Helmsman Boulevard and Long Arm Parade share the same canal-lined island at St Huberts Island, NSW, yet they deliver two quite different versions of waterfront living. One is a broad, premium boulevard of deep-water and north-facing homes. The other is a small, park-edged street of generous allotments that rarely changes hands. This guide compares the two on character, lifestyle, value, amenities, schools and transport, then answers the questions buyers search most.
Street Scale and Character
Helmsman Boulevard holds 129 properties, 126 of them houses, with five on the market at the time the data was retrieved. Its tenure splits 90% owner-occupier and 10% rented. It reads as the island’s showcase boulevard: deep-water and north-facing waterfront homes with boat ramps, pontoons and jetties, on lots from about 483 to 1,140 square metres and two to five bedrooms.
Long Arm Parade is a much smaller pocket. The street holds just 26 houses, with a 95% owner-occupier split that anchors its quieter, more settled feel. Listings point to generous waterfront allotments, outside waterfront positions and a wider housing mix. 14 Long Arm Parade is one example, with 965 square metres and 68 metres of direct water frontage, while 21 Long Arm Parade sits on 892 square metres.
Waterfront Lifestyle
The island itself sets the baseline. Residents kayak, stand-up paddle board and fish within the canal, with walks and bike rides around the island and plenty of wildlife. It is a relaxed pace of life.
From there, the two streets lean in different directions. Helmsman Boulevard homes are marketed around boating, from private boat ramps, pontoons and shared jetties to full-width canal frontage with slipways, often with uninterrupted open water views. Long Arm Parade is more about calm, low-key waterfront living. Its outside waterfront positions open onto wide, calming water views with a strong sense of privacy, and several homes carry their own water access. 14 Long Arm Parade pairs 68 metres of direct water frontage with a sandy beach and a private jetty. Both streets reach Ettalong, Umina and Woy Woy for cafes, restaurants and markets in about five minutes’ drive.
Property Market and Value
The suburb underpins both streets. A four-bedroom house on St Huberts Island carries a median of $1.95 million, with a spread from a $1.39 million entry point to a $3 million premium and 6.8% yearly compound growth over four years.
Helmsman Boulevard has a clearer street-level picture. Its median sale value sits at $2,529,000, with median rent of $1,060 a week. Recorded results show the street’s wide band, from a $920,000 four-bedroom at 35 Helmsman Boulevard and a $1,400,000 four-bedroom at 77 Helmsman Boulevard, through a $1,900,000 home at 28 Helmsman Boulevard and a $2,800,000 four-bedroom at 32 Helmsman Boulevard, up to a $3,600,000 five-bedroom at 18 Helmsman Boulevard.
Long Arm Parade tells a different story. There is no single recorded street median, which itself reflects how tightly held the street is. Value rests on individual sales and estimates: 21 Long Arm Parade sold for $6,000,000 in October 2024, with an earlier sale of $2,010,000 at 11 Long Arm Parade in August 2020, a suburb-wide four-bedroom median of $2,000,000 drawn from seven comparable sales over the past 12 months, and estimates from about $2,594,000 to $2,800,000 to $3,000,000.
Amenities and Everyday Convenience
Long Arm Parade’s in-street amenity is its clearest point of difference. Long Arm Parade Reserve (Avina Park) is a Council-listed off-leash dog area, and it is the venue for the community’s annual St Huberts Day barbecue, which the residents association says draws up to about 200 locals.
Helmsman Boulevard has its own green pockets. St Huberts Island Bridge Reserve sits on the street with uncovered seating, while Helmsman Boulevard Reserve is a basic local reserve. Both streets share the wider island set, from Mangrove Park and the named waterfront coves such as Crescent Cove, Marina Cove, Nannygai Inlet, Sandy Cove, Sandy Inlet and Shelter Cove, to nearby Ettalong Markets, the Ettalong Diggers Club, Umina Beach and Brisbane Water National Park. Island-wide improvements add shared appeal: the residents association has created entry statement walls and an avenue of palms, and an underground-power and utilities upgrade has been underway on the island (noted in the association’s newsletter).
Schools and Transport
Schooling is mostly shared. Both streets fall into the same catchments: Empire Bay Public School, which records an ICSEA of 1,039 with 426 students, for primary, and Brisbane Water Secondary College Umina Campus, which records an ICSEA of 966 with 787 students, for secondary. The one street-level difference is the walk to primary school, about 13 minutes from Long Arm Parade versus about 16 minutes from Helmsman Boulevard. No schools sit on the island itself, with Coast Christian School the nearest private option at about an 11-minute drive.
Transport is island-wide rather than street-specific. A single road causeway links the island to the mainland at Daleys Point, Woy Woy railway station is about 10 minutes away by car, and the Ettalong Wharf ferry reaches Palm Beach in about 35 minutes. Sydney is roughly an hour and 20 minutes by car.
