Located 10 km south of the CBD, Maroubra is well serviced by schools and transport, with a campus of the University of New South Wales located nearby.

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One beach south along the coast from Coogee, Maroubra is quieter and less densely populated than its neighbour Bondi. Its beachfront promenade sports only a few cafes, rather than a hectic waterfront strip, and its laidback, down-to-earth atmosphere is favoured by families.

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While the beachfront is not nearly as developed as other Eastern Suburbs beaches, its white sands and renowned surf breaks prove attraction enough. Its main shopping hub, Maroubra Junction, is located along with main artery of Anzac Parade, which contains a large shopping complex with all amenities, eclectic eateries and a host of sporting clubs and facilities, highlighting the active nature of its residents.

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Highlighting its rapid development in the 1920s, classic California bungalows and solid brick homes are the most common in the area. The ‘60s and ‘70s saw the construction of numerous apartments, with many exclusive residences springing up, reflecting the area’s increasing stature.

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Just 2km east of the CBD, this picturesque, diminutive harbourside enclave is one of Sydney’s most charming, with its elegant architecture reflecting its early heritage. Many Elizabeth Bay properties enjoy spectacular harbour views either back to the city or north across Rushcutters Bay.

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Built between 1835 and 1839, landmark Elizabeth Bay House was designed by the most fashionable and accomplished architect of the day, John Verge, for the Colonial Secretary, Alexander Macleay. Set proudly above Arthur McElhone Reserve overlooking the harbour, it now provides an elegant setting for functions and exhibitions.

While Elizabeth Bay itself has only a local corner store and a couple of funky cafes, it’s surrounded by the dining and entertainment meccas of Kings Cross and Potts Point.

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As a particularly high-density area, Elizabeth Bay is home primarily to gracious apartments built between the 1920s and ‘40s. Freestanding homes are rare, but the several that are found here are some prize pieces of real estate, including Billyard Avenue’s waterfront Spanish mission residence, ‘Boomerang’, which once set the record for Australia’s highest property price and notably featured in Mission Impossible 2.

During the height of Sydney’s urban development prior to the Olympics, a number of local hotels such as The Sebel, The Manhattan and The Gazebo were all redeveloped as luxury apartments to cope with soaring demand for inner city property.

Dover Heights is located just one suburb north of North Bondi just 8km from the CBD, and is characterised by the dramatic oceanfront clifftops which create its eastern border.

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Dover Heights is peaceful, essentially residential and family oriented with wide streets, an abundance of parks and oceanfront reserve. There are a variety of local village shops, however for more choice, residents generally head to the shopping hubs of Bondi or Rose Bay for culinary delights and supermarkets.

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The elevated position of Dover Heights means that many of its properties enjoy views back to the harbour and city skyline, and often as far as the North Shore and Blue Mountains. Architecturally, its original homes are generally freestanding Californian bungalows, along with some prime examples of classic P&O design.

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Increasingly however, in an effort to make the most of the views, substantial contemporary homes are dominating the landscape, especially along the Military Road strip.

It is not often one gets the chance to make a fresh start and think about how best to cater for the widest range of users but that was the case when Woollahra Council agreed to renovate the Holdsworth Playground.

The Holdsworth Community Playground, first opened in 1940, has been extensively rebuilt with exciting new equipment and with synthetic grass replacing the rubber softfall and new trees and garden beds. The new playground is a treasure trove of adventure for young children and families with brand new equipment including a pirate ship, nest swing and a large sandpit. The design also incorporates special sensory equipment to ensure the space is welcoming to children living with disabilities and sensory issues.

Staff, parents and children are thrilled with the results of the new playground and many more families from around the area are enjoying the space which is welcoming to children living with disabilities. This is something Holdsworth has been wanting to do for some time given the extent of our work with children and the importance of accessible play opportunities. Children can swing, jump, squeeze, sniff, feel and listen as well as having spaces for quiet times.

The playground was re-dedicated to the community on Friday 19 August with the Prime Minister and Member for Wentworth, The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull, the Mayor of Woollahra, Councillor Toni Zeltzer and Alex Greenwich, Member for Sydney, in attendance. To celebrate the dedication, Holdsworth Family Services hosted a special pirate party for local families and an amazing cake to match.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who contributed funding to the project through the Stronger Communities Programme, recalled having been at Holdsworth with his children and grandson. His daughter Daisy, her husband James and their son Pirate Jack were there to join in the fun.

Woollahra Council provided the bulk of the funding for the upgrade with additional money from Alex Greenwich, Member for Sydney, through the Community Building Partnership program, and from local families. Georgia Cleary made a generous donation of the Nest Swing.

Holdsworth Community Playgroup has resumed in the new playground every Monday to Friday morning during school term, with record numbers attending each day so far.

For more information on the Holdsworth Community, see their website.