St Huberts Island is one of the Central Coast’s most distinctive residential pockets. A canal-lined estate of 564 properties connected to the mainland by a single bridge at Daleys Point, it offers a waterfront lifestyle about 80 minutes from Sydney.
If you are weighing up where to buy, two streets tend to come up: Discovery Street and Salacia Close. One is a quieter, pool-centric street at a more accessible price. The other is a tightly held waterfront cul-de-sac where every home has direct canal access. The choice is about which trade-off lines up with what you want.
The Island They Both Call Home
Both streets share the same island, bridge, and daily rhythms. Developed by Hooker-Rex in the early 1970s, St Huberts Island has roughly 1,080 residents, a median age of 58, and 87.3% owner-occupied dwellings.
Neither street has a shop, cafe, or school. Neither has a public transport stop within 1,500 metres. Some 91.3% of residents drive to work. Ettalong Beach village is a five-minute drive, Woy Woy railway station about the same. The 35-minute Ettalong-to-Palm Beach ferry, Brisbane Water National Park, and the island’s kayaking and paddle-boarding culture are equally accessible to both.
What Each Street Costs and Why
Discovery Street trades at a median of $1,437,000, below the suburb median of $1,925,000. 16 Discovery Street (five bedrooms, pool, 696 m²) sold for $1,780,000 in early 2026, up from $810,000 in mid-2020.
Salacia Close sales cluster between $1,950,000 and $2,200,000 and above. 14 Salacia Close (full-width waterfront, jetty, pontoon) sold for $2,147,000. 24 Salacia Close (jetty and pool) fetched $2,200,000. 15 Salacia Close (shared jetty, slipway) sold for $1,950,000. The OnTheHouse estimate sits near $2.75 million.
The gap is roughly $400,000 to $880,000. For context, Cuttlefish Parade medians $2,753,000, Helmsman Boulevard $2,622,000, and Heron Place $2,221,000. Recent island-wide sales map out the tiers clearly: 10 Sirius Street (four bedrooms, pool, outdoor kitchen) sold for $1,675,400; 15 Sirius Street fetched approximately $1,350,000. At the premium end, 13 Mercator Parade sold for $3,400,000 and 9 Mercator Parade for $3,200,000. Discovery Street sits in the island’s entry-to-mid tier, Salacia Close in the upper-mid tier, and streets like Mercator Parade and Helmsman Boulevard command the premium end.
Supply tells the other half: Salacia Close turns over once every 15.3 years, with zero properties for sale as of August 2026. Discovery Street, with 19 houses, has seen multiple transactions between 2022 and 2026.
Waterfront Living Versus Water Proximity
Every Salacia Close property has absolute canal frontage with deep-water access and a private or shared jetty, pontoon, or slipway. Number 14 offers a jetty, pontoon, and slipway with electric winch. Number 18 has a private jetty and sandy beachfront. The water is not a view. It is infrastructure you use.
Discovery Street is water-proximate, not waterfront. No home has direct canal frontage. The nearest boat ramp is a “short stroll” from number 12. What it substitutes is the private resort: sparkling pools, pool houses, built-in BBQ kitchens, fire pits, and self-contained garden studios. The lifestyle happens in the backyard rather than on the canal. Both are legitimate. They just cost very different amounts.
How Each Street Looks and Feels
Discovery Street has 19 houses on the island’s eastern side, near Long Arm Parade and Barracouta Avenue, predominantly single-level with resort-style renovations. Listing copy is consistent: “quiet street,” “peaceful street,” “family-friendly.” Landscaped gardens and pools form private oases.
Salacia Close has 30 properties on a waterfront cul-de-sac with no through traffic. Lot sizes cluster around 651 to 666 m². Every home faces the canal. Architecturally, the street is in transition: original 1970s canal-estate homes like 15 Salacia Close sit alongside brand-new architect-designed builds like 18 Salacia Close. The cul-de-sac layout gives it an exclusive, enclave-like feel. Both streets are 85% owner-occupied.
Schools, Commuting, and the Daily Routine
Both share the same government catchments: Empire Bay Public School and Brisbane Water Secondary College Umina Campus. Private options are all within an 11 to 12 minute drive.
One practical difference: Empire Bay Public School is a 15-minute walk from Salacia Close but a 6-minute drive from Discovery Street. Otherwise, the routine is identical. No schools, shops, or cafes exist on the island. Every errand means crossing the bridge. Both streets depend on the car.
Capital Growth, Rental Returns, and Buying Opportunities
16 Discovery Street went from $237,000 in 1998 to $1,780,000 in 2026, with the 2020 to 2026 leg alone delivering approximately 120% growth. The suburb overall has recorded compound growth of 6.8% per year over four years and a five-year median value increase of 19.72%.
