Mid-20s Live in what Suburb and Graduate School Question

[jdexc2]

I am in my mid-twenties and will be in Melbourne for 4 years. I am wondering the different neighborhoods that will be best to live in.

As of right now, I am going to Monash so I was thinking a suburb on the east. I may be going to University of Melbourne. I haven't heard back from them.

What is the difference between St. Kilda, Richmond, and Fitzroy. Which would you recommend?

How long a commute is it via public transit from St. Kilda to Monash vs UniMelb? The asme for Fitzroy?

Are there cool cafes and things to do during the day/night in all these areas?

Thanks for any help.

[melbournegirlinny]

Hi. As you might be able to tell from my name I'm from Melbourne although I now live in New York City. I did law at Monash Uni. All those areas you mention have hip cafes-in fact it is what they are known for!

Richmond is very close to the city--walking distance to centre of downtown Melbourne-in fact abuts Melbourne. Depending where in Richmond you are it would take 15 mins to walk to the centre of melbourne.

St Kilda is right on the beach but also close to centre of Melbourne-in a car it only takes 7-10 mins to get into the city from St Kilda. Lots of trams from St Kilda into the city and to Uni of Melbourne if you get in there. Richmond will also be good for Uni of Melbourne and Fitzroy is also on the edge of the city and renowned for its hip cafe culture. Also walking distance or a 5 min drive to Melb uni.

With monash and its convenience from St Kilda-it depends which campus you are on. The main and old campus is in Clayton where I attened but in the past several years they merged with other tertiary institutions and so now have a big campus at Caulfield. If you have a car, St Kilda is only say a 15 min drive to Caulfield-a lot of students live in the Caulfield area.

I would not live in Clayton if you go to the Clayton campus (take it from me-I grew up in Clayton too!)...I would get a car and live somewhere hipper like St Kilda and drive to Monash Uni. If you have to drive from St Kilda to the Clayton campus along Dandenong Rd (big main road) it would take 30 mins perhaps.

What course are you going to do? Just curious.

Sandra

[jdexc2]

Actually doing research for a PhD in engineering.

How does Melbourne compare to New York City? Are you trying to get back? Just curious.

Would Monash be not to hard to get to from Fitzroy or Richmond? Is it possible to take public transit to Monash from these places? Or is it a must to have a car?

Where do most people live that go to Monash / Uni Melb?

[melbournegirlinny]

The problem with Monash Uni-the Clayton campus-is that it is not near any train station and no trams run there. So you do need a car. Buses can take you there from some areas perhaps. You would need a car if you were coming from Richmond or Fitzroy. There is the Monash freeway to Monash uni and you could get on to that in Richmond and if you drove from Fitzroy down Punt Rd to Richmond too. You'd be going against the peak hour traffic (most are going into town not out to the suburbs) so depending on traffice though from richmond you might get there in 30 mins (you can do 100km/h on the freeway although there are parts where you have to slow down). From Fitzroy I would think it would take 45mins.

A lot of undergrad students live in the Clayton area who attend Monash and for Uni of Melbourne many live in the surrounding areas Carlton, Fitzroy, Brunswick. The latter 3 are all very cool areas with many, many cafes, bars and restaurants. These areas are old for Australia and mostly have late 1800s architecture (Victorian era). Monash Uni at clayton was built in the 1960s and the area around it also developed as a suburb in the 1960s too. So nothing very attractive from an architectural point of view.

It depends what you are looking for-the lifestyle. where are you from? Have you been to Melbourne before?

New York City is great--I've worked here in a global law firm for some time and been here for several years. But the lifestyle in Australia is much better-a much nicer, kinder way of life. I do see myself moving back there just not sure when.

[Toorak Trev]

Richmond to Caufield 12 mins by train Stopping only one stop South Yarra
Campus across the road from station.
Plenty of Indian and Chinese eateries

You need to specify campus as there are over 5 that I know of for just Monash.

There is also a new campus/extn out in Berwick.

[melbournegirlinny]

I asked him that and he didn't answer. But I know engineering is at the Clayton campus.