An Aberglasslyn resident of 20 years, Stuart Duff knows the burgeoning area better than most.
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Ten years ago the suburb was home to mainly acreage estates, paddocks and fewer than 600 people.
The population shot to 5400 just five years later and new families are still moving in virtually every week.
"There was nothing where McKeachie's [Run] is now when we built out here - that was a paddock and Denton Park Drive was still half dirt," Mr Duff said.
"It's definitely grown - we've got Woolworths, chemist, a shopping centre down the road with a little takeaway.
"Lots of people have been coming into the area and it's not stopping growing, there's houses going up left, right and centre.
"It's a good little spot. It's too expensive to buy in Newcastle so they're moving out this way more, especially young people, to be able to afford houses."
Mr Duff and wife Cath have raised their three children on a two-acre block in Hampton Court, where he has been operating Dusty Miner Brewing since 2015.
He loves the area's countryside feel.
"I enjoy it here, I like open spaces," he said.
"I come from Mudgee, where we had 120 acres.
"When I first met my wife we were in a 550 square metre block, then we moved out here. It's nice and relaxing and the dogs and chooks can run around."
MARKET OVERVIEW
Aberglasslyn has become a hub for young families, with nearly 20 per cent of the population aged nine or younger.
Another 20 per cent are aged 60-plus.
Its median house price broke $550,000 for the first time in August, and PRD Hunter Valley's Ryan Clarke said prices have only increased from there.
"Probably the last year it's had a quite a big spike," he said.
"You could've got four-bed, two-bath, double garage homes around $550,000 to $600,000 ... they've probably jumped up $100,000 in the last nine months.
"But as a suburb it's still very affordable if you look at the growth in surrounding areas like East Maitland, Ashtonfield and Thornton."
Situated midway between Newcastle and major industries inland, Aberglasslyn presents an ideal launching pad for those in the mining sector.
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"It's pretty much 40 minutes to Newcastle and 45 minutes to an hour to go on site for the people working underground," Mr Clarke said.
"It's a good compromise where both partners aren't travelling too far.
"Suburbia is right on the doorstep there with Maitland or the shopping centre at Green Hills, but you've still got luscious land and open fields surrounding it."
The mix of bigger, established properties and newer developments means the suburb has something to offer buyers at many different price points.
"It's a nice suburb where you can have your million-dollar-plus house or you can buy your $500,000 or $600,000 house," Belle Property Hunter Valley's Daniel Wojko said.
"A lot of people from Sydney are coming down here, a lot more investors are looking to invest in the area, there's a lot of demand there.
"It ticks boxes for a lot of different demographics ... it has good appeal."
FUN FACTS
- Most locals pronounce Aberglasslyn with a silent L (Aberglassyn).
- Many places are named after the McKeachie family, who owned the heritage-listed Aberglasslyn House in the early to mid 1900s.
FOR SALE
Mr Clarke is marketing a five-bedroom home on 11 acres at 60 Redgum Circuit.
Expectations are believed to be about $1.5 million for the 2018-built residence.
"It's what the area is about," Mr Clarke said.
"You've got city living and country lifestyle - that's the best way to describe the area."
A three-bedroom villa at 1/2 Peppercorn Close is being marketed by LJ Hooker Maitland with a guide of $550,000 to $570,000.
A price guide of $850,000 to $880,000 has been set for a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home with a pool at 4 Correa Close.
Ray White Maitland has listed the 888 square metre property.