now positioned for best price growth | Suburb DataAlesha Capone 2/147 Waiora Rd, Heidelberg Heights, is on the market with a $690,000-$720,000 asking range The area is one of 20 that Suburb Data have ranked on their price growth hot spot list Home prices in 20 Melbourne suburbs have hit bottom and are poised for a come back in 2025 as interest rates buoy homebuyer confidence While experts warn against trying to time the market those ready to make a move today could be set for future windfalls from units in enviable suburbs from Mentone to South Yarra as well as affordable hubs around Sunshine and Craigieburn The figures from real estate researchers at Suburb Data also ranked houses in Kalkallo in Melbourne’s outer north as heading into prime time for buying RELATED: Melbourne first-home buyers’ plan to pay off their house within six years Werribee auction proves why buyers are rushing to Melbourne’s booming west 20 Melbourne suburbs where house prices still double in 10 years Suburb Data examined every Australian suburb by the ratio of property demand to supply This was determined using a range of metrics such as online engagement on listings auction clearance rates and listing volumes These figures were contrasted with the recent trajectory of price growth Suburbs were labelled as “bottoming out” if falls in prices had slowed This three-bedroom townhouse at 117/ 1-15 Beddison Rd, Craigieburn, is for sale with a $420,000-$462,000 price tag The suburb has a median $404,000 unit price according to realestate.com.au’s research arm PropTrack With two bedrooms, this unit at 6/1 Rockley Rd, South Yarra, has a $520,000-$550,000 asking range The inner city suburb has a $550,000 median unit value MORE: Where property prices have peaked in Australia with 100 being most favourable for price growth Melbourne suburbs to score above 70 for their units’ demand to supply ratios included top-ranking Mentone median unit prices in these suburbs vary from Craigieburn’s $404,000 to $740,000 in Forest Hill – although a three-bedroom unit in South Yarra has a median $1.38m value and the same sized home in Richmond comes with a $1.1895m median Suburb Data analyst Jeremy Sheppard said the Melbourne suburbs showing signs of hitting bottom represented a safer bet in the city’s falling housing market “They may not return to growth immediately but these are suburbs where demand is at least beginning to pick up again and the falls are slowing,” he said “Prices could skim along for a while but the conditions in these suburbs suggest the declines are finishing.” A double-storey, two-bedroom townhouse at 2/14 Station St, Mentone, is on the market with a $650,000-$700,000 range It features an upstairs living area and powder room single garage with internal access and a reverse-cycle split system The kitchen is fitted with stone benchtops Melbourne-based buyers’ advocate Emily Wallace said that Mentone offered great-entry level opportunities for first-home buyers and investors with bonuses including the suburb’s beachside location train station and proximity to Southland shopping centre She advised buyers hoping to secure a unit that would increase in value to look for properties with a courtyard or outdoor area with space for dining; a second toilet if there was only one bathroom; and a hallway that provides a more “house-like” feel She said apartments in boutique blocks were generally preferred to larger complexes people tend to want older-style apartments that are traditionally larger,” Ms Wallace said “People say they don’t want to live in a shoebox.” She also advised buyers to set aside $3000-$4000 a year for an apartment’s body corporate fees and $2000-$3000 for a unit or townhouse Priced at $750,000-$800,000, this three-bedroom townhouse at 2/8 David St, Altona, in Melbourne’s western suburbs is located 350m from the beach This apartment at 10/75 Hotham St, Balaclava, has been listed with $540,000-$590,000 price hopes The suburb in Melbourne’s inner south is among the top 10 Melbourne areas that Suburb Data has included on its list Ray White – The Bayside Group’s Greg Brydon said Mentone’s units and townhouses were popular with first-home buyers and downsizers who had sold a house in the area but wanted to stay there two-bedroom villa units that are renovated and in a block of eight homes or less are the hottest market you can get at the moment,” Mr Brydon said The agent added that Mentone’s well-regarded schools also made it popular with young families “It is affordable but you still get incredible value for money compared to other properties within a 15-minute radius,” he said The Covid lockdowns of 2021 and 2022 also led to generally flat prices in the suburb but there are signs they are now on the move “We would expect to see an average of 7 to 10 per cent growth if not more than that year on year going forward,” he said Located at 105/281 Tooronga Rd, Glen Iris, this two-bedroom apartment is another of the areas on Suburb Data’s Melbourne top 20 list 6 Litoria Way, Kalkallo, a three-bedroom house listed for sale with a $619,000-$649,000 asking range is in a suburb that’s 31km north of Melbourne’s CBD Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox MORE: ‘Within reach’: Where you can live the luxury life on the cheap Interest rate cuts ‘too little, too late’ for some ‘Out-of-control’ loophole in foreign homebuyer ban third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored lenders or loan products and we cannot introduce you to sponsored lenders We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content realestate.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. Police have arrested a man allegedly found in possession of a stolen vehicle in Heidelberg Heights on Wednesday Officers caught sight of an allegedly stolen white Mazda in the vicinity of Braeswood Road in Kings Park about 2.45am It is alleged the Mazda reached speeds of up to 120km/h on Kings Road in Delahey The Mazda continued on to the Calder Freeway allegedly increasing to speeds in excess of 150km/h Police continued to track the vehicle along the Tullamarine Freeway and into Melbourne’s inner northern suburbs It’s alleged the Mazda narrowly avoided colliding with a truck on Bell Street and crashed into a street sign on Redwood Street The Mazda came to a stop on Southern Road in Heidelberg Heights Officers moved in and arrested the alleged driver Investigators allege the Mazda was stolen from an Ormond address in February Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au Heidelberg Heights recently sold for $580,000 Melburnians are being urged to “think again” before snapping up a unit in certain suburbs where buying a budget residence could be a financial blunder Those who purchase apartments and villas in areas like Heidelberg Heights and Sunbury will typically be buying within $200,000 of what they would pay for a house — leaving little margin for the home’s values to grow SuburbData figures show that in Heidelberg Heights the $653,000 typical unit price covers more than 72 per cent of the cost of the area’s $899,000 median house price RELATED: Sam and Snezana Wood’s $6.6m Melb love nest revealed Stubborn Aussie neighbours back in the spotlight Crowd shocked by Broady auction’s astonishing price about 72 per cent of the $683,000 a house would cost buyers Prominent buyers advocate Cate Bakos said buyers shouldn’t settle for a unit when a house was so close to within reach Prominent buyers advocate Cate Bakos questioned why buyers in areas like Tarneit would purhcase a unit when a house is within reach “The apparent ‘deal’ buyers think they’re getting in these suburbs comes with hidden traps — recent subdivisions drive the price up for structures posing long-term risks in being able to sell that asset later on,” Ms Bakos said She also warned that other areas with relatively high priced units compared to houses could also face issues with insufficient infrastructure and long commutes to the CBD that might turn off future buyers A three-bedroom, two-bathroom home at 31 Emperor Parade, Tarneit sold for $580,000 “Many of these areas feel the choke without amenities,” Ms Bakos said If buyers wanted to be in a suburb that had fallen victim to suburban sprawl and didn’t have good planning or strong local amenities she said it was a “no-brainer” to stretch for a house instead of a unit so the land value would underpin future growth A three-bedroom, one-bathroom home at 1/127 Morell Street, Glenroy sold for $600,000 “Informed decisions must underpin these investments – it’s not just about what you can buy today; it’s about where it will take you tomorrow “Opt for assets that assure growth and sustainability.” and Tarneit also have similar pricing challenges with unit-to-house cost percentages at about 70 per cent A four-bedroom, two-bathroom home at 55 Courtney Drive, Sunbury sold for $595,000 Harcourts agent Luke McCandless said historically suburbs like Heidelberg West had shrugged off their low-rent reputations Heidelberg West is buzzing with new developments and it’s fantastic for the area,” Mr McCandless said He advised first-home buyers to ignore modern units in the area and to opt for older homes where they would not be paying a premium for a new building higher owners corporation fees and risk owning a home that is unlikely to gain value as quickly Ray White Werribee’s Robert Krnjeta is calling on the state government to invest in better infrastructure for the western suburbs Ray White Werribee managing director Robert Krnjeta said buyers considering areas like Tarneit should be thinking long term “First-home buyers should approach units with caution but buyers should always be forward thinking with their long term plans,” he said SuburbData analyst Jeremy Sheppard cautioned buyers to be highly selective in the types of units they targeted A two-bedroom, one-bathroom home at 3/40 Leman Crescent, Noble Park sold for $535,000 “One of the problems with units is that oversupply can be a real killer of the long-term value,” he said “It’s best to try to avoid units in high-rise buildings and rather focus on boutique blocks where there are only a few apartments there It means there will be less apartments jammed into the same building and the strata fees are often lower.” compared to $899,000 for a house — putting unit costs at 72.7 per cent of houses just shy of the average house price of $683,000 Note: median unit prices did not include three-bedroom-plus townhouses Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox RELATED: Melbourne renters ditching landlords in droves, surge in empty homes Left behind: $46bn road map to help Vic’s forgotten residents The Block judge Marty Fox sells Mornington Peninsula ‘mullet house’ 1) 0ms;transition:fill 200ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;font-size:1.5rem;}.mui-13xs5pt{width:100vw;max-width:100vw;margin-top:1px;}.mui-68tkgc{width:100vw;max-width:100vw;margin-top:1px;}.mui-1i0sejk{min-width:200px;border-radius:4px;}.mui-o2bopd{text-align:center;-webkit-flex:0 0 auto;-ms-flex:0 0 auto;flex:0 0 auto;font-size:1.5rem;padding:8px;border-radius:50%;overflow:visible;color:rgba(0 0.54);-webkit-transition:background-color 150ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;transition:background-color 150ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;padding:12px;font-size:1.75rem;}.mui-o2bopd:hover{background-color:rgba(0 0.04);}@media (hover: 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googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/300x250_LHS_MREC' 'div-gpt-ad-1511395165249-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/300x250_Middle_MREC' 'div-gpt-ad-1511395202314-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/300x250_RHS_MREC' 'div-gpt-ad-1511395237641-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/300x250_Mobile_Middle_MREC' 'div-gpt-ad-1511489982092-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/300x600_2nd_homepage_skyscraper' 'div-gpt-ad-1511938773649-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/728x90_leaderboard_position_2' 'div-gpt-ad-1510792120057-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/300x250_Article-page_Position01' but we don't want to lose you.\"}],[\"$\",\"div\",null,{\"className\":\"notfound-page__text-block\",\"children\":\"We recently updated the way we organise our articles with 104 new homes slated for Heidelberg West.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe homes in the north-eastern Melbourne suburb will be delivered through ja oint partnership between the state and federal government.s\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eStage one of the Bell Bardia Project will provide the homes in a mix of one two and three bedrooms.