Conclusion
The choice between Helmsman Boulevard and Long Arm Parade comes down to scale and feel. Helmsman Boulevard suits buyers after a broad, premium waterfront boulevard with a wide price range and boating-ready homes. Long Arm Parade suits buyers who want a smaller, park-edged, tightly held street with generous allotments, a sandy beach and a strong community thread. Both share the same schools, transport and island lifestyle, so the deciding factor is which version of waterfront living fits best.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Helmsman Boulevard in St Huberts Island known for?
Helmsman Boulevard is one of St Huberts Island’s broader premium waterfront boulevards. It holds 129 properties, 126 of them houses, with a 90% owner-occupier split. Listings lean on deep-water and north-facing positions, with boat ramps, pontoons, jetties and slipways a recurring feature.
How much do houses on Helmsman Boulevard St Huberts Island sell for?
Prices span a wide band. The street-level median sale value is $2,529,000, with median rent of $1,060 a week. Recorded results run from a $920,000 four-bedroom at 35 Helmsman Boulevard and a $1,400,000 four-bedroom at 77 Helmsman Boulevard, through a $1,900,000 home at 28 Helmsman Boulevard and a $2,800,000 four-bedroom at 32 Helmsman Boulevard, up to a $3,600,000 five-bedroom at 18 Helmsman Boulevard.
Is Helmsman Boulevard a good street to buy in St Huberts Island?
It suits buyers who want direct water access and a broad choice of price points. Its 90% owner-occupier share points to a street where people stay, and listings repeatedly highlight north-facing waterfront, private jetties and slipways. With recorded sales from a $920,000 entry point up to $3,600,000, the range suits a variety of budgets.
What schools are near Helmsman Boulevard St Huberts Island?
Helmsman Boulevard sits in the Empire Bay Public School primary catchment, a 16-minute walk away. The school records an ICSEA of 1,039 with 426 students. For secondary, Brisbane Water Secondary College Umina Campus is an 11-minute drive and records an ICSEA of 966 with 787 students. Coast Christian School in Bensville is the nearest private option at a similar drive.
What is it like living on Helmsman Boulevard St Huberts Island?
Living on Helmsman Boulevard means canal-front days spent kayaking, paddle boarding and fishing, with boating-ready homes featuring slipways and jetties. St Huberts Island Bridge Reserve sits on the street, and residents share the island’s named coves, including Crescent Cove and Sandy Cove. Ettalong, Umina and Woy Woy are about five minutes away for cafes and restaurants.
How many properties are on Helmsman Boulevard St Huberts Island?
Helmsman Boulevard has 129 properties in total: 126 houses, 2 units and 1 other. The tenure split is 90% owner-occupier and 10% rented, making it the larger and busier of the two streets.
What is Long Arm Parade in St Huberts Island known for?
Long Arm Parade is a tightly held pocket of just 26 houses with a 95% owner-occupier share. Listings highlight generous waterfront allotments, from 21 Long Arm Parade’s 892 square metres to 14 Long Arm Parade’s 68 metres of direct water frontage, sandy beach and private jetty. The street also holds Long Arm Parade Reserve (Avina Park), the off-leash dog area that hosts the annual St Huberts Day barbecue.
How much do houses on Long Arm Parade St Huberts Island sell for?
There is no single recorded street median, which reflects how rarely it trades. Value is anchored by the $6,000,000 sale of 21 Long Arm Parade in October 2024, with an earlier benchmark of a $2,010,000 sale at 11 Long Arm Parade in August 2020. A suburb-wide four-bedroom median of $2,000,000 is drawn from seven comparable sales over the past 12 months, while estimates range from about $2,594,000 at 18 Long Arm Parade to $2,800,000 to $3,000,000 at 28 Long Arm Parade.
Is Long Arm Parade a good street to buy in St Huberts Island?
It suits buyers chasing privacy, space and a settled community. With a 95% owner-occupier share and generous allotments, it offers wide water views, sandy beach and private jetty positions, plus an in-street off-leash dog park. Low turnover means listings appear less often, which keeps the street’s calm, established feel intact.
What schools are near Long Arm Parade St Huberts Island?
Long Arm Parade shares the island’s catchments. Empire Bay Public School is a 13-minute walk away and records an ICSEA of 1,039 with 426 students. Brisbane Water Secondary College Umina Campus is roughly a 12-minute drive and records an ICSEA of 966 with 787 students. Coast Christian School in Bensville is the nearest private option at about an 11-minute drive.
What is it like living on Long Arm Parade St Huberts Island?
Living on Long Arm Parade is quiet and park-edged. Homes offer slipway and sandy beach access at the back door, wide calming water views and a strong sense of privacy. Long Arm Parade Reserve is the street’s gathering point, and the annual St Huberts Day barbecue brings the community together, drawing up to about 200 locals.
How many properties are on Long Arm Parade St Huberts Island?
Long Arm Parade has just 26 houses, with a 95% owner-occupier and 5% rented split. It is a small, settled and tightly held street, which is why listings appear less often than on the island’s larger boulevards.