Local traders, real estate agents say Highett is the place to be

THE once daggy, unloved suburb of Highett is undergoing a construction blitz as young couples and families, priced out of other bayside suburbs, move in.

The busy cafe scene along Highett Rd, Highett. Picture: Rebecca Michael.

HIGHETT is booming. The once daggy, unloved suburb is undergoing a construction blitz as young couples and families, priced out of other bayside suburbs, move in.

And chic and funky new bars, cafes and restaurants are populating the area and thriving as the new demographic takes over.

Urban Melbourne’s project database shows there are 13 residential developments in Highett that are either under construction, approved by Kingston and Bayside councils, under assessment or at registration and sales stage.

These projects will bring hundreds of new apartments and townhouses to the area.

Highett is undergoing a huge change with many developments being built including these apartments at 64 Railway Parade. Pictures: Penny Stephens

This low-rise development at 10 Major St, Highett will include 33 homes.

Buxton Hampton East director Adam Gillon has told Leader Highett’s growth took off in the past two to five years, because of skyrocketing house prices in the nearby suburbs of Hampton, Sandringham and East Brighton.

“It wasn’t a suburb of choice for a while, but now people are ringing wanting to buy specifically for the Highett area,” he said.

Mr Gillon said Highett’s location near Southland shopping centre, established private schools and a burgeoning shopping strip had attracted a “mass migration” of young families.

He said businesspeople like Steve Kingi had helped to drive change in the Highett Rd retail strip.

Mr Kingi moved to the suburb three years ago, keen to live in the “little gem”, and not long after opened an inner-city-style cocktail bar on the doorstep of the Frankston railway line.

Harry Hawker cocktail bar in Highett. Kyle Karamitsos, owner Steve Kingi and Kyle Rose pictured in 2015. Picture: Derrick den Hollander

Next up, he brought North Vietnamese street food to the strip with restaurant Typhoon and has just opened up Hot Lips Hacienda to offer authentic Mexican cuisine.

“We saw the opportunity,” Mr Kingi said.

“We knew a lot of people were moving out to Highett who were still interested in experiencing the inner city.

“We’re trying to deliver that same experience with the same level of service and offering.”

Mr Kingi said Typhoon, Hot Lips and Hawker Bar’s location right near Highett Station meant it was easier for customers to ditch the car.

Highett Rd level crossing.

VicRoads data shows 8,400 vehicles per day use the road.

Mr Kingi said the Highett Rd level crossing could cause congestion at times, but said better bike paths, bike racks and street lighting would make walking and cycling safer ..