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt will include housing for those at risk of homelessness victims and survivors of domestic and family violence and pensioners.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe site is 10km from the Melbourne CBD with shops Lendlease’s third residential building in the Collins Wharf precinct of Victoria Harbour.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 28-storey building at 971 Collins Street in Melbourne’s Docklands will deliver 312 homes in a mix of one two and three-bedroom apartments as well as townhouses and penthouses.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAccording to Lendlease the project has already secured more than 50 per cent in presales.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHickory is the construction contractor—it completed the precinct’s first development in 2019 and is also working on LendLease’s second tower Regatta.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor Ancora Hickory is implementing several technical construction methods including various piling techniques and precast concrete solutions that enable a parallel-track construction program.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe building’s facade designed by architect Warren and Mahoney uses a three-stage design incorporating double-glazed glass and textured precast concrete with Reckli and brick finishes.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe structural design transitions from a solid podium base to lighter upper levels “reflecting a maritime theme” aligned with the Collins Wharf design objectives.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAncora will connect to the neighbouring Regatta development via a podium allowing resident access to shared amenities.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDesigned as an all-electric building that includes electric vehicle infrastructure the development is targeting a 5 Star Green Star certification Completion is expected in 2027.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRegatta including build-to-rent and build-to-sell units.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eExtensive wharf works including remediation of pre-existing wharf piles installation of raker piles and construction of the extension to Australia Walk are also part of the project.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTechnical challenges include constructing on the finger wharf and co-ordinating extensive above-wharf road reserve and public parkland works.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Collins Wharf precinct will ultimately comprise six residential buildings of more than 1800 homes surrounded by over 5000sq m of parks and community space.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLendlease is developing the parkland concurrently with the residential components including the extension of Australian Walk that forms part of the City of Melbourne’s Greenline project.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLendlease executive director of development Adam Williams said Collins Wharf “is fast becoming a sought-after address .. which took just a handful of hours to emerge on Saturday night the Coalition’s failure to sway voters has come under intense scrutiny.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIts lack of policies around property that resonated with voters has been a large part of that criticism.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmong those policies was a $5-billion infrastructure program to unlock up to 500,000 new homes was greeted with no small amount of scepticism.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Coalition also campaigned on its previously revealed plan to allow first home buyers to draw down on their superannuation giving access to up to $50,000 to help fund mortgage deposits.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhile that proposal had won some support it got the thumbs down from many of Australia’s top economists who said the measure could prove highly inflationary among other issues.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSimilarly its plan to allow mortgage interest for first home buyers to be tax-deductible was roundly criticised for its likely inflationary and regressive effects.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt has also been pointed out that the Coalition’s rejection of the Green’s policies around housing supply affordable housing and help for renters did it no favours.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe ALP went to the polls spruiking an extension of schemes introduced during its previous term including a $10-billion promise for its first-home buyers’ scheme to encourage 100,000 more homes.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt also had its Help to Buy shared equity scheme under which the Government pays up to 40 per cent of the house price to point to.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf it was these policies per se or the lack of detail and depth to the Coalition’s the nation's ready for the Albanese government to act.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat is clear been endorsed to follow through on its policies and fix the crisis that is crippling the Australian property sector.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs Urban Taskforce Australia chief executive\u0026nbsp;Tom\u0026nbsp;Forrest has pointed out it is time for the Federal Government to get back to work.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Housing affordability and housing supply featured large during the campaign,” Forrest said.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“The key now is for the Government to strike while the iron’s hot.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“If legislation is needed to support the delivery of Labor’s $10-billion 100,000 new homes commitment—then pass it through the parliament now and get on with it.”\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe states have made many changes to how they enable home development The Federal Government’s support of that is crucial to its success material supply assistance or any other factor that affects getting homes out of the ground.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis has been a pivotal election Then Cities for Total Fan Immersion\",\"slug\":\"billionaire-arsenal-rams-denver-nuggets-sports-anchored-precincts\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-30T00:00+10:00\",\"tags\":[],\"summary\":\"Why your next home might be stadium-adjacent; sports are the hook Commonwealth Add 100 Affordable Heidelberg Homes Social and affordable housing projects in Victoria continue to come ahead with 104 new homes slated for Heidelberg West The homes in the north-eastern Melbourne suburb will be delivered through ja oint partnership between the state and federal government.s Stage one of the Bell Bardia Project will provide the homes in a mix of one It will include housing for those at risk of homelessness victims and survivors of domestic and family violence and pensioners The site is 10km from the Melbourne CBD with shops services and schools nearby as well as the Austin Hospital Designs for the project are being created with an opportunity for the community to provide feedback planned for July to September this year The homes will be designed to allow renters to save on their power bills The $5.3-billion Big Housing Build program has already completed or has nearly completed more than 9400 homes More than 4000 Victorians have now moved into new homes A $1-billion Regional Housing Fund will also provide at least 1300 new homes right across the state and the federal government’s Social Housing Accelerator will provide $500 million in funding to build another 769 homes The Victorian Government has set a target of building 800,000 homes over the next decade Tarakan Street in Heidelberg West is another social housing project delivered as part of the Big Housing Build Social housing is also being built in suburbs such as Prahran and Brunswick A man fatally injured during an alleged street fight has been remembered by shattered friends and loved ones as a 'wonderful human being' and one of a kind as his accused attacker faced court for the first time Emergency services were called to Alamein Road in Heidelberg West in north-east Melbourne just before midnight on Saturday following reports of an altercation between two men was found at the scene with life-threatening head injures and later died in hospital was arrested at the scene and was charged with murder News of Mr Chaaban's death sparked an outpouring of heartbreaking tributes online and on his Facebook profile One mate was 'distressed and heartbroken' to hear of Mr Chaaban's tragic death 'We all grew up together and went through different journeys in life but always kept in touch,' he posted 'I just cannot believe that I cannot speak or text you anymore about football .. your fancy pigeons or just to check to see how things are going.' 'You have always been a positive soul and if you ever needed help Another friend described Mr Chaaban as an 'unforgettable soul and I am grateful that I was fortunate enough to have had your presence in my life' 'You are such a special person and there are not many people like you in this world,' they wrote A third wrote: 'Thank you for everything you have done for all of us kids over the years and making our childhood so fun.' 'So grateful that I got to have you in my life because there was truly nobody like you.' Devlin appeared in Melbourne Magistrate's Court on Sunday Nadia Giorgianni told the court that her client was withdrawing from heroin and had a brain injury 'He's asked to see a nurse or doctor (in custody) as soon as possible,' Ms Giorgianni told the court, according to the Herald Sun Police allege that Devlin and Mr Chaaban were known to each other He was remanded in custody to reappear in court on October 21 Major terror attack 'was just HOURS away' before it was foiled by the special forces and police:.. Victim of acid attack 'plotted by his ex-partner who teamed up with a gang' dies in hospital six.. We are trapped in unsellable newbuild homes after a £52m dual carriageway was built on our.. Horror as $4.5M influencer-laden yacht SINKS off Miami.. Pub is forced to pay family £75,000 after wrongly accusing them of 'dine and dash' over £150.. How Meghan's biggest cheerleader brokered Harry's disastrous BBC interview - three months after.. 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Where 'soft-touch' Britain's asylum seekers are REALLY coming from This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive RESIDENTS have started to move into the Victorian government’s $18 million Heidelberg Heights development as part of the $5.3 billion Big Housing Build The newly completed housing development on Bell Street in Heidelberg Heights comprises 42 apartments across the six-storey building with the residences to be manager by community housing provider “Every Victorian deserves a safe place to call home and this new development provides just that – these homes will allow people to live safely and comfortably,” said Colin Brooks “I’ve visited housing sites all over Victoria in recent months and it’s incredible to see all these homes being built and to meet the new tenants who now have a brand new place to live.” The apartments are predominately two-bedroom residences and have been delivered to provide safe and secure housing to families with a history of homelessness and complex needs The homes have also been built to be energy efficient meaning renters will stay warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer while still saving on energy bills The project supported more than 160 jobs throughout its construction with the Bell Street site well located with easy access to public transport “It’s exciting to see new housing being built in Heidelberg and wonderful to meet the new tenants now calling our community home,” said Anthony Carbines Since the Big Housing Build began in late 2020 more than 7,600 homes have been completed or are underway and more than 2,800 households have either moved in or are getting ready to move into brand new homes While the latest data from Council to Homeless Persons revealed Victoria has the lowest social housing stock in the country by a significant margin The state government will deliver more than 12,000 new homes and create more than 40,000 jobs through the life the Big Housing Build While YWCA Australia recently announced it would deliver social housing boost for Mooroopna women, as part of