Salacia Close’s investment profile is anchored by scarcity. With turnover every 15.3 years, the value proposition is unavailability. When a property does list, competition concentrates.
On the rental side, Salacia Close commands a median rent of $1,733 per week, the highest on the island. 18 Salacia Close was listed at $2,100 per week. Discovery Street has no street-level rental data, but the suburb median sits at $861 to $875 per week. The suburb-wide vacancy rate is 0.74% and median yield is 1.89%. At the suburb level, the average days on market is 121 and there were just 11 properties listed island-wide in the previous month. Both streets operate in a rental market where supply is limited.
Choosing Your Street
Discovery Street buys you into St Huberts Island at a lower price, with a resort-style home, a pool, and more buying opportunities. Salacia Close buys you absolute waterfront, private boating infrastructure, and a tightly held cul-de-sac. The gap is $400,000 to $880,000, and what that money buys is direct canal access. Whether the premium is worth it depends on whether you own a boat or plan to. If the island address, a pool, and a quieter street are enough, the $400,000 to $880,000 saving is a substantial figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Discovery Street St Huberts Island’s property price range?
Sales cluster between $1,322,000 and $1,780,000, with a street median of $1,437,000, below the suburb median of $1,925,000. 16 Discovery Street (five bedrooms, pool) sold for $1,780,000 in 2026. 12 Discovery Street sold for $1,400,000.
Is Discovery Street St Huberts Island a waterfront street?
No. Discovery Street is water-proximate, not waterfront. No home has direct canal frontage or a private jetty. The nearest boat ramp is a “short stroll” away. The appeal centres on resort-style pools, alfresco entertaining, and landscaped gardens.
What type of buyer suits Discovery Street St Huberts Island?
Buyers who want island living at a more accessible price point. Families looking for a resort-style home with a pool, buyers who value the island lifestyle but do not need a private jetty or canal frontage. Homes with self-contained studios, office pods, and drive-through garages appeal to practical, lifestyle-focused households.
What is Discovery Street St Huberts Island’s long term capital growth like?
16 Discovery Street went from $237,000 in 1998 to $1,780,000 in 2026, with the 2020 to 2026 leg delivering approximately 120% growth. The suburb has recorded compound growth of 6.8% per year over four years and a five-year median value increase of 19.72%.
How often do properties come up for sale on Discovery Street St Huberts Island?
With 19 houses, Discovery Street records more frequent turnover than the island’s waterfront streets. Multiple transactions occurred between 2022 and 2026, including numbers 10, 11, 12, and 16, creating regular buying opportunities.
What are Discovery Street St Huberts Island’s standout lifestyle features?
Resort-style pools and alfresco entertaining define the street. 16 Discovery Street combines a pool house, separate office pod, soundproof studio, built-in BBQ kitchen, and fire pit. 11 Discovery Street features a self-contained garden studio and a drive-through garage with room for a boat or caravan.
What is Salacia Close St Huberts Island’s property price range?
Sales cluster between $1,950,000 and $2,200,000 and above. 14 Salacia Close sold for $2,147,000, 15 Salacia Close for $1,950,000, and 24 Salacia Close for $2,200,000. The OnTheHouse estimate sits around $2.75 million.
Does every home on Salacia Close St Huberts Island have a private jetty?
Every property has absolute canal frontage with deep-water access. Most homes have a private jetty, pontoon, or slipway. Some use a shared jetty with a private slipway, like 15 Salacia Close. 14 Salacia Close includes a jetty with pontoon and electric-winch slipway. Every backyard opens onto the canal.
How tightly held is Salacia Close St Huberts Island?
Salacia Close is the most tightly held street on the island with turnover every 15.3 years. With only 30 properties and deep-water frontage on every one, supply is tightly constrained. As of August 2026, there were zero properties for sale.
What is Salacia Close St Huberts Island’s rental return?
The street has the highest median rent on the island at $1,733 per week. 18 Salacia Close, a five-bedroom architect-designed waterfront home, was listed at $2,100 per week. The suburb median rent is $861 to $875 per week.
What type of buyer does Salacia Close St Huberts Island attract?
Buyers for whom direct water access is non-negotiable. Boat owners who want deep-water access to Brisbane Water from their backyard. The street also appeals to renovators targeting the “older-style” 15 Salacia Close and buyers who want a brand-new architect-designed home.
What are Salacia Close St Huberts Island’s standout lifestyle advantages?
Absolute canal frontage on every property: deep-water access, private jetties, pontoons, slipways, and sandy beachfronts. 14 Salacia Close offers full-width waterfront with a sunroom and full-wall canal views. 18 Salacia Close pairs a new architect-designed home with a private jetty and sandy beachfront. The cul-de-sac layout means no through traffic, and the “surrounded by quality homes” character reinforces its prestige.