Best Places to live in Melbourne?

[Guest itskaren]

hi we are heading to frankston or frankston south or seaford all in mornington peninsula near the beach lots to do and seeminly good schooling esp frankston high. good luck. we have been recomended frankston for our price range and no peple who have been tere and love it

 

I have worked in Frankston Hospital quite a bit when we first moved to Australia. In my opinion it is a poor area of Melbourne with lots of drug crime and knive stabbings. I know because I have dealth with them personally. I am sure it has some nice areas but I for one would not want to live there. Good luck.

[the dougans]

thanks for info we are looking at seaford or mornington or mount martha now . anyone no of any care home names or youth places or hairdressers in these areas that my mum could send cv too?

[Guest SoniaInOz]

My advice is to avoid Point Cook. There is a reason it is cheap. It is up wind from the Werribee Sewage treatment plant. If you search on this on the web, I think Melbourne Water has a map showing the size of the plant. Think hectares rather than acres. This really is massive, and in summer the smell around Point Cook can be a bit like Rotorua in NZ.

 

On this forum, perhaps check out the Victoria thread. There's various comments about Melbourne areas on there. Basically, the inner (within ten km of the city) eastern suburbs are quite wealthy and expensive. Balwyn has the best co-ed non selective state high school in Victoria. The western suburbs are cheap but then to be cramped with relatively poor quality housing (Footscray, Brooklyn, Laverton), bayside, but too close to the sewage treatment plant, (Pt Cook, parts of Altona), overpriced and not good value for money, (Yarraville and near environs), poor outer suburbs (Deer Park, St Albans). Williamstown is an exception. On the bay, but at the Yarra river end, close to the city and far enough away from the treatment plant. The western suburbs have all the checmical plants and oil refineries. A bit like Grangemouth near Edinburgh. Not the healthiest part of Melbourne to live.

 

To the North West, Moonee Ponds, Strathmore and Ascot vale are quite nice. Essendon is a bit too industrial for me (it's close to the airport. Avoid Broadmeadows (poor and quite ethnic. Asbestos roofs.) Anywhere north of that is too far away imho. Coburg, Thornbury, Preston, parts of Glen Roy are predominantly Middle Eastern. That's where a lot of the mosques are situated. The second language (all primary schools teach a second language) at North Brunswick primary school, just south of Coburg, in the Moreland area, has Arabic as it's second language.

 

Brunswick is nice but cramped. West Brunswick less cramped but you get the noise from the Tullamarine freeway.

 

Ivanhoe is lovely, just to the north east of the city, and I like Northcote, coming closer to the city, but not Thornbury (in between).

 

Closer to the city, North Carlton is a lovely place to live. Likewise North Fitzroy.

 

To the east, North Richmond is predominantly Vietnamese. There are four council high rises there.

Beyond North Richmond , directly East is Kew, then Balwyn. Anywhere south of these two, all the way to the sea, is a nice place to live. So Hawthorn, Elsternwick, St Kilda, Middle Park, Albert Park, Port Melbourne, Brighton, Toorak, Windsor, South Yarra, Prahran. All reasonably expensive, though there may be some bargains here and there.

 

Going out further, Camberwell and Canterbury are lovely. I wouldn't go beyond Ringwood though. Too expensive to get into the city, and too far away.

 

On the bayside, if you did want to live further, Frankston has very good train links. Avoid the outer eastern suburbs - Pakenham, Narre Warren, Cranbourne, Hallam and the like. These are commuter suburbs - they are miles away from the city - over 25 - and tend to empty during the day. Dull, boring places to live. Nothing but mile upon mile of houses.

 

If you know where your husband's work would be based, I could be a bit more specific.

Burwood, going south east, is nice. I don't mind places like Knox and Wantirna (not Bayswater though, or North Croydon and Croydon Hills (poor transport links, and Bayswater is too industrial). But, once you get to these sorts of areas, the state education on offer is relatively poor. I wouldn't , for instance, send my children to state schools in places like Box Hill (nice to live though ) or Maroondah's catchments.

 

Avoid Springvale (poor and predominantly south east Asian, and Dandenong, (poor and mainly Indian). I don't say this from a racial point of view, - more to give a sense of the predominant community in those areas. The area around the Glen shopping centre is nice, but just keep in mind, what you save on housing you spend on private school instead, if you want your children to have the equivalent in education to what they would get in a good state primary or high school here (starts at around $7000 per year in P1 up to around $15 - $20K in P12).