the Mooroopna Women’s Housing Project, which provides homes for local women and their families. The government has also created a new $1 billion Regional Housing Fund to deliver more than 1,300 homes across regional Victoria with the new homes set to comprise a mix of social and affordable housing With the state government announcing it would put the $1 billion towards delivering 1,300 new homes across the state’s regions in the wake of pulling the plug on the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Green Street’s global news publications are not provided as an investment advisor nor in the capacity of a fiduciary Our global organization maintains information barriers to ensure the independence of and distinction between our non-regulated and regulated businesses is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 482269) and a private limited company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 06471304 Kangaroo Ground sold in March for a record sum Suburban Melbourne property price records are being smashed at a rate of one a week as the city’s best homes have defied gloomy conditions Even as interest rates remain high and the cost of living crisis continues to bite homes have set new benchmarks in some postcodes that are as much as $1m more than their old top sales with dozens resetting local high water marks by almost $500,000 RELATED: Tax cuts set to boost competition, bring back first-home buyers Yolanda Hadid, Kylie Jenner’s ex-home could sell for $52m Australia’s top comedian reveals epic Hawthorn home plan Out of Melbourne’s 321 suburbs a total of 65 recorded a record price for houses or apartments in the past financial year The majority of new benchmarks have been set since January this year with 40 (61 per cent) of the sales this calendar year And agents believe there are buyers out there cashed up and ready to break even more records before the end of 2024 The old bluestone cottage built in the early 1960s changed hands recently breaking the previous record by $3.4m A sprawling Portsea estate at 3808 Point Nepean Rd centred on an old bluestone cottage built in the early 1960s that changed hands for an eye watering $23.23m broke the wealthy coastal hamlet’s previous record by $3.4m The luxurious property is set on 2000sq m with its living areas centred around a central courtyard and sparkling pool with separate guesthouse Elwood had an asking price of $15m – $16,5m Melbourne-based founder of The Lume and van Gogh Alive exhibition Bruce Peterson will be enjoying a designer bar fancier than most nightclubs Also among the standouts was 9 Bendigo Ave which sold for $17.05m by RT Edgar Toorak’s Sarah Cased The home features architect design and a pool as well as rarer highlights including a designer bar fancier than most nightclubs and an eight-car basement garage complete with street-art wall displays The home was purchased by Melbourne-based founder of The Lume and van Gogh Alive exhibition Bruce Peterson Kew sold for $22.5m breaking the record by $200,000 And the biggest deal recorded in the last financial year was the $80m sale of a country estate owned by the family of the late Sir William Angliss in Rowsley Real Estate Institute of Victoria chief executive Kelly Ryan said despite the negativity surrounding the current state of Melbourne’s market “There is a lot of positive movement in the industry and when you see so many suburbs breaking records it’s pleasing and encouraging,” Ms Ryan said Albert Park broke the suburb record for $13.84m The grandeur interior of 60 St Vincent Place N She added that there was as little as two interest rate cuts between the bullish buyers paying record prices and the typical property punters hinting that it won’t take much to fire Melbourne up for even more high-end suburban sales The home is a relatively new build and around four years old PropTrack economist Anne Flaherty said a shift in buying activity in the first half of the year compared to the last financial year was a key difference in where the market was placed at the moment “There was a notable improvement in sentiment at the start of this year we were seeing buyer demand really bounce back and it bolstered market activity,” Ms Flaherty said The home contains a large space for entertaining guests “And now could be a good time to buy in Victoria We know if interest rates were to increase buyers could lock in (interest rates) before they went up on the other hand if they’re waiting for interest rates to go down property prices will go up — it’s a double edged sword “Melbourne has massively underperformed against the other capital cities so it is cheaper to buy here than in Brisbane and we are the fastest growing capital city in the country.” Weast Corporation director James Liu said his sale at 6 Highmoor Ave which broke the suburb record by more than $2m was an example the property market wasn’t all doom and gloom they want to transact; they’re simply waiting for the right moment,” Dr Liu said Abbotsford sold for $6.28m and the iconic Skipping Girl sign in sight The apartment is equivalent to the size of the house and is situated close to some of Melbourne’s best bars and restaurants Bell Real Estate Olinda’s Corinne Sukroo had two record breaking home sales and said the diversity of prices in the Dandenong Ranges was attractive to buyers And in one of the more surprising records set in Melbourne this year was an Australia-wide benchmark for the highest number of bidders registered for an auction The almost 200 would-be buyers declared their interest in the 22 Charming St home that The Block serial bidder Portelli bought from the show in November last year — and then relisted for auction again in April with a just $1 reserve While it led to huge interest, the five-bedroom house only received bids from nine parties and sold for $3.245m under the hammer leading to a $1.055m loss for the young rich lister known as “Lambo Guy” Portsea — $23.23mKew — $22.5mElwood — $17.05mAlbert Park — $13.84mBalwyn North — $8.6mAscot Vale — $7.25mAbbotsford — $6.30mAlphington — $6.28mCaulfield — $5.80mKangaroo Ground — $5.5m Vermont South — $5.15mHampton East — $5.0mWarrandyte — $4.95mEdithvale — $4.80mBentleigh — $4.70mBangholme — $4.55mBeaconsfield — $4.47mDoncaster East — $4.25mBayswater — $4.158mMcCrae — $4.125mGardenvale — $4.10mEltham — $4.0mBentleigh East — $3.90mPanton Hill — $3.85mBulleen — $3.85mCoburg North — $3.80mMurrumbeena — $3.80mWarranwood — $3.70m Seaholme — $3.625mMonbulk — $3.50mWattle Glen — $3.38mBlackburn South — $3.32mLittle River — $3.15m Waterways — $2.565mReservoir — $2.515mAvondale Heights — $2.50mSandhurst — $2.38mMernda — $2.30mHumevale — $2.25mHuntingdale — $2.201mCatani — $2.20mGlenroy — $2.20mCockatoo — $2.15mMelton — $2.04mCottles Bridge — $2.033mSpringvale South — $2.0mUpwey — $1.972mHeidelberg Heights — $1.9mAltona Meadows — $1.9mHeidelberg West — $1.88mBelgrave Heights — $1.755mKurunjang — $1.70mNotting Hill — $1.615mWatsonia North — $1.57m Aintree — $1.505mBlind Bight — $1.495mNoble Park North — $1.450mSeabrook — $1.30mBurnside — $1.225m Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox MORE: Tenants slugged $2900 rent hike in just one year Frankston manor like something out of a time capsule Lysterfield parkside entertainer wows buyers Heidelberg Heights and Heidelberg West are resolutely worlds apart locals are keen to keep the community spirit By Bianca Hall courtesy of its Olympic heritage.Credit: Jason South Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time Heidelberg West is a suburb full of contradictions It also shares part of a name with its neighbours More than a quarter of Heidelberg West’s households are social housing compared with 3.6 per cent nationwide and 3.8 per cent a few blocks away That’s quite a difference between two suburbs separated by the block between Waiora and Waterdale roads For such a small area – less than 10 square kilometres – there are vast differences between these three suburbs The 2021 census showed households in Heidelberg reported a weekly household median income of $2012 residents a few streets away in Heidelberg West had a median household weekly income of $1257 Brother Harry Prout outside his Liberty Parade home.Credit: Wayne Taylor compared with $730,000 for Heidelberg West Banyule City Council describes the Olympic Park precinct in Heidelberg West as being one of the most disadvantaged communities in the country this is a place with a fiercely proud community spirit And few embody that like Brother Harry Prout A member of the Marist Brothers order of Catholics Prout shares a modest home with Brother Doug Walsh on Liberty Parade in the Olympic Village Their pre-fabricated concrete home, which almost 60 years ago hosted members of the Danish men’s team during the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games supports about 100 local families thanks to some 50 volunteers “There’s really good stuff that happens around the place and there’s really awful stuff that happens “But most of the awful stuff has got to do with people who are struggling with addictions so that can create some challenging behaviours in the area.” Olympic Village was built to house international athletes venturing to the other side of the world for Melbourne’s summer Games – the first to be held outside Europe and North America Olympic Village’s houses were returned to the Australian public for public housing Tobruk Avenue and Malahang Parade – carried memories of World War II while the large blocks and tree-lined streets still evoke a 1950s suburban memory Prout estimates about half the original homes in the streets bordered by Southern Road According to census data, 22.8 per cent of homes in West Heidelberg and Bellfield were social housing in 2021– down from 25.2 per cent in 2016 Drive around the area and you’ll see dozens of shopping trolleys littering nature strips with hard rubbish colonising verges and front yards and weather-worn pairs of shoes dangling over powerlines Heidelberg West’s Olympic Village turns 70 in 2026.Credit: Jason South But amidst the visible signs of struggle are public housing properties with meticulously planted and maintained gardens and groups of neighbours chatting at their fence lines and looking out for each other He is standing in the middle of Bell Street Mall which opened in 1956 and is thought to be Australia’s first drive-in shopping mall He waves at passing locals: “It’s an amazing community because they understand each other and what people need.” The list of things Heidelberg West needs is long Melican’s own priorities are a permanent library for Heidelberg West a funding boost to the community hub (which feeds educates and trains thousands of people every week) A Banyule Council paper describes the leisure pool as being in such a dire condition it no longer meets child-safety standards will only get worse without urgent state government funding “The surrounding area is beset by antisocial behaviour and the current design creates hidden corners around the centre,” the paper states “Locals say they don’t feel safe to walk in the area at night.” Banyule mayor Tom Melican says Bell Street Mall is one of his favourite places in the area.Credit: Wayne Taylor Banyule Support and Information Centre (BANSIC) volunteer co-ordinator Kate Farrelly set up a makeshift food hub in a state government-owned building across the road from the Mall “It’s not uncommon for us to have people waiting outside before we open,” Farrelly says is concerned about the gradual erosion of public housing which has slowly been making way for privately owned housing stock West Heidelberg is a suburb that advocates for more public housing Not many other suburbs are asking for more.” chief executive of the Banyule Community Health Service in West Heidelberg acknowledges the community faces challenges this place is more than the sum of its problems “It has a truly authentic community feel to it,” he says over tea in the light-filled cafe inside the health service “We talk about diverse and authentic communities for a single mum of six children,” he continues She rode her bike until she was in her 90s and there was so much love there for her and what she achieved You see the pride of community looking after themselves.” Peter Castaldo is a former mayor and Greens councillor on Banyule Council He nominates the area’s open spaces as among his favourite local places including the once-unloved Malahang Park in Heidelberg West people flocked to Malahang during the COVID-19 pandemic “It’s turned into almost a community fair on nice days – there’s so many things for kids to do,” Castaldo says a bike repair shop … It used to be a place you wouldn’t think of going to Heidelberg