For more than 60 years, the Millar family has called Valentine home.
It was in the early 1960s when Bill and Cathie Millar, now in their 90s, migrated from Helensburgh in Scotland and settled on the shores of Lake Macquarie.
After a friend introduced them to Valentine, the couple bought a block of land on Andrew Road for £900, marking the beginning of a 65-year chapter in the tight-knit lakeside suburb which now holds a $1.43 million median house value.
"We bought the land, which took two years to pay off, in 1961 and then we built in 1963," Cathie said.
"We migrated from Scotland, and liked being near the water. A friend took us to Valentine, and that was it - we loved the view and it was very pleasant.
"It was just a small village at the time. Ours was only the sixth house built in the new estate area - it's beyond recognition now."
Living on-site in a caravan while the house was being built, the Millars raised three children there - twin sons followed by their daughter, Jan.
The pull of the suburb proved so strong that Jan eventually bought and owned the house directly next door during the 1990s with her late husband, Trevor, and raised their son, Nate.
Jan has since sold her home and is living at the property where she grew up after her parents downsized.
Now, after more than six decades, Cathie and Bill have put the home on the market.
The Millars are not the only ones who have stuck around in Valentine for a long time.
According to Cotality data supplied exclusively to The Newcastle Herald, Valentine is among Newcastle and Lake Macquarie's most tightly-held suburbs.
Home owners in the suburb hang onto their properties for a median of 15.1 years, placing Valentine 10th on a list of the top 30 suburbs for median hold periods (based on houses sold in the 12 months to June).
On the outskirts of Newcastle, Minmi has the highest hold period at 31.2 years followed by Lakelands (25.8 years), Windemere Park (21.4 years), Blacksmiths (21.2 years), and Pelican (17.4 years).
Other suburbs in the top 10 include Balcolyn (16.8 years), Elermore Vale (15.8 years), and Warabrook (15.7 years).
According to Cotality research director Tim Lawless, suburbs with a longer hold period tend to be well-established suburbs with a predominance of family households.
"I think lifestyle factors play an important role here," Mr Lawless said.
"People are less likely to move when their home aligns closely with their lifestyle preferences.
"Conversely, areas with little in the way of livability or amenity are likely to have shorter tenure periods as home owners seek to upgrade or relocate within a shorter space of time."
Mr Lawless said that most of the areas with longer holding periods show a median house value that is below that of the broader Newcastle and Lake Macquarie region ($1,378,917 as of June 2026).
"Only three of the top 10 suburbs for the longest hold period had a median house value above this level," he said.
"Inherently, areas with a predominance of new homes will have shorter hold periods simply due to the recency of construction.
"Similarly, very expensive markets will often take some time for owners to accrue the wealth to afford them, often via previous home ownership supporting their wealth accrual."
For the Millar family, the appeal of Valentine was simple: days on the lake riding surf skis, sailing, and taking in the water views from their front verandah.
Beyond the location, it was the community spirit that kept them anchored for decades.
Bill and Cathie themselves were heavily involved in the local netball and soccer clubs.
"Ever since the children were born, we got involved in all the sports and all the activities, and met like-minded people," Cathie said.
"We met beautiful people who became lifelong friends."
Growing up in Valentine left a lasting impression on Jan, who said that despite decades of growth, the suburb has retained its village feel.
"They still have Santa Claus come every Christmas and the whole community is down there, it still has the shopping village, which is great because not many suburbs still have that," Jan said.
"You can walk to the bowling club and if you go to the shops, you know everybody. It's still a busy little village."
Listing agent Kathleen Matinlassi, of Kathleen Matinlassi and Co, is handling the sale on behalf of the Millars.
Having raised her own family in Valentine over 13 years, she understands first hand why buyers stay for the long haul.
"Valentine has residents that have been there for up to 80 years," she said.
"Even though young families and new families have come in, it's a beautiful mix and it has a real sense of community."
Closer to the city, Merewether Heights also ranked among the top 10 suburbs where homes are tightly held, boasting a 15.4-year median hold period.
A resident of 16 years, home owner Donna has watched neighbours sell in the suburb - only to move just a few streets away.
She said many of her neighbours, who range from Newcastle Knights players and medical specialists to long-term elderly residents, have held their homes for decades.
Now, she has listed her house on Rembrandt Drive with Robinson Property's Mike Flook after purchasing it in 2010.
Donna was drawn to the suburb's central position close to major shopping centres, beaches, and the Fernleigh Track.
The location of the property, comprising a five-bedroom home and a pool, provided the perfect environment to raise a family within a community-minded setting.
"It has so much easy access and it's a family-oriented area," Donna said.
"Merewether Heights Public School has always had a really good reputation and many people that live in the area still buy back into it after they sell whether they are downsizing or upsizing.
"We know people who have sold in Merewether Heights and bought another house three streets away."
