Melbourne Suburb - Toorak

[Guest The Pom Queen]

Think of Melbourne, think of stylish hotel accommodation, cosmopolitan cafes, superb restaurants, designer shops and bargain shopping. Your thinking 'High Fashion' at South Yarra, 'Rich' Toorak, 'Off Beat' Prahran, 'The Famous' St Kilda Road. A diverse area of Melbourne which something for everyone!

Toorak and South Yarra are the most expensive suburbs in Melbourne, particularly Toorak. They don’t overlook the ocean, or the bay, and for most parts not even the river. Residents don’t have great views of anything. But they do enjoy a great position and it is home to Melbourne’s wealthiest. People buy here because of the proximity to the city and because there are more boutique designer stores, art galleries, antique shops, eateries and beauty salons than in any other suburbs in Australia. Toorak in particular has the biggest and best homes in Melbourne.

Situated around busy Toorak Road, there's picturesque parks and gardens speckling the suburb, such as the historic Victoria Gardens with inspiring statues and the unique ecosystem of the Urban Forest. The homes are individually designed on large blocks with lots of trees and colourful gardens. Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club as well as the exclusive Royal South Yarra Club are close by. South Yarra’s neighbours include the beautiful Royal Melbourne Botanic Gardens, Fawkner Park and across Queens Rd the Albert Park Lake. The MCG and Rod Laver Arena are within walking distance.

 

Roads

In Melbourne the city link and freeways mostly move the traffic very smoothly. Toorak Road is busy with trams and cars competing for the road. Off the main roads the streets are quieter.

Nearest airports

Tullamarine which is 30km or 20 minutes drive

Nearest Rail

Toorak Station, Hawksburn Station, South Yarra Station, the last is only two stops from Flinders Street.

Buses

Met buses criss-cross the area as well as private bus companies

Trams

Run along Toorak Road. Melbourne is well served by public transport.

Hospitals

Melbourne is at your doorstep

Retirement Villages

None in Toorak, some in nearby Malvern

Police Stations

Prahran

 

Dogs

This is a dog friendly area. There are many off leash areas

Shopping:

This is a shopper’s paradise. The streets (especially Toorak Road and Chapel Street) team with interesting shops of all kinds from small boutiques to large chain stores. If you need an unusual ‘something’ chances are you will find it here. If you want to spot visiting celebrities, chances are you’ll see them here. Most shops are on the main streets but there are some interesting spots in the side streets too. Toorak village has designer boutiques, delis and cafes and behind the main road an off street parking area also accessing a large Safeway Supermarket

Attractions

Fawkner Park: Extending over 41 hectares, Fawkner Park offers both a peaceful retreat and a wealth of sporting activities to South Yarra.

Fawkner Park is roughly rectangular in shape and crossed by a series of straight paths lined with avenues of Moreton Bay Figs, Elms, Poplars and Oaks.

The park also boasts two art-deco brick pavilions dating from the 1930s, a tennis club with six synthetic courts

Sidney Myer Music Bowl: The hugely popular Sidney Myer Music Bowl is a large grassy amphitheatre. The main feature is the impressive 'sound shell' roof that projects sound.

Being Melbourne's premier music venue, it has hosted everything from Jack Johnson to Pearl Jam and the New Zealand opera singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. Come Christmas and it becomes the place to listen to Carols by Candlelight.

Chapel Off Chapel: is the City of Stonnington’s premier arts centre. Great performance venues and gallery spaces, in and over the foyer, make Chapel Off Chapel the first choice for those seeking out the best of Melbourne arts. Audiences love the Chapel for many reasons - stylish surrounds, friendly staff, a great bar and the excitement of getting up close and personal with the arts.

Herring Island: Accessible only by boat, Herring Island, 2.8ha in size, is just 3km from the city, and the only substantial island in the Yarra River.

This informal parkland has provided the inspiration for curator Maudie Palmer to develop a concept in which artists are commissioned to create site-specific sculptures. Created from natural materials such as stone, earth and wood.

Schools in and around Toorak

Primary

Toorak Primary School

Our Lady of Lourdes School Catholic Primary

The King David School

Armadale Primary School

St Catherine's School Girls **

Loreto Mandeville Hall**

Secondary

The King David School

Lauriston Girls' School

St Catherine's School Girl **

St Kevins Catholic Boys **

Loreto Mandeville Hall**

 

Further Education

University of the Third Age Stonnington

University of Melbourne

Deakin University

 

** Top Ranking Schools