West has an unemployment rate of 8.4 per cent compared with 5.3 per cent across Greater Melbourne In some parts of Heidelberg West and Heidelberg the youth unemployment rate is 40 per cent But while Heidelberg West has a battler reputation, the number of recorded criminal incidents in the suburb is lower than in other parts of Banyule. Heidelberg itself led the way in the 12 months to September 2023 with 1249 incidents; dwarfing Heidelberg West (627) and Heidelberg Heights (450) Social worker Abdiaziz Farah is manager of Himilo Community Connect an organisation working on the development and empowerment of the Australian-Somali community in and around Heidelberg West Migrants born in Somalia began arriving in large groups in the 1990s and by the 2000s “It is a community that is transitioning from resettlement to integration,” Farah says but most of our population are born in Australia.” a community organisation that’s changing lives in Heidelberg West.Credit: Jason South It’s believed Banyule has the largest Australian-Somali population in Victoria and Farah doesn’t buy the official estimate of 1000 people Farah has worked tirelessly to reduce the challenges faced by many in Australian-Somali communities including systemic barriers to education “West Heidelberg has got a high number of public housing and with that comes intergenerational poverty,” he says Himilo has worked to secure jobs for 600 Australian-Somalis from Heidelberg West and has established a homework club attended by 240 children Farah points to research showing Somali-Australians who complete university degrees have the same employment outcomes as people from the broader community who left school in year 10 “So that’s the obvious impact of discrimination and racism but also lack of networks that facilitate employment,” he says “So we’re building those networks from the ground up.” Less than two kilometres and a world away is Heidelberg which retains some of the English village feel built up over decades from its colonial inception in the 1880s Children climbing up the wire fence at the Melbourne Olympic Village on 21 November Heidelberg was a town on the outskirts of the city until it was absorbed into metropolitan Melbourne after World War II Heidelberg Historical Society member Steven Barlow says Burgundy Street in the pre-gold rush 1840s and 1850s had a blacksmith a post office (now gone) and two pubs (still there) Barlow believes the suburb’s enduring heritage character stems from the suburb’s railway station which opened in 1888 as a terminal station It was only in 1902 that the rail line was extended to Eltham which led to Heidelberg being slowly developed It was this “end of the line” feel that attracted the famed members of the Heidelberg school of art who painted en plein air in a large area including what is now Heidelberg “Heidelberg was attractive to artists at the Heidelberg school because the land around here was partly Australian and partly European,” Barlow says and the train meant they were able to get here with the local railway But the railway wasn’t good enough to attract suburban development and settlement for a long time.” Burgundy Street in Heidelberg.Credit: Jason South The hospital precinct – comprising the Austin Austin Acute Psychiatric and Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital and a host of primary care facilities – employs thousands of workers (with more than 11,000 people employed by the Austin alone) Banyule Council describes the health cluster as a “world-class health precinct of state significance” but faces challenges in better integrating it – and its workers – into the local area Banyule’s Structure Plan describes the health precinct and Heidelberg’s commercial centre as being “two economies” that rarely interact “The economies of the health precinct and [Heidelberg’s] commercial precincts are currently quite distinct with only two in 100 visitors typically moving between them,” it says The sheer number of people commuting to Heidelberg is projected to rapidly rise if the Allan government’s Suburban Rail Loop comes to fruition Heidelberg is one of seven new stations set to comprise the north section of the rail loop (Heidelberg Broadmeadows and Melbourne Airport) by 2053 although it is unclear whether this will involve a second station at Heidelberg or the replacement of the 1800s station Banyule Council says the rail loop project will elevate Heidelberg into being a substantial transport hub with regional accessibility But key to this will be managing the rapid growth around the health precinct Banyule Council says Heidelberg is the major activity centre in Melbourne’s north-east and there is “genuine expectation” that Heidelberg will have higher density developments than in other suburbs A new structure plan envisages height limits in the activity centre of central Heidelberg of between 11 metres and 32 metres while also protecting the heritage areas that Heidelberg locals love More than a quarter of Heidelberg West\\u2019s households are social housing That\\u2019s quite a difference between two suburbs separated by the block between Waiora and Waterdale roads For such a small area \\u2013 less than 10 square kilometres \\u2013 there are vast differences between these three suburbs which almost 60 years ago hosted members of the Danish men\\u2019s team during the \\u201CThere\\u2019s really good stuff that happens around the place and there\\u2019s really awful stuff that happens \\u201CBut most of the awful stuff has got to do with people who are struggling with addictions so that can create some challenging behaviours in the area.\\u201D was built to house international athletes venturing to the other side of the world for Melbourne\\u2019s summer Games \\u2013 the first to be held outside Europe and North America Olympic Village\\u2019s houses were returned to the Australian public for public housing The streets \\u2013 including Kokoda Street Tobruk Avenue and Malahang Parade \\u2013 carried memories of World War II in West Heidelberg and Bellfield were social housing in 2021\\u2013 down from 25.2 per cent in 2016 Drive around the area and you\\u2019ll see dozens of shopping trolleys littering nature strips and support each other,\\u201D says Tom Melican which opened in 1956 and is thought to be Australia\\u2019s first drive-in shopping mall He waves at passing locals: \\u201CIt\\u2019s an amazing community because they understand each other and what people need.\\u201D Melican\\u2019s own priorities are a permanent library for Heidelberg West \\u201CThe surrounding area is beset by antisocial behaviour and the current design creates hidden corners around the centre,\\u201D the paper states \\u201CLocals say they don\\u2019t feel safe to walk in the area at night.\\u201D \\u201CIt\\u2019s not uncommon for us to have people waiting outside before we open,\\u201D Farrelly says Not many other suburbs are asking for more.\\u201D \\u201CIt has a truly authentic community feel to it,\\u201D he says over tea in the light-filled cafe inside the health service \\u201CWe talk about diverse and authentic communities for a single mum of six children,\\u201D he continues \\u201CShe did the paper round for 40 years You see the pride of community looking after themselves.\\u201D He nominates the area\\u2019s open spaces as among his favourite local places \\u201CIt\\u2019s turned into almost a community fair on nice days \\u2013 there\\u2019s so many things for kids to do,\\u201D Castaldo says \\u201CThere\\u2019s an enclosed soccer pitch a bike repair shop \\u2026 It used to be a place you wouldn\\u2019t think of going to but it\\u2019s absolutely marvellous now.\\u201D But while Heidelberg West has a battler reputation the number of recorded criminal incidents in the suburb is lower than in other parts of Banyule Heidelberg itself led the way with 1249 incidents; dwarfing Heidelberg West (627) and Heidelberg Heights (450) \\u201CIt is a community that is transitioning from resettlement to integration,\\u201D Farah says \\u201CWe don\\u2019t want to be seen as the others but most of our population are born in Australia.\\u201D It\\u2019s believed Banyule has the largest Australian-Somali population in Victoria and Farah doesn\\u2019t buy the official estimate of 1000 people so I wouldn\\u2019t believe that,\\u201D he laughs \\u201CWest Heidelberg has got a high number of public housing and with that comes intergenerational poverty,\\u201D he says \\u201CWhat we want to do is break that cycle.\\u201D \\u201CSo that\\u2019s the obvious impact of discrimination and racism but also lack of networks that facilitate employment,\\u201D he says \\u201CSo we\\u2019re building those networks from the ground up.\\u201D Barlow believes the suburb\\u2019s enduring heritage character stems from the suburb\\u2019s railway station It was this \\u201Cend of the line\\u201D feel that attracted the famed members of the \\u201CHeidelberg was attractive to artists at the Heidelberg school because the land around here was partly Australian and partly European,\\u201D Barlow says But the railway wasn\\u2019t good enough to attract suburban development and settlement for a long time.\\u201D The hospital precinct \\u2013 comprising the Austin and a host of primary care facilities \\u2013 employs thousands of workers (with more than 11,000 people employed by the Austin alone) Banyule Council describes the health cluster as a \\u201Cworld-class health precinct of state significance\\u201D but faces challenges in better integrating it \\u2013 and its workers \\u2013 into the local area Banyule\\u2019s Structure Plan describes the health precinct and Heidelberg\\u2019s commercial centre as being \\u201Ctwo economies\\u201D that rarely interact \\u201CThe economies of the health precinct and [Heidelberg\\u2019s] commercial precincts are currently quite distinct with only two in 100 visitors typically moving between them,\\u201D it says The sheer number of people commuting to Heidelberg is projected to rapidly rise if the Allan government\\u2019s Suburban Rail Loop comes to fruition Banyule Council says Heidelberg is the major activity centre in Melbourne\\u2019s north-east and there is \\u201Cgenuine expectation\\u201D that Heidelberg will have higher density developments than in other suburbs The apple never falls too far from the tree sold his well-loved Melbourne business in 2018 he should have known that his son would eventually get back into the family trade “I absolutely loved working there,” says Pat Cremean “I’ve grown up in a pie company for basically my whole life: as a kid I remember kicking pastry around the factory and bringing party pies to all the parties – my mates used to love it the young pastry scion travelled around and worked a succession of corporate jobs but nothing ever hit the highs of the pie game a pandemic-triggered redundancy gave Pat some unexpected free time fired up the oven and put on a charity pie sale All the old Boscastle fans came out of the woodwork and it was a roaring success travel spots and more – curated by those who know people who hadn’t been able to get our sorts of pies for a few years were chomping at the bit – they just couldn’t go enough of them,” Pat says Just over a year later he opened the Pieman’s Son in Heidelberg Heights The small shop is on the site that housed Arnold’s Swiss Home Made Cakes Pat remembers the queues that used to form outside Arnold’s on a Saturday his pies are starting to make queues at the same place The hefty pies – which come in single and family sizes – come in all the usual flavours: classic beef Pat ran a beef ragu special that sold too well to leave the menu One of the star vegetarian pies is inspired by the fillings of a spanakopita: for that pie Ingredients in the pies and other dishes will change depending on what’s in season and growing well up there such as pork and fennel sausage rolls and big hunks of vanilla slice there’s about a half-dozen cakes available by the slice (the current bestseller is the pistachio and lime) which is best enjoyed with coffee – beans come from St Remio which include everything from pasta sauces to lasagnes and meatballs If you’ve got a kid’s – or a fun adult’s – party coming up then be sure to grab a dozen party pies from the freezer Pieman’s Son has been such a word-of-mouth success that it’s even seen Terry get back on the tools “It’s forced him out of retirement temporarily “It’s reminding him of what he was like when he first started out so he’s absolutely loving it.” piemans.com.au Bakeries and Restaurants That Opened or Closed in April 32 of the Hottest Dishes and Drinks in Melbourne Right Now Menu Reveal: Five Things To Order at Junda Khoo’s Ho