meadow is close to the Tarrawanna Aged Care facility.

If you love spending time in parks, you have a full selection, including Guest Park, Bassett Park, North Dalton Park, Puckeys Estate, Thomas Dalton Park, and Fairy Meadow Beach Park.

Eating out and socialising

Want to find nightlife close to home? Then Fairy Meadow has two great spots – The Charles Hotel and Cabbage Tree Motel Fairy Meadow. However, if you’re simply after a good meal with friends or family, then there’s an array of cuisines – from Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Malaysian, Lebanese, Aussie barbecue and steaks – and even drive through takeaways. Or pick up some fish from the local seafood shop and cook up a feast at home and don’t forget to grab a cheesecake for dessert too. On weekends, there’s always somewhere to go for a coffee and cake to relax.

Living in Fairy Meadow

One of the advantages of living in Fairy Meadow is the diversity of housing. From apartment living to older affordable homes on the Princes Highway, newly renovated properties and large, modern homes in Daisy Street.

Units are aplenty in Fairy Meadow and ideal for investors and first home buyers. Wollongong Surf Leisure Resort offers affordable, full-time housing in relocatable and manufactured homes. and is located close to the beach and includes tennis courts, putt-putt golf and more. All bases are covered when living in the Wollongong suburb making it true lifestyle living. Fairy Meadow was the first settlement, before housing moved out to Balgownie and Tarrawanna where bigger homes are now positioned. The houses increase again in size in Mount Pleasant and Mount Ousley, where there are larger, grander style homes.

Cabbage Tree Lane, Fairy Meadow local resident, Tony Roder, fell in love with Fairy Meadow and says it has the best coffee shop in town, and has brought his family back together again.

If you’d like to talk about finding your next home in Fairy Meadow, give Joanne a call on 0426 264 771 or reach out. Find out what property is currently for sale in the area and feel free to call into one of the open for inspections.

Wollongong’s Best Shopping

Love a bit of retail therapy? Fairy Meadow has it all, often avoiding the need to go into the Wollongong City Centre. With free, easy to access parking and three supermarkets – Aldi, Woolworths and Coles – it makes grocery shopping a joy again. For those who love finding grocery bargains, Fairy Meadow is home to the Leisure Coast Fruit Market, a popular fruit market with its fresh fruit and vegetables. The large business is also home to a garden centre, which is only one of two in the entire Illawarra region.

Cake shops in Fairy Meadow include Zweefers, and Pasticceria Massimo Papa.

Your banking needs are covered at IMB Bank and Bendigo Bank within the main shopping precinct, as your insurance requirements with GIO being located on the Princes Highway. Fairy Meadow also has one of the oldest butcher’s shops – Paul’s Butchery – a continental butcher that attracts people from across the entire region.

More into beauty and general retail? There are hair salons, lingerie shops, music stores, bookshops, sports stores, bridal stores, activewear, Salvos Stores, Vinnies and Officeworks. If you’re after a bigger purchase like a car, Gateway Holden is located on the Princes Highway. If you’re looking for things to improve the home, try the hardware stores, pool centre and let’s not forget a family pet, with a local pet store in the area.

Transportation

If you don’t have your own vehicle to navigate through the flat suburb and easy access streets, there are other options for transport in Fairy Meadow. A train runs from Fairy Meadow Station in Elliots Rd that will take you from Sydney to Bomaderry. A bus moves throughout Fairy Meadow 7 days a week, with stops at:
● Fairy Meadow Station, Elliotts Rd
● Fairy Meadow Demonstration School, Balgownie Rd
● Princes Hwy opp Fairy Meadow Demonstration School
● Princes Hwy opp Collaery Ave
● Innovation Campus, Squires Way
● Vereker St at Cabbage Tree Lane
● Elliotts Rd before Carters Lane
● St John Vianney’s Catholic Church, Princes Hwy
● Princes Hwy opp Guest Park
● Cabbage Tree Lane opp McLean Ave
● Princes Hwy after McGrath St
● Meadow St before Balgownie Rd
● Princes Hwy at Elliotts Rd

Schools in Fairy Meadow

One of the greatest advantages of living in Fairy Meadow when you have a young family is the schooling options. Whether it’s academic schooling, dance, drama, singing or music, there are different schools to suit different styles and abilities. Here are the schools you can access without leaving the suburb:
● Little Peoples – 478 Princes Hwy, Fairy Meadow
● Willy Wagtails Garden – 43 Florence St, Fairy Meadow
● Good Samaritan Catholic Primary School – 48 McGrath St, Fairy Meadow
● Mount Ousley Public School – 31 McGrath St, Fairy Meadow
● Towradgi Public School – Carters Ln, Fairy Meadow
● Fairy Meadow Demonstration School – Princes Hwy, Fairy Meadow
● Joanne Grace School of Dance – 88-92 Jardine St, Fairy Meadow
● Cons Music Drama School – 25 Balgownie Rd, Fairy Meadow
● G4 Guitar School Wollongong – 52-56 Princes Hwy, Fairy Meadow
● SINGsational – Norman Street, Fairy Meadow
● Rhythmic Moves School of Dance & Performing Arts – 43 Daisy St, Fairy Meadow
● Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts – Lysaght St, Fairy Meadow

Service Providers

Fairy Meadow has attracted a lot of professional, service-based businesses to help locals. If you’re looking to move, there are self-storage services, while if you’re moving in, there is insurance options and Australia Post.

When it comes to your car, there’s in-car installation or towing services (let’s hope you don’t need those though).

If you are moving into aged care or have a loved one you’re moving into aged care, there are services to help you with the transition.

Joanne has helped many families transition loved ones into aged care and out of long-standing family homes. If you would like to know what houses are for sale in Fairy Meadow, or if you are considering options to sell your home in Fairy Meadow, call Joanne on 0426 264 771 for assistance.

Considering how you can Right Size your Home and perhaps move into Aged Care? Register for this short course and learn how to best right size your home when moving into aged care. 

If you have any family or friends that might benefit from real estate guidance, please feel free to pass on my details or share this link. I’d love to be able to help.