 

 

Great points but wow what a racist post, it makes me sad that people might judge and choose suburbs on how ethnically diverse or lack thereof they are.

 

The west is also that as bad as everyone claims it to be, Melton West is completely different to Melton, it has lovely new estates and homes and a large new shopping centre and good transport, Tarneit, Truganina and areas like that around the west are super close to everything, the city, shops, libraries, everything is only 10 minute or so drive away it's fantastic. All suburbs have their good and bad parts you just need to do your research

[olly]

"The western suburbs are cheap but then to be cramped with relatively poor quality housing" WTF THIS BITCH HAS NO CLUE DON'T LISTEN TO THIS Stupid S*%t

 

You treesea have no clue .i live in Caroline spring in 1.5million dollar house which is

next to deer park well as you say "poor outer suburbs Deer Park" i have lived in Melbourne for 54 years . you have no right to judge where to live in Melbourne. you don't even live here. "western suburbs are cheap but then to be cramped" ha-ha all the blocks in my street are 800m2 + . "cheap and cramped" is i think where you come from?? Edinburgh’s cramped and crammed with houses built with Asbestos..

 

A lot of the western suburbs have been renewed, i.e. Footscray, Seddon, Yarraville, etc., and are becoming quite 'trendy'. The western suburbs have over the past 20 years had a 'bad wrap' in some ways, but those who truly know Melbourne will know that it has changed even in the last 10 years, especially out west and to the north. People may be commenting on the large housing estates which have popped up around the wider perimeter of Melbourne, but they are providing houses for young families, which is much needed, and the city is growing. And with the expansions and links between freeways/tollways, it is much easier to get around than it was many years ago (i.e. city to Frankston on Citylink and Eastlink is a great connection, okay it gets busy, but it's providing better links between places).

[Guest itskaren]

A lot of the western suburbs have been renewed, i.e. Footscray, Seddon, Yarraville, etc., and are becoming quite 'trendy'. The western suburbs have over the past 20 years had a 'bad wrap' in some ways, but those who truly know Melbourne will know that it has changed even in the last 10 years, especially out west and to the north. People may be commenting on the large housing estates which have popped up around the wider perimeter of Melbourne, but they are providing houses for young families, which is much needed, and the city is growing. And with the expansions and links between freeways/tollways, it is much easier to get around than it was many years ago (i.e. city to Frankston on Citylink and Eastlink is a great connection, okay it gets busy, but it's providing better links between places).

 

 

 

 

I think you are right. I really like Yarraville. We stayed there for a month when we first came to Oz. It really is an úp and coming'area.

[Guest The Pom Queen]

"The western suburbs are cheap but then to be cramped with relatively poor quality housing" WTF THIS BITCH HAS NO CLUE DON'T LISTEN TO THIS Stupid S*%t

 

You treesea have no clue .i live in Caroline spring in 1.5million dollar house which is

next to deer park well as you say "poor outer suburbs Deer Park" i have lived in Melbourne for 54 years . you have no right to judge where to live in Melbourne. you don't even live here.

Maybe Treesa is stating what the suburbs and areas use to be like and I think this has been addressed in other posts and threads of hers before. She has not lived here for the last 5 or 6 years so does not know the changes that have happened and believe me in the last 5 years we have been here everything has changed:wubclub:

[Guest bowbrummer]

Racist post or what? Australia is full of immigrants! They were initially all white and came from the UK pretty much exclusively. The only non ethnic areas are those inhabited excluslively by aboriginal australians!!!

Some worthwhile points here but so racist. A warning Australia is a very racist society much more than UK and this poster has clearly fitted well into that society.

 

For what it's worth I live in Mount Waverley (near the Glen). Full of people originally from Japan , Korea, China etc. 20k from cbd on east. Highly recommended.

 

The strength of Melbourne is its different racial backgrounds. Don't weaken that by submitting to the drival submitted from the previous poster. You should be ashamed of yourself.

Great to see someone with a broad outlook, great post and tx. Although this forum is Poms in Oz it is frequented by a broad spectrum of people and I too found the previous post disconcerting. My Korean (adopted) brother brought this to my attention (we come from a multi cultural background) it beggers belief in 2009 this sort of post is still permissable! But, we wont talk about white trash eh! which is evident on both sides of the universe! I know which neighbours I would prefer on many occasions:wink:

[Guest Magnetic6]

I agree,but it's worth noting that this thread is an old one first posted in Jan 2008,perhaps enough time has past for a change of views perhaps??