Liao First Look: Filipino Pop-Up Palay Moves to Fitzroy for Good Heidelberg West, in Melbourne's north-east, has quietly made a name for itself off the back of its more established suburbs of Ivanhoe, Preston, and Heidelberg Not just an extension of Heidelberg, Heidelberg West has been around for over a century, with the Heidelberg West Post Office dating back to the early 1920s The area went on to host the Olympic Village at the 1952 Summer Olympics The small suburb's borders stretch from the start of Darebin Creek Forest Park and Olympic Park on the west to Waterdale Road to the east has plans in place to renovate the historic Bell St Mall a sign of further infrastructure investment in the area On the border to the north of Heidelberg West is the La Trobe University which has extensive plans to become a world-class University City of the Future with development of the 235 hectare campaus La Trobe has been identified as the anchor in the Victorian Government’s La Trobe National Employment and Innovation Cluster, one of seven clusters to be developed, to support the projected significant employment and residential growth in Melbourne’s North The new infrastructure will turn the campus 'inside out' and welcome the local community onto the campus as a place to live The University City of the Future will create: - Education facilities for 40,000+ students - $3.5 billion in Gross Regional Product (GRP) over the next 10 years Infrastructure will be furthered at Precinct 6A, on the corner of Bell Street and Waterdale Road, where there's been a rezoning by the local council for multi-level residential development, essentially leading to the gateway of the Heidelberg Precinct and Activity Centre The precinct will feature increased residential density to support the expanded job opportunities of the nearby LaTrobe National Employment and Innovation cluster This has been highlighted in the Heidelberg Structure Plan currently adopted by Council and is expected to be delivered in the near future to accommodate the growth of the area One of the newest developments set to take advantage of the future infrastructure pipeline in the area is Cultivate, Heidelberg West's first high-rise development with stricter building heights now put in place as the residential development pipeline builds major retail centres and the Yarra Valley Parklands all close by Apartments at Cultivate start from just $369,000 for a one-bedroom apartment and $479,000 for the two-bedroom units, considerably less than Heidelberg West's $650,000 median for two-bedroom apartments Three-bedroom apartments start from $727,200 Construction is expected to begin early next year with a completion date slated for the end of 2023 We're on a mission to radically improve the quality of Urban communities being developed across Australia We aim to showcase every development in Australia to help you find the perfect new home Investors have been witness to the growing attractiveness of Melbourne’s Avid Property Group in recent years as the ramping government expenditure totalling more than half a billion dollars has started to snowball the suburb's underlying value Heidelberg West apartments have seen 5.3 per cent price growth per annum over the past 10 years Population growth has been similarly steady up 1.3 per cent per annum for the past decade Demographics in the Heidelberg West area reflect a younger age demographic, with a higher proportion of residents renting their property. Some 59 percent of residents are renters, more than double the 28 per cent in Greater Melbourne average And there’s potential for further growth in the area due to the $160 million Olympia Housing Initiative, which is set to revitalise housing in Heidelberg West, Heidelberg Heights and Bellfield Outdated public housing is being replaced by more housing more appropriate to local demographics There’s also the proposition of the $50 million redeveloped town square in Heidelberg West as well as $210 million development in neighbouring Ivanhoe of an 8,900 sqm site that will include residential Growth in median weekly rents has been steady in the Heidelberg West/Heidelberg rental area over the past decade. Data indicates that one-bedroom units achieved the strongest growth, at 6.5% per annum for the last 10 years. This is above the Greater Melbourne average of 5% two and three bedroom units grew at 5.2% and 4.3% per annum respectively indicating continued demand for rental units across all sizes Heidelberg West has the lowest rental vacancy rate among the surrounding suburbs indicating a very walkable neighbourhood with easy access to grammar schools and colleges It also has extensive transport links and a direct road network Cultivate is located 12km north east of Melbourne’s CBD The proportion of residents working in white collar roles has been on the rise in Heidelberg West high proportion of renters and prevalence of lone person households is supportive of demand for apartment housing This is typical of a suburb that is undergoing gentrification and the same trend is evident in the adjacent suburbs nearer the Melbourne CBD It was even named a National Employment and Innovation Cluster by the Victorian Planning Authority National Employment Clusters are defined as, designated geographic concentrations of interconnected businesses and institutions that make a major contribution to the national economy and Melbourne’s position as a global city. We're on a mission to radically improve the quality of Urban communities being developed across Australia. We aim to showcase every development in Australia to help you find the perfect new home! AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced Lalor and Heidelberg Heights have been tipped for a bumper year in 2023 by one of Australia’s top real estate gurus And they’re joined by the hometown of the AFL’s worst-performing football team in 2022 In the annual McGrath Report for 2023 one of the nation’s most successful real estate agents and the firm’s chief executive John McGrath has tipped the proposed revitalisation of the Yarra River’s bank and the ongoing Metro Tunnel project to begin driving property market wins within the next 12 months RELATED: Buyers wrestling back control of 2022 home selling season Which suburbs you should invest in right now Victorian man trying to sell own home for 8.5 years topped Mr McGrath’s list of future growth stars with the founder of McGrath Real Estate giving it the nod thanks to a state and local government pilot program to transform the suburb into a 20-minute neighbourhood was second on his list of Victorian areas to watch in 2022 He’s singled it out for the future benefits of Arden station being built as part of the new Metro Tunnel project which will help take it from a gentrifying neighbourhood to a property powerhouse in the years ahead Affordable Lalor ($723,000) and the rapidly gentrifying Heidelberg Heights ($998,000) were also picked out by Mr McGrath who described both as family amenity-filled suburbs that had “flown under the radar for years” MORE: Cheapest suburbs close to CBD revealed Who are the top 20 biggest builders in Australia a cheaper neighbour to Queenscliff near Geelong was the only regional area to make the predictions list Mr McGrath said it was likely to benefit from those buyers lured by a growing cafe and restaurant scene that compliments its seaside-village vibe All of the suburbs could benefit from a resurgent demand in Victorian property with the 22-23 McGrath Report also noting soaring immigration numbers since Australia opened its borders after the pandemic — migrants who will be competing for homes most likely initially as tenants but eventually as buyers Mr McGrath said there would be ongoing impacts from Covid-19 as the pandemic continued to turn “a lot of long-term trends in Australian property on their head” He said regional areas were likely to remain in demand in 2023 but noted it could be tree-changes rather than sea-changes that would attract most city-slicker buyers’ attention While the pandemic is now in the rear-view mirror Mr McGrath noted workers would likely seek to hang onto the home office as it had given them a chance at a dream lifestyle they couldn’t afford closer to the big smoke like this at 129 Waiora Road have been highlighted in the McGrath report he said he expected to see more new homes being built next year featuring designs that complemented families spending more time at home — a trend likely to be compounded by the rising cost of living MORE: Victorian property market update: Who’s best on ground so far in 2022? Auction buying guide: Why Victorian home seekers are in the box seat this spring Harry Potter and the Cursed Child star Gareth Reeves: ‘I never thought I’d own a house’ West Heidelberg resident Maxine lives in a house originally built for athletes from the USA during the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games Link copiedShareShare articleNearly 60 years after Melbourne hosted the Olympic Games those living in the former athletes village still suffer the effects of a rushed development and public housing policies of the time It is on the fringes of Melbourne's affluent eastern suburbs that this small Olympic village community of West Heidelberg struggles with some of the nation's highest levels of crime and poverty But as resident Maxine tells kids on her village tours Clare Rawlinson traces the village back to its glorious beginnings to find out how West Heidelberg came to be as it is today The entrance to the Olympic village in Alamein Road Walking down Liberty Parade in West Heidelberg there is no obvious evidence of the suburb's Olympic history Modest cottages and two-storey flats are bordered by overgrown verges and the occasional abandoned shopping trolley long-term resident Maxine gives a group of private school students a tour "Usually when it's quiet it means it's the calm before the storm," she tells the students "Something's going to happen in the next day or two — police doing their drug busts or someone got shot or murdered "I call this place a yin-yang; for every good there's a bad and for every bad there's a good." Maxine is one of about 2,000 public housing residents living in the Olympic village today Her house was first home to athletes from the United States She points out from memory the nationalities of several other houses as we walk through the streets with each block dedicated to a different country Japan's athletes were relegated to the northern fringe of the village less-welcome competitors in the 1956 Games so soon after the end of World War II The only place the Olympic history is really evident is on Alamein Road where the coloured rings still hang proudly near the entrance to the former athletes dining hall Maxine runs the tours partly because of her pride for the village's history to teach the students "what it's like to live in a poverty area" the athletes village was converted to public housing and used to accommodate slum dwellers from around Melbourne Social historian Robin Grow says there was a serious housing shortage at the time "This is where they proposed to house a lot of people," he said the suburb had become a cluster of low socio-economic groups: returned soldiers from the Camp Pell slum (known then as Camp Hell) Cracking and mould are major issues in the old athletes housing in West Heidelberg The athletes blocks were never built for the long term and the swampy nature of the area has made them prone to cracking and mould generational disadvantage among the community was compounded by the ageing housing stock and in the 1975 Henderson inquiry into poverty West Heidelberg was listed as a "district of special need" "Certainly it was a fierce place to visit "It was the place we really didn't want to have to come play football against the locals." Victoria's now-Children's Commissioner Bernie Geary was an inexperienced and optimistic youth worker "There was this notion of West Heidelberg being like the Bronx," he said Mr Geary remembers the moment reality hit him: early on in the job he made a home visit for one of the young people he was working with to chat to the boy's parents about school attendance "I went up one evening in the semi darkness and walked in to his father hanging from his neck from a rafter," he said something I'd have a dash at or stick with - and I'm so glad I stayed in it "I had to run away and hide in my car "I had to work out if this was just a gig something I'd have a dash at or stick with — and I'm so glad I stayed in it." Mr Geary joined forces with another youth worker and they developed the Banyule Community Health Service which is now a central hub for the village Mr Pasinas said he was seduced