THE Stickleys know Noble Park like the proverbial back of their hand.
The name has been synonymous with the region since the 1970s when Peter Stickley opened his eponymous real estate agency in Dandenong. Today son Tim Stickley is carrying on the family tradition as the director of Barry Plant Noble Park.
Stickley Real Estate opened in Noble Park in 1996 on the corner of Chandler and Heatherton Roads in a building once occupied by the locally famous Variety Corner milk bar.
The Stickleys joined the Barry Plant group in 2000.
Tim remembers the 1990s when Noble Park was full of “beautifully maintained homes on good sized blocks”.
“They were really proudly maintained by typical Aussies with big backyards.”
In the 25 years since many of those family homes have been sold and developed.
Tim describes Noble Park as an aging suburb.
“At lot of people who are selling now have lived here for 40 to 60 years. Families have grown up and the grandparents have stayed.
“This has been a multi-cultural area, with waves of migration bringing different groups who have rented then purchased and owned.”
Tim said Noble Park was increasing in price and popularity.
“It is now becoming a sought-after suburb because of its proximity to services and the value on offer.
“We are seeing a lot of people move back to Noble Park. There is quality housing here and a lot of investment in the area.”
– NARELLE COULTER