SmartInvestor...shame on you for referring to this lady as a B**** no matter what your views.

Natalie

[Guest bowbrummer]

I agree,but it's worth noting that this thread is an old one first posted in Jan 2008,perhaps enough time has past for a change of views perhaps??

SmartInvestor...shame on you for referring to this lady as a B**** no matter what your views.

Natalie

:biglaugh: doing that english tests natalie made you observe the english language and its contents more:wink:

[Guest martyn jones]

HI WANT 2 COME OVER 4 HOLIDAY 2 MELBOURNE AND SYDNEY,2 WEEKS IN EACH PLACE.ANY ADVISE HOTELS NEAR 2 EVERYTHING? thanks,sam jones

[Guest kestaha]

Racist post or what? Australia is full of immigrants! They were initially all white and came from the UK pretty much exclusively. The only non ethnic areas are those inhabited excluslively by aboriginal australians!!!

Some worthwhile points here but so racist. A warning Australia is a very racist society much more than UK and this poster has clearly fitted well into that society.

 

For what it's worth I live in Mount Waverley (near the Glen). Full of people originally from Japan , Korea, China etc. 20k from cbd on east. Highly recommended.

 

The strength of Melbourne is its different racial backgrounds. Don't weaken that by submitting to the drival submitted from the previous poster. You should be ashamed of yourself.

 

 

 

WOW

 

I am the Australian son of a British father and Scottish mother, and have lived in both Australia and the UK, and to say that Australia is a more racist country then England is ridiculous. I've had so many Brits telling me how envious they were of John Howard and the strict immigration laws he was trying to set in place, while back home the silent majority was calling for his head.

 

All race issues within Australia are the same as those inherent in all Post-Colonial countries. Colonization breeds seperation, inequalities and tension.

 

I would argue that Australia is more progressive then the UK in this respect, though Australias past is tainted with examples of ill informed knuckleheads perpetuating a stereotype that most Australians are sickened by.

 

That said, the ethnic clumping that used to be quite obvious in Melbourne has well and truly died out. There are some areas that are dominated by a single ethnicity, but to no end that would make it uncomfotable to live there.

 

Also, I am suprised to see that the inner bayside are has not been mentioned once yet, as it offers detatched homes on generous plots as well as easy access to the city through public transport and via car. I should know, I lived there when I was a child.

 

Look at:

Elwood

Ormond

McKinnon

Bentleigh

Murrumbeena

Carnegie

Caulfield

Cheltenham

Hampton

 

Some of these areas are quite expensive, but no more so then the previously mentioned Williamstown, Camberwell, Hawthorn or Richmond.

 

It only takes 20 minutes on the train to get from Bentleigh to the CBD.

[Petals]

As for the Werribee treatment plant, it used to have open lagoons yonks ago but they are now all covered also there used to be open sewerage channels going to the farm however they are now underground so I think the op is living way in the past for the smell from there. My oh worked for MW in treatment.

 

For me it comes down to do I like the beach, yes, do I like undulating land rather than flat yes, where do we work, south and do not like a long commute. Has the suburb got a cross section of old and new as I like a bit of depth to the area. Older areas have more services and there is not so much strain on them is there is a cross section of ages living there.

 

So as the west is flat not for me.

 

If I liked to be away from the beach gthen I would like to be over towards Yarra Valley, Warrandyte, Eltham come to mind. Rosanna too nice an hilly around there, Templestowe, Doncaster

[olly]

Just a comment regarding Box Hill schools mentioned in treesa's comments. I disagree. Box Hill is a great place to live and school the kids. Box Hill High is a high performing high school and has everything you want. Also I am going to put my hand up a big thumbs up for another school in the area called Box Hill Senior Secondary College, a year 10-12 campus which is a sport/drama specialist school like they have in UK. There is no uniform, there is a relaxed teaching atmosphere, lovely environment and Tennis Australia have links there as does the Aus Football League and basketball association etc. My son liked it, much nicer relaxed atmosphere. Treesa mentions another high performing High School, I won't mention it again - this school suits some people and not others, I personally find them worrying too much about the academic side of the child (if you're no good they toss you out) and not the welfare side of the child.