by the village community and its warts-and-all But he lamented the entrenched disadvantage that so many residents still experience "In the future they should never build communities like this," he said they need to build communities with different aspects to them "But in the '60s and '70s that was the way things were done West Heidelberg is among the 5 per cent of most disadvantaged communities in Australia according to the Victorian Council of Social Service It is among the 20 Australian suburbs with the highest rate of criminal convictions and last year was reported as the suburb with the most burglaries in all of Melbourne The Tenants Union of Victoria says it sees a large number of public housing tenants in the village with chronic repair issues that are often left unattended by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) who now works at the Banyule Community Health Service that his father established in the 1980s Almost 40 years after Mr Geary began working in the village his son Mick has ended up in a similar position Mick Geary faces many of the same challenges that were present 40 years ago "We have incredible difficulties with people experiencing trauma on a daily basis because of the effects of poverty," he said "Then we have issues with the 'ageing stock' as the bureaucrats call it We have pretty intense living situations — blocks built 60 years ago and not for the families of today." Mick Geary says children regularly present at the Banyule Community Health Service with respiratory issues related to chronic mould in the athletes houses He regularly advocates to the DHHS on behalf of public housing residents in the village who are living in conditions unfit for children "The frustrating thing is you have to sometimes be the wheel that squeaks the loudest," he said Maxine and friend Kerry say they 'don't have much money Maxine came to the village 30 years ago as a runaway foster child She was 16 years old and living on the streets in Frankston when she was offered public housing in West Heidelberg She was a self-professed "wild child"; a drug dealer who would fight her way out of trouble But when her long-term boyfriend died unexpectedly four years ago the Banyule community council and the farmers' market." Maxine said the community was slowly reclaiming its Olympic pride and people were starting to realise how special their village is which was once so stigmatised locals would change it on their job applications is now printed on T-shirts reading "I love 3081" DHHS said it was working to replace public housing in the village through the Olympia Renewal Project the department is upgrading original athletes blocks and moving residents into new public housing while also incorporating more private housing and migrant communities I'm telling you now this is a beautiful place The only way you'd get me out of here is to carry me out in a box "The evidence shows us that where we have a more diverse community the perception by the rest of the community changes," said DHHS director of housing Arthur Rogers "In terms of public housing properties it will look quite different [in 10 years' time] because we will have upgraded 600 of them where there is a great history and there is a great future." Despite the challenges many living in the village face Maxine says West Heidelberg is her home now "I'm sick and tired of everyone saying oh what a scummy area'," she said The only way you'd get me out of here is to carry me out in a box." the village represents a community of people who are doing it tough together And like the Olympic athletes who once shared their homes the residents are determined to do their best at it This story is featured in the second season of 774 ABC Melbourne's Invisible History podcast. This article contains content that is not available. 4/41 Nicholson Cres, Meadow Heights is on the market — and could be one of the suburbs set for price boom in 2024 The number of prospective homebuyers hunting for more affordable properties further away from the centre of Melbourne could be an indicator to the suburbs ready to boom in 2024 New PropTrack data showed regions like Coolaroo and Meadow Heights — which experienced a high number of inquiries per property but lower than average price growth over the past 12 months – could be areas that could take off this year RELATED: What 2023 property predictions ended up being right and wrong Victoria’s 50 most jaw-dropping homes revealed Immigration surge fuels Melbourne’s top markets Rapid rises in rents were a factor driving demand for units outside of the city’s inner ring while Melbourne’s northwest and southeastern suburbs were the most popular for house buyers Coolaroo topped the list with 25 inquiries per house for sale with a typical price of $507,000 after rising just $1385 last year – just half the median house price of $916,000 of Greater Melbourne an average of 21 interested buyers reached out to the agents of each house listed in Wandong at the same time prices fell by almost $22,000 Meadow Heights was the top performer for units with around 15 inquiries per listing and apartments or townhouses typically costing around $460,000 – thousands below the city’s median unit price of $614,000 33 Flynn Cres, Coolaroo is up for sale with a $550,000 price guide The three-bedroom house is listed with Ray White Glenroy PropTrack senior economist Paul Ryan said people were searching further away from the CBD for more affordable home options especially entry-level buyers and young families “The push for affordability has been the other big trend we’ve seen over the past six months to a year,” Mr Ryan said “People have been searching further afield given the strain of affordability across the city.” Mr Ryan said the push for affordability had been a big trend in 2023 Buyers advocate Emily Wallace said Melburnians were turning to areas where their money went further with the lack of affordability in the middle metro-ring people will start to look outwards,” Ms Wallace said “I think the suburbs that will do the best out of those are the ones that have the right infrastructure for transport to the CBD.” childless couples looking to start a family and investors reallocating funds were driving demand The two-bedroom unit is listed with YPA Hume City She added that her top picks from PropTrack’s data would be Melton and Dallas as well as Pascoe Vale and Oakleigh Ms Wallace said northern suburbs Hadfield and Glenroy had experienced considerable strength in 2023 “You can still get a family home under $1m (in Hadfield) but I dare say that window is closing and it’s been extremely competitive,” she said she said her two other choices for next year were Murrumbeena and Hughesdale which had always had higher median home prices but the demand had started to “seep through” from those that may have been priced out of Carnegie Rank – Suburb – Median House Price – YoY Change ($) – Inquiries Per Listing Rank – Suburb – Median Unit Price – YoY Change ($) – Inquiries Per Listing Patterson Lakes – $656,000 – (-$1382) – 13 MORE: Suburbs where there are 25+ serious buyers per home Houses for $469k? Vic’s most affordable suburbs revealed Family’s tip to turn home auction into emotional battle Buyers priced out of the inner northern suburbs should look to Reservoir Savvy homebuyers could save themselves hundreds of thousands of dollars by looking just a few minutes up the road with neighbouring suburbs often offering the same lifestyle for less Melbourne’s citywide house median of $1.07m is well out of reach of many buyers’ budgets a typical house in Ivanhoe will set buyers back about $1.66m according to information provided by the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) where the median is $780,000 could amount to a $887,500 saving RELATED: Affordable ‘burbs in price boom Check what your home will be worth in 2027 where you can buy 31 Bishop Ave for $880,000-$960,000 which is less than a typical house in Ivanhoe And inking a deal for a Heidelberg Heights property Both “bridesmaid” suburbs are less than an eight-minute drive from Ivanhoe and within easy reach of many of the same schools The REIV research shows similar savings could be applied to postcodes across greater Melbourne with buyers able to wipe hundreds of thousands of dollars from their future mortgage Buyers eyeing off Lower Plenty with its $1.76m median could save a decent buck moving to Yallambie instead And those looking at Altona ($1.16m) could find something cheaper in Laverton ($572,000) Ray White Preston agent Ian Dempsey said househunters priced out of Northcote or Thornbury were “spilling out” to suburbs like Reservoir sometimes even better” than those closer to the city and a more renovated home for a more competitive price,” Mr Dempsey said “And you can live and play now in Reservoir — you don’t have to go to other suburbs to eat out or go to a bar.” Buyer behaviour had changed since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic with people now less concerned about purchasing in a specific suburb and instead prioritising what was important to them in their immediate neighbourhood “Mindsets and lives have changed and that’s why there’s a cross pollination of buyers across suburbs now,” Mr Dempsey said the old perception of (good or bad) neighbourhoods has completely turned.” where 38 Wattle Ave is for sale for $480,000-$510,000 REIV president Adam Docking advised buyers to “think about what you’re buying a property for” and not fret about the specific suburb the house you buy very quickly becomes the home you love,” Mr Docking said Expanding their search to bridesmaid suburbs could have the added benefit of allowing buyers to get into the market while they could still afford to “Don’t wait to be able to get into your aspirational suburb because prices could increase again and put you further out,” Mr Docking said “Look at what you’re buying it for and pick a house and a home you want to live in “Everything is close by in the suburbs so if you have to travel an extra 2-3 minutes buyers aspiring for the beachy lifestyle of Barwon Heads ($1.5155m) could save by considering Ocean Grove ($890,000) while the Ballarat suburb of Redan ($433,000) could put an extra $42,000 in purchasers’ pockets when compared with Delacombe ($475,000) Renters could also save by moving a suburb over with a typical home in Hampton East costing $550 per week — $80 less than Bentleigh ($630 per week median rent) a rental in Forest Hill ($460) or Hoppers Crossing ($350) is cheaper than nearby Vermont South ($550 per week) or Williams Landing ($450) Reservoir locals Simon Grieve and Stacey Maden recently sold the 39 Taylor Ave property they purchased as a first home in 2016 after being priced out of Thornbury and Brunswick The couple completely renovated the brick home They gutted and modernised the three-bedroom home including opening up the living and dining space When Melbourne couple Stacey Maden and Simon Grieve were hunting for their first home in 2016 they quickly realised where they wanted to live and where they could afford to buy were two different things had their hearts set on the inner north but they began looking to neighbouring “bridesmaid” suburbs — eventually purchasing a house in Reservoir “It was our first home and like everyone else we got priced out of Thornbury and Preston,” Ms Maden recalled “Reservoir was the next closest we could afford At the time it was just the price point and distance to the city (that mattered).” Five years, a full house renovation, two children and two dogs later, the couple have now sold their 39 Taylor Ave abode to move to Frankston South But they say the decision to buy a little further out paid off in droves with the suburb offering everything they wanted and more “In the last five years Reservoir has changed heaps it’s getting cooler and the shops and cafes are getting nice,” Ms Maden said “There’s a younger generation coming through We can walk pretty much everywhere — we have a dog park that backs onto outhouse and there’s footy and cricket there too Edwards Park Lake and you’re also close to the Preston Market.” She added they were “proud” of their first home BRIDESMAID SUBURBS WITH THE BIGGEST SAVINGS Suburb — cheaper bridesmaid suburb (price difference) IVANHOE $1,667,500 > HEIDELBERG WEST $780,000 ($887,500) LOWER PLENTY $1,760,000 > YALLAMBIE $945,000 ($815,000) WONGA PARK $1,690,000 > CHIRNSIDE PARK $875,000 ($815,000) LAKE WENDOUREE $1,150,000 > WENDOUREE $417,000 ($733,000) NARRE WARREN NORTH $1,413,000 > NARRE WARREN $680,000 ($733,000) WONGA PARK $1,690,000 > CROYDON NORTH $965,000 ($725,000) NARRE WARREN NORTH $1,413,000 > ENDEAVOUR HILLS $715,000 ($698,000) IVANHOE $1,667,500 > HEIDELBERG