My Suburb: Mt Pleasant

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday November 15, 2008

Located at the base of Mt Keira, Mt Pleasant is a small suburb set in bushland.

Its development began during a boom period in the late 1880s when half-acre blocks were offered for sale for #30 (around $60).

The blocks were advertised as having splendid soil for vegetable gardens and orchards.

Mt Pleasant was named by early landowner John Dingwall after another estate he owned.

But the half-acre sale had attracted a large number of young families and it wasn't long before the suburb became known as"Babytown".

With the opening in 1861 of the Mt Pleasant Colliery, miners and their families moved to the village to be closer to their livelihood.

Today Mt Pleasant is one of Wollongong's most attractive residential areas.

Over the past year the sales volume at Mt Pleasant have been stable, but the median sale price this year has increased dramatically, to result in three years of positive gains.

Record residential sale: $2.2 million (2007)

House median price: $572,000 (12 per cent growth*) * 12 months to August 2008

'We built here in 1972. When we came here we could see from Thirroul to North Wollongong. The area has lots of wonderful trees and birdlife. The blocks are old Wollongong blocks so there is a lot of room. It is just a drive down the hill to Wollongong and all its facilities. Mt Pleasant is the best kept secret in the Illawarra - so don't tell anyone.'

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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