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From RM Williams stores to European car-lined streets and even stone-walled enclosures, Australians share the signature traits they believe make suburban “chic.”
An Australian Reddit user asked the question ‘what are the indicators of an upscale Sydney neighborhood’ and got hundreds of answers from people from all over the country.
Some said looking at the shops nearby is a good sign of how thriving it is, citing RM Williams, Chargrill Charlie’s, independent “off-white” boutiques for women’s clothing and homewares, and gourmet bakeries as “posh.”
Australians share the telltale signs of a wealthy suburb in a hilarious Reddit thread online, including gourmet bakeries, RM Williams stores and European SUVs with ski racks
More suggestions included unique dog breeds, expensive cars with L or P plates, fig or jacaranda trees, and heritage houses
Others pointed out that noticing what a suburb is missing will tell you about residents’ incomes, such as no discarded shopping carts on the streets, discount supermarkets, fast food restaurants, public transportation and graffiti.
Other suggestions included a plethora of European SUVs with ski racks, electric vehicle charging stations, unique dog breeds, expensive cars with L or P plates, fig or jacaranda trees, and landmark homes.
“I’ll start with: Chargrill Charlie’s, Bourke Street Bakery or something similar, European SUVs with ski racks, RM Williams shop,” the poster wrote.
“Good harvest on the congregation’s collection day,” one person added, encouraging people to share what they found on the streets of affluent suburbs.
Some said looking at the shops nearby is a good sign of how rich it is, such as RM Williams, Chargrill Charlie’s, independent ‘off-white’ women’s clothing and homeware boutiques
Others pointed out that a suburb lacks its wealth, such as no discarded shopping carts on the street, cheap supermarkets, public transport and graffiti.
“I found a perfectly working Wii console before moving to the United States five years ago. Never change Woollahra,’ someone replied.
‘Lack of fast food like Macca’s and Hungry Jack’s. Lack of Aldis,” said another, and a second agreed, “Lack of fast food is a legitimate indicator.”
‘Porsche Cayennes and Teslas of any kind, especially with P or L plates. A woman reacted in response to the Teslas, street charging points for EVs.
She added that the chic suburbs also have small shops for women’s clothing and homewares with “predominant shades” of “off-white, oatmeal and biscuits” and lots of linen clothing.
The submissions kept coming with other suggestions, including charging stations for electronic vehicles, children in school uniforms with straw hats, trimmed hedges and manicured gardens
‘People who wear sports and gym clothes from the brand. Unique dog breeds that are not Staffys. European SUVs and hatchbacks. Houses built before the 1980s,” said one person.
A Redditor pointed out that poor suburbs have “wire or that cheap metal fencing,” middle-class places have no fencing, while wealthy areas have stone walls.
A second laughed and said they saw a piano shop next to a chandelier shop in the chic Sydney suburb of Paddington.
One commenter stated: ‘Close to the water, lack of public transport, lack of shops/pubs. For example, Point Piper.’
The submissions kept coming up with other suggestions, including children in school uniforms with straw hats, streets lined with Moreton Bay figs and jacaranda trees, trimmed hedges and manicured gardens, and proximity to water.
‘People who wear sports and gym clothes from the brand. Unique dog breeds that are not Staffys. European SUVs and hatchbacks. Houses built before the 80s. Lack of graffiti. Chic cafes. Lack of big stores and super centers,” another contributed.