HEIGHTS $983,000 ($684,500) BARWON HEADS $1,515,500 > OCEAN GROVE $890,000 ($625,500) RESEARCH $1,610,000 > DIAMOND CREEK $990,000 ($620,000) BRIGHTON EAST $1,433,000 > ORMOND $618,000 ($815,000) BEAUMARIS $1,359,000 > MENTONE $727,500 ($631,500) BEAUMARIS $1,359,000 > CHELTENHAM $755,000 ($604,000) BENTLEIGH EAST $1,180,000 > MURRUMBEENA $580,000 ($600,000) TOORAK $1,190,000 > HAWTHORN $595,000 ($595,000) CAULFIELD SOUTH $1,198,000 > ORMOND $618,000 ($580,000) TOORAK $1,190,000 > PRAHRAN $630,000 ($560,000) TOORAK $1,190,000 > SOUTH YARRA $640,000 ($550,000) BRIGHTON EAST $1,433,000 > MOORABBIN $892,500 ($540,500) TOORAK $1,180 > SOUTH YARRA $743 ($438) CANTERBURY $950 > SURREY HILLS $650 ($300) HAMPTON $838 > HAMPTON EAST $550 ($288) BLACK ROCK $860 > CHELTENHAM $575 ($285) BRIGHTON EAST $630 > GARDENVALE $285 ($345) BENTLEIGH EAST $598 > MURRUMBEENA $350 ($248) BRIGHTON EAST $630 > ORMOND $395 ($235) BRIGHTON EAST $630 > CAULFIELD SOUTH $410 ($220) BEAUMARIS $640 > CHELTENHAM $430 ($210) BENTLEIGH EAST $598 > CARNEGIE $390 ($208) BENTLEIGH EAST $598 > ORMOND $395 ($203) BENTLEIGH EAST $598 > HUGHESDALE $400 ($198) The data only looked at bridesmaid suburbs that recorded a median price less than $1 million and with at least a $10,000 price difference compared to the hot spots suburbs that can save at least $50 per week by moving to the surrounding suburbs were included Data is based on 12 months ending the quarter and only includes suburb with at least 30 sales for houses and 25 sales for units in the same period MORE: Notorious rugby brawler splashes $16.5m in Brighton How luxe build could change the suburbs Brighton East mansion poised to double record Sofina Nikat with her daughter Sanaya Sahib. (Facebook) Link copiedShareShare articleA woman who killed her 14-month-old daughter in Melbourne's north-east has pleaded not guilty to murder, with lawyers arguing her postnatal depression pointed to infanticide. Sofina Nikat, 23, has been committed to stand trial for the murder of toddler Sanaya Sahib, who was found dead in a creek at Heidelberg West last year. The court heard Nikat had admitted killing her daughter by covering her airways and throwing her into the water. Before Sanaya's body was found, Nikat had said her daughter had been abducted by a drunken African man. Defence barrister Chris Dane QC argued the evidence of the mother's postnatal depression pointed to infanticide rather than murder. Magistrate Luisa Bazzani ruled there was sufficient evidence to prosecute a charge of murder. Nikat then entered a plea of not guilty. Forensic pathologist Dr Victoria Francis earlier told the Melbourne Magistrates' Court the child had injuries to her face and the front and back of her body, but autopsy results were inconclusive about the precise cause of death. Dr Francis said Sanaya had injuries inside and around her mouth that were consistent with external compression of her airways. She said drowning could not be excluded as a cause of death, as the child's body had been found face down in the creek. Nikat wiped away tears with a tissue as her child's injuries were described to the court. The court was told Nikat suffered postnatal depression and had a strained relationship with the child's father. In November 2014 she took out an intervention order against him. Her friends told police she had discussed suicide and she had also told police she wanted to kill herself. In one psychiatric report submitted to the court, Dr Yvonne Skinner concluded Nikat's actions were in line with infanticide rather than murder. Infanticide, where a parent kills a child under two years of age, carries a maximum penalty of five years in jail. Despite facing macroeconomic and policy pressures a new report showed several Melbourne suburbs have regained lost ground during the downturn and rejoined the seven-figure price tag club in June The Real Estate Institute of Victoria’s (REIV) quarterly median data showed the average value of metropolitan units rose 3.2 per cent to $630,500 The figures revealed that the biggest gainers during the period were units in the eastern suburb of Mount Waverley where the average price of an apartment climbed almost 25 per cent to $1,245,000 If you check the box above before you log in you won’t have to log back into the website next time you return even if you close your browser and come back later the prices of million-dollar units in bayside suburbs experienced a significant growth Property values in Hampton soared by 20.1 per cent prices in Brighton East also witnessed a substantial climb of 14.9 per cent resulting in an average price of $1,402,500 And while metropolitan houses recorded a 1.1 per cent decline to $937,500 in the three months to June data showed the sector also notched gains during the period Another market to return to the high-price club is the eastern suburb of Mulgrave growing from $970,000 to $1,135,000 with a 17 per cent increase Other suburbs that returned to a million-dollar median included Patterson Lakes ($1,116,000 from $865,000) Knoxfield ($1,080,500 from $862,500) and Heidelberg Heights ($1,032,500 from $905,000) REIV president Mr Andrew Meehan said stability defines the state’s property market despite macroeconomic and policy pressures He noted attractive selling and buying windows opening for participants in both metropolitan and regional areas “In another quarter of interest rate rises it’s encouraging to see such stability across Victoria’s property market,” he said transaction volumes remain strong and there are affordable buying opportunities in some of our state’s beloved coastal towns We expect to see this stability continue into the second half of the year,” Mr Meehan added quarterly house prices rose 0.6 per cent statewide to $604,500 (from $601,000) while unit medians fell 2.6 per cent to $411,500 (from $422,500) recorded the greatest quarterly house price increase of 9.9 per cent to $830,000 in the June quarter Data showed the median house price for Swan Hill rose to $472,500 bringing annual growth to 30.5 per cent – the highest among regional municipalities Despite the decline in regional unit values during the quarter REIV noted several regional towns experienced notable price increases in their unit markets Horsham saw a significant rise of 16.7 per cent with prices reaching $385,000 from $330,000 there are also opportunities remaining for those looking to enter the state’s regional market on a budget The institute noted buyers seeking homes in sought-after inner suburbs could look to pockets like Kew and Malvern which recorded quarterly declines in median house prices of more than 9 per cent to $2,900,000 and $2,775,000 several affordable suburbs became more attractive for buyers with Melton South houses sitting at $460,000 (down 2.4 per cent) and Harkness at $570,000 (down 3.4 per cent) It also highlighted affordability improved in several of the state’s most prized coastal towns with Ocean Grove houses down 10.6 per cent at $1,050,000 and Inverloch houses down 3.8 per cent at $1,000,000 Copyright © 2007-2025 Smart Property Investment Oz Car Group has leased the dealership occupied by Heidelberg Mitsubishi until 2020 The Sydney based tenant has signed a five year agreement paying a starting annual rent of $450,000 ex-GST and outgoings the property has 174 metres of Upper Heidelberg Road frontage There is also a 2586 sqm showroom with roller door access “We have seen a number of enquiries from the leading automotive brands but given its proximity to Bell Street and Austin Hospital many health/medical related uses also,” NSL Property Group director Guy Naselli who brokered Oz Car Group deal at 537 Upper Heidelberg Road The asset is owned by REIL Dealership Bonds associated with Sydney accounting firm Bentleys Heidelberg Heights is about 11 kilometres from the city Last year, at Bellfield, in the area, Glenvill Group backed by Qualitas won a council contract to develop a $220m apartment village on a 2.2 hectare block part of which once accommodated the Banksia La Trobe Secondary College Subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of this page A former property analyst and print journalist Marc is the publisher of realestatesource.com.au Forgot your password? You will receive mail with link to set new password North Warrandyte top listNews Corp Australia Viewbank has been crowned Melbourne’s speediest property market with houses typically flying off the shelves in less than three weeks Houses sold in a median of 17 days over the past year in the popular suburb which agents say is being buoyed by leafy streets and top schools Realestate.com.au data shows North Warrandyte and Seddon houses were also snapped up at rapid rates notching sales at a median of 18.5 and 19.5 days respectively North Warrandyte was snapped up earlier in July Properties in Melbourne’s northeast dominated the list of the city’s fastest-selling suburbs with speedy deals also recorded in Watsonia Jellis Craig Eltham director Aaron Yeats credited Viewbank’s quick transactions to the area’s top-quality schools “Viewbank College is particularly very sought after and even the local primary school is highly regarded,” Mr Yeats said “It definitely is selling a little faster than the suburbs surrounding and I think the reason is the suburb and the school zone are quite tight Agents say the areas are increasingly popular for families Realestate.com.au chief economist Nerida Conisbee agreed noting the fast-selling suburbs pointed towards strong interest in family homes “Particularly with the suburbs in the northeast – they are all areas that are leafy and have great access to public transport but also offer great affordability,” Ms Conisbee said Viewbank houses have a $980,000 median sale price While she expected Victoria’s stage four real estate restrictions to extend the time properties spent on the market because we can see people are still looking at houses,” she said “It’s just increasingly difficult to make that transaction at the moment.” Realestate.com.au chief economist Nerida Conisbee Sunbury scored the fastest sales of the past year in a median of 22 days followed by Clifton Hill and Elwood at 27 days Blackbird and Wren Real Estate director Ben Roberts said demand had been strong for several years for Sunbury units which were attracting first-home buyers and those looking to downsize “It’s not unheard of for a well-placed unit in Sunbury to sell after just a few days or a week on the market,” Mr Roberts said He said the market might see an upswing in fast-paced sales after lockdown as budding first-home buyers who had been forced to put their purchasing plans on hold flooded back into the market Do you go the Melbourne black for a visit to Heide Museum of Modern Art and Shannon Bennett’s Cafe Vue (Actually it’s over the Yarra River in neighbouring Bulleen Do you wear your cycling/running gear to hit the local shared paths close-ish to Preston’s Northland Shopping Centre which wiggles its way around Heidelberg’s Warringal Parklands and about-to-get-a-rest-until-cricket ovals Do you wear your PJs and bring an overnight bag Heidelberg’s well-known hospitals include the Austin Hospital the Mercy Womens and the very new Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre so you can bring your Macbook and do some work alongside your filter coffee at cool Capeside Coffee (119 Cape Street) Or you could always wear your Olympic colours as homage to the 5000 athletes who hung their uniforms up in the Heidelberg West athletes’ village during the 1956 Olympics The main Burgundy Street shopping strip is full of them: shoppers at the local Cash Converters will watch as 32 units get built and form the “contemporary living” development Villa & Forge across the road It’s a-changing. However, like in so many Melbourne areas senior property consultant at Fletchers Real Estate “The areas people are looking at here is really driven by the Viewbank College zone Viewbank is one of the best government schools around,” he says There’s a dramatic difference in prices between Heidelberg and its neighbouring suburb of Eaglemont: think a median house price of $945,000 for the former, and $1.75 million for the latter. Ivanhoe, a train station closer to the CBD than Eaglemont on the Hurstbridge line, has a median house price of $1.31 million. But more people are able to buy into Heidelberg. Thanks to a change in zoning, apartments are booming in the area, particularly on Burgundy Street. Interestingly, Dixon has found a few of the buyers of the new apartments are not new to the area. “A fair few of the older people from the area are selling their homes and buying these apartments,” he reports. At least they already probably know what to wear. The