 

My sister tells me that there are so many stuffed up kids out there in the system, both private and public (she is temporarily teaching at 'big posh private school') because the schools are not looking at holistic education, but along with pushy parents are only worrying about their ENTER (university entrance) scores. What the heck good is an enter score for a kid who is feelling overwhelmed and suicidal about life because it is all getting too much pressure to cope with? It's going on out there believe me. So when we say a school is good or bad, we have to take into account exactly what that means. Look at the bigger picture. There are some schools in the Maroondah catchment which are fine (Ringwood Secondary College for one which also has a technical component). For private schools Maroondah has some which are fine for those people who they might suit. There is also the Steiner school at Warranwood which is good

Oh, and petals mentioned the Yarra Valley, this area is now an outer outer area of Melbourne, as Geelong is becoming ! (Don't tell them that though, don't think they want to be part of outer Melbourne!)

[Guest DaemonB]

HI, I havent been here in a while but once again, Im thinking Id like to get more information on moving. From my research Melbourne seems nice and friendly and highly recommended. Im wondering what does the average mental health nurse earn in Melbourne?

 

Also, property wise, is it expensive? Im assuming once I sell my humble 3 bedroom here I would have around 120-150k(£) to spend, so about $250 Aus dollars?

[olly]

HI, I havent been here in a while but once again, Im thinking Id like to get more information on moving. From my research Melbourne seems nice and friendly and highly recommended. Im wondering what does the average mental health nurse earn in Melbourne?

 

Also, property wise, is it expensive? Im assuming once I sell my humble 3 bedroo

m here I would have around 120-150k(£) to spend, so about $250 Aus dollars?

 

Melbourne is experiencing a property boom (the whole country is 'booming' we are told, take a look at the sharemarket etc) so you won't get much for $250,000 unless you go right out of town about an hour's commute plus away. Melbourne is good depending on where you live, as with all things that influences your experiences of course.

[princessuzy]

I know this thread's a bit old now but I've only just found it and wow - it always amazes me the amount criticism that someone get on these forums for airing their opinion, and to be honest it was a really useful post by Treesa which I didn't find racist at all! Mentioning suburbs that are predominently one nationality is far from racist, where did she say 'I wouldn't live in such and such a place cos it's full of paki's and niggers'? she didn't. People need to get off their high horse and face facts that not everyone wants to live in a community full of Indian people, or Koreans for example, because no one likes to feel like a minority and out of place. I wouldn't anyway.

 

SmartInvestor, I reported your post, and if you really were a 'smart investor' you would've spent less on your big expensive house and invested in some lessons in class :yes:

[Petals]

I know this thread's a bit old now but I've only just found it and wow - it always amazes me the amount criticism that someone get on these forums for airing their opinion, and to be honest it was a really useful post by Treesa which I didn't find racist at all! Mentioning suburbs that are predominently one nationality is far from racist, where did she say 'I wouldn't live in such and such a place cos it's full of paki's and niggers'? she didn't. People need to get off their high horse and face facts that not everyone wants to live in a community full of Indian people, or Koreans for example, because no one likes to feel like a minority and out of place. I wouldn't anyway.

 

SmartInvestor, I reported your post, and if you really were a 'smart investor' you would've spent less on your big expensive house and invested in some lessons in class :yes:

 

Suburbs in Melbourne may have a predominance of one ethnic group for a while and then they change and another lot of people move in, they are changing all the time so if a poster has been away from the country for quite a while the suburbs may have changed from when the poster lived here. Gentrification goes on all the time, for instance Port Melbourne I remember as being a grotty suburb with poor housing but that is not the case now.

 

Its far better for people to get just a rough idea and make up their own minds when they move here what suburb they would feel happy about.

 

People are also allowed to disagree with what we post that is what forums are for people's opinions and I think everyone's opinion is valid.

[Cerberus1]

I know this thread's a bit old now but I've only just found it and wow - it always amazes me the amount criticism that someone get on these forums for airing their opinion, and to be honest it was a really useful post by Treesa which I didn't find racist at all! Mentioning suburbs that are predominently one nationality is far from racist, where did she say 'I wouldn't live in such and such a place cos it's full of paki's and niggers'? she didn't. People need to get off their high horse and face facts that not everyone wants to live in a community full of Indian people, or Koreans for example, because no one likes to feel like a minority and out of place. I wouldn't anyway.

 

SmartInvestor, I reported your post, and if you really were a 'smart investor' you would've spent less on your big expensive house and invested in some lessons in class :yes:

 

Hi princessuzy

The thread is over 2 years old now. Suburbs change in that time and people on the forum move on. Smartinvestor, for example, hasn't been on the forum in 8 months and the Original Poster hasn't been online in over 2 years. As such, this thread is one for the archives now.