Unlike ever-popular Manly and its neighbour, the newly trendy Freshwater, the suburb of North Curl Curl remained resolutely under the radar during the recent Sydney property boom.

But for those in the know – particularly those who value open space and ocean views – this Northern Beaches enclave has long been a dream spot. And, as its housing stock has become more tightly held, prices have quietly soared.

The median house price in North Curl Curl – or North Curly, as it’s known – has shot up 103 per cent in the past five years, according to Domain Group data. In the past six months alone, the median rose 9 per cent – well ahead of the Sydney average of 4.1 per cent.

The median house price in North Curl Curl has climbed 103 per cent in the past five years to $2.5 million.

And the suburb is attracting a new type of resident. When the area was first developed in the mid-20th century, it was home mainly to battlers. 

Today, celebrities such as cricketer Mitchell Starc and TV personality Matthew White rub shoulders with top business people along the cafe strip in nearby Dee Why.

Former Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins and surfing icon Layne Beachley both previously lived in the suburb. The median house price now sits at $2.5 million.

Jennifer Hawkins and Jake Wall sold their North Curl Curl home in 2016.

The lures are numerous. North Curly sits on the headland that separates Dee Why from the more affordable suburb of Curl Curl (which is known simply as Curly). This elevated position gives many of the North Curly properties stunning views.

“On average, North Curly has bigger blocks than Curly, and a majority of those have ocean views,” says local agent James Smyth, who is affectionately called “Mr Curl Curl” by locals.

Newcomers to the suburb are “buying into an outdoor lifestyle”, says Mr Curl Curl. 

Mitchell Starc is one of the many celebrities who call the Northern Beaches home. Photo: Rick Rycroft

“The reserves in North Curly are a very big part of that,” he adds. “There is AFL played, there is soccer, and the biggest netball association known to man is there.” 

Beaches on either side of the headland are easily accessible on foot. A headland nature walk leads down to the Dee Why ocean pools, and Curl Curl Lagoon, which separates Curly from North Curly, is a serene spot with a popular jogging path. 

Belle Property Seaforth agent Matt Brady says convenience is also a big draw. “I’ve got a lot of friends who live in North Curly, they love being able to walk over the hill and within 10 minutes be sitting at a cafe in Dee Why,” he says.

Face of Myer, Jennifer Hawkins, is a famous former North Curl Curl resident. Photo: Lucas Dawson

“Nobody really wants to get in the car these days. North Curly can offer that.”

Brady says the seclusion is a bonus, particularly for those who may be coming from the showy Eastern Suburbs. “North Curly is very much a hidden gem,” he says.

Jen Douneen, a director at an advertising agency in the CBD, moved to Curl Curl 16 years ago with her then-husband, and hopped across the lagoon to North Curly six years later. (She has since traded her first North Curly property for another.)

The mother of three, who previously lived in London and on the North Shore, says the suburb is conducive to raising children. 

“It’s a safe environment,” she says. “It’s reassuring to know there are lots of other parents around.”

Douneen commutes to the city three days per week. “I usually drive,” she says, “and whilst that can sometimes take in excess of an hour, I actually enjoy the time because I usually use it to make calls to clients and organise my day.”

She adds: “Sometimes I’ll hop on the bus down to Manly and catch the ferry to the city, as do a lot of people who live here. That is absolute magic. You always stop to pinch yourself even though you’ve done it a hundred times.”
 
After a life spent moving from place to place, Douneen says she now feels rooted in the area.

“When I separated from my husband, I made a choice to keep my kids in Curl Curl, because it’s just such a beautiful area,” she says. 

“It’s the perfect place for kids to grow up.”