information on this website is intended to be of a general nature only and doesn't consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. where we are privileged to live and operate Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon The best of Melbourne straight to your inbox We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy Melbourne without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Melbourne Boasting over an acre of indoor aerial activities, Bounce Heidelberg offers a world of aerial entertainment for little kids and big kids alike There are over 100 interconnected trampolines dodgeball courts and basketball lanes in this indoor centre go for a round of climbing at the rock-climbing walls or tackle the six-section sky-high obstacle course There’s fun for the littlest bouncers too with a dedicated Kids Zone designed for kids aged 18 months to five years Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! twitter instagram pinterest About us Contact us Police are looking for clues to the origin of a saltwater crocodile that had to be corralled by a snake catcher in Heidelberg Heights A couple of Melbourne walkers got a Christmas Day croc shock when they found a one-metre-long saltwater crocodile in a Heidelberg Heights front yard about 8.30pm on Monday. Police were sceptical, and thought they would find a large lizard instead, but there was indeed a crocodile on the loose in suburban Melbourne. Read moreOfficers called in a snake catcher, Mark Pelley, who will hold on to the reptile until the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning can collect it. Pelley said he had received a phone call about 8.40pm from Victoria police saying: “There’s a crocodile walking the streets and it’s currently outside a medical centre.” “This is a phone call I’ve always been waiting for,” he told 3AW. “I found five police members being stared down by a decent-sized crocodile, about three and a half foot, and the crocodile wouldn’t back down.” The snake catcher’s friend tried to distract the croc so Pelley could throw something over its eyes. “However, the crocodile was a bit too smart for the both of us and decided to run off into the bush,” Pelley said. So he lunged forward to grab the creature by the tail, picked it up and put it into a box. Where the creature came from remains a mystery to police. We use cookies and other technologies to understand and improve your browsing experience. By using our site, you agree to us collecting this information and to our Privacy Charter exclusive offers and competitions to your inbox New crime statistics reveal Victoria's worst suburbs for home burglaries RACV analysis of Victoria’s latest crime statistics has revealed Braybrook and Robinson in Melbourne’s west as the city’s worst home-burglary hotspots which combines Victoria Police burglary figures for 2018-19 with postcode data to identify the riskiest and safest postcodes also found that households in suburbs including inner-city Fitzroy and Collingwood and Broadmeadows and Heidelberg in the city’s north face a significantly higher risk of burglary than the state average The police data, compiled by the Crime Statistics Agency, shows residential burglaries across the state dropped 12.6 per cent in 2018-19. The average burglary rate fell from one in 76 homes to one in 91 homes an RACV survey of more than 800 householders across metro and regional Victoria found that 25 per cent of respondents feel their local area is less safe than it was five years ago says Victorians’ perceptions of crime are symptomatic of wider concerns in their community but believes there are ways Victorians can feel safer at home and in their neighbourhoods there is still reason for concern and more importantly He says RACV research found that one in five people surveyed have sophisticated home security solutions but rarely activate them or keep them in working order Regular checks and system tests are a simple way to maintain peace of mind in the home one in five people already believe that their neighbours look out for them they look out for their neighbours,” he says “Notifying your neighbours when you’re out of the home and asking them to check your mail or put out your bins can be a helpful deterrent for criminals and helps to foster a stronger sense of community.” About one in five of those surveyed had experienced a burglary and said it made them feel scared Most respondents believe burglars are deterred by evidence of a home being occupied including not having an overflowing letterbox as well as security measures such as security systems The Crime Statistics Agency data for the 2018 calendar year found the most likely time for burglaries is on a Friday during the day More than 17 per cent of burgled houses were broken into on a Friday 14 per cent on Thursdays and 13.5 per cent on Sundays About a third of burglaries happened between noon and 6pm while 14 per cent happened between midnight and 6am Almost one in five thieves broke in by forcing a door while almost 14 per cent got in through an unlocked door While the theft of smartphones remained stable over the past 10 years Installing security systems can be a deterrent for would-be burglars “While we welcome any decline in criminal offending we know offences such as burglary or home invasion have been of concern in recent times and can have significant and long-lasting effects on victims and the wider community,” he says Victoria Police officers and Protective Service Officers will continue to proactively target known hotspots and patrol local areas to detect disrupt and apprehend offenders and keep the community safe.” Craig says five simple measures to prevent burglaries are: Banyule City Council is selling one of three ex-schools acquired from the Napthine government in 2012 The former Banksia Latrobe Secondary College at 232 Banksia Street, Bellfield is expected to trade for more than $25 million the vendor would consider splitting it into four Council has identified the area for urban renewal and is keen to see the former school replaced with housing – pushing through a rezoning allowing for apartment buildings of up to five storeys which shares the same postcode as Heidelberg West is nine kilometres north east of Melbourne’s CBD Heidelberg West and Ivanhoe: neighbouring suburbs with extreme median value Few neighbouring Melbourne suburbs show a disparity in land value like Heidelberg West and Ivanhoe homes sell for an average $1.45m (and in the part known as Eaglemont Banksia Village is across the road – or about five metres – from Ivanhoe In 2016, Banyule City Council delivered a windfall for the purchaser of Bell Street’s former Courtney and Patterson car dealership: JTX agreed to buy the block when it was zoned Heidelberg (where the median house price is presently $1.24m) Similarly, 443 Upper Heidelberg Road, a car park which Caydon recently replaced with apartments, is now known as Ivanhoe after being sold as a Heidelberg development site in 2014 Council’s windfall selling down the ex-school sites Banyule City Council is reaping its own jackpot following its decision eight years ago to spend $23.2m on three former schools within its municipality The former Bellfield Primary School on a 1.95 hectare block on the Ivanhoe side of Banksia Street opposite the site Colliers International is marketing traded to Stockland for $22.1m in 2014 and has made way for 81 townhouses Also six years ago, council offloaded the former Haig Street Primary School in Heidelberg Heights for $16m to Metricon which has since replaced the three hectare parcel with 118 double storey dwellings Located within the LaTrobe National Economic and Innovation Cluster the Bellfield offering comprises four adjoining parcels Bellfield has until recently been hidden in plain sight despite its outstanding location attributes as indicated by its shared border with Ivanhoe and the Darebin Creek parklands,” Mr Papaleo added the suburb’s large house blocks have increasingly attracted the interest of townhouse developers as well as…young families priced out of the adjoining suburbs where median house prices are at a premium of more than 70 per cent “A significant benefit of this opportunity to the purchaser is that it will allow collaboration with a committed council which has already created a planning framework that is both certain and flexible Bellfield’s urban renewal initiative – which received ministerial acceptance last month – covers the former Banksia LaTrobe Secondary College and other council owned land It is expected to result in the construction of a community hub The Banksia Village site is near LaTrobe University Austin Hospital and Heidelberg Health Precinct “More and more over the past three years we have seen the mandates of developers include large medium-density sites zoned Residential Growth in emerging suburbs,” Mr Kairouz said “Banksia Village clearly ticks all of these boxes” following the sharp correction the market experienced after years of runaway growth A total of eight suburbs have fallen to back to levels last seen in 2015 And a raft of suburbs are now at the same price point as they were in 2016 including sought-after areas such as Brighton The price falls of recent years have come amid a clampdown on mortgage lending but sentiment in the property market ticked up this week after the bank regulator proposed a loosening of lending standards The Coalition’s shock election win and a strong indication the Reserve Bank will cut interest rates to a new historic low also buoyed sentiment Some economists tipped a shallower than thought downturn with AMP Capital’s Shane Oliver revising a capital city average forecast of a 15 price drop to only 12 per cent and UBS’s George Tharenou and Carlos Cacho trimming a 14 per cent forecast fall to 10 per cent Domain economist Trent Wiltshire said the suburb-specific price falls were in line with the broader market trend; the biggest beneficiaries of the boom had also come back the most in the correction and now they were where the clock had been wound back furthest “All the suburbs that are back to 2015 or 2016 levels are all in the inner east and south,” he said “That’s where the market’s been the weakest.” Despite Brighton’s median coming back to levels last seen three years ago, Marshall White Brighton agent Stephen Smith said its appeal was still strong because of its status “The thing with Brighton is it’s beachside has family-sized lots and homes and we’ve got brilliant shopping and brilliant schools “If you have a family and you want to live by the beach and have the best Mr Smith is selling Brighton architect Piet Gouws’ home at 73 Asling Street Mr Gouws said the relative market weakness was an opportunity for him to move onto a new asset and despite coming back to a median price of $2.278 million — the level it was at in the March quarter of 2016 — the five-year growth was still strong the desirability is always going to be key in terms of maintaining a price,” he said “Brighton as a whole represents desirability Even in a soft market Brighton won’t be as affected in other areas “As a place to raise a family but also as a place to invest with your family home Mr Wiltshire said the majority of suburbs that had reset prices most were in the east and south of the city: Chadstone But he said a couple of CBD fringe suburbs in other directions had similar price falls “It’s only the odd suburb in the north and the west and the suburbs that have fallen back are the ones close to the CBD “There was lots of investor activity in these regions in the boom Kensington and Flemington were two standouts Nelson Alexander Flemington partner Paul Harrison said these two suburbs still managed to fly under the radar with buyers. “Even at the peak of the market we felt those suburbs as inner-city suburbs — and their proximity to the CBD and transport access — we thought they were largely undervalued,” he said. “Especially when you compare them to suburbs in the same proximity to the CBD. “Fitzroy and Carlton spring to mind as examples.” Mr Wiltshire said these suburbs had come back so much because they were propped up by investment activity during the boom, but he did not think they were overvalued at the peak. Industry Super Australia chief economist Stephen Anthony disagreed. He said most of Melbourne was still overvalued. “We haven’t seen value return to the residential market from an investment perspective. We haven’t reached the bottom yet,” he said. “Start from 1996, or after the last recession in Australia, and track it to 2015 and look at those same suburbs’ [prices]. “Ask yourself if they’re still overpriced. We had a long run that took fundamentals a long, long way from value.”