Why Kew is one of the best places to live in Melbourne
KEW is home to some of Melbourne’s most prestigious schools, but there’s more to this leafy Boroondara enclave than blazers and rowing boats. Here’s everything to love about living in 3101.
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KEW is home to some of Melbourne’s most prestige schools, but there’s more to this leafy Boroondara enclave than blazers and rowing boats.
The suburb, which was originally inhabited by the Wurundjeri people, was first discovered in 1803, when surveyor Charles Grimes started exploring the area beyond Dight’s Falls, but it was another forty two years before the first settlers began purchasing land.
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From then on it was full steam ahead for the pretty pocket, which quickly built a status as a sought-after suburb for the wealthy and well-to-do of Melbourne.
With this reputation came a flood of churches, shops and schools, with hotels and public houses soon to follow suit.
The area was even home to a psychiatric hospital, Kew Lunatic Asylum (later known as Willsmere), which was one of the largest asylums ever built in Australia.
It was decommissioned in 1988 and developed into residential apartments, with the heritage-listed area now known as Willsmere Estate (it will open its doors as part of the annual Open House Melbourne event this weekend).
Nowadays, the 3101 postcode is now known for its lush, tree-lined streets, Victorian-era architecture, Edwardian terraces and sprawling, Art Deco apartment blocks.
There is no shortage of period homes and heritage stunners, with immaculate mansions, contemporary renovations, designer townhouses and modern developments adding to the suburb’s heterogenous appeal.
Adding to its charm is the fact that the leafy locale is bordered by the meandering Yarra River to the north and Eastern Freeway, Burke and Barkers roads to the south and east, ensuring a lovely, lush outlook. And with neighbours like Richmond, Collingwood, Hawthorn, Fairfield and Balywn, Kew is smack bang in the middle of some of Melbourne’s most popular eating, drinking, shopping (Victoria Gardens and Glenferrie Road are a stone’s throw away) and sporting precincts, while still being slightly removed from the hustle, bustle of other inner eastern enclaves.
That entry into this coveted postcode, which lies just 5km east of Melbourne’s CBD, will set you back, on average, $2.18 million for a house and $705,000 for an apartment/unit seems hardly surprising given the lifestyle and liveability factors its central location affords.
HERE’S EVERYTHING TO LOVE ABOUT LIVING IN KEW
SCHOOLS
If you’re looking for a studious suburb, Kew has it in the bag. The suburb is home to some of the state’s top-performing private schools, including Xavier College, Gennezzano FJC, Methodist Ladies’ College, Trinity Grammar, Carey Grammar, Preshil and Ruyton Girls’ School, as well as myriad primary, public and independent schools, such as Sacred Heart Primary, St Anne’s, St Paul’s, Kew High and independent learning centre, Andale.
PARKS AND RECREATION
Golfing enthusiasts are spoiled for choice when it comes to weekends spend on the fairway. Take a swing over nine or 18 holes at Green Acres Golf Club, Kew Golf Club, Yarra Bend Golf Club, Studley Park Golf Course or Latrobe Golf Club. Get ready for oarsome afternoons by the river at the family-friendly Studley Park Boathouse. Stop in for brunch overlooking the water or set sail and spend a row-mantic day floating down the river.
Pack a picnic and kick back at one of the suburb’s many parks — Yarra Bend Park, Alexandra Gardens, Studley Park Picnic Area, Bellbird Park, Hyde Park or Victoria Park. Avid hikers and cyclists can enjoy endless river trails and green wedge walks, including the Outer Circle Rail Trail, Main Yarra Trail, Dights Falls Loop Trail, Bushland Circuit and Merri Creek Trail.
Or, if you’re looking for some weekend family fun, Collingwood Children’s Farm is a short drive away.
SPORT
Collegiate sport is all the rage in this lively enclave, with clubs including Old Xaverians, Old Trinity Football Club, Old Carey and Kew Football Club competing in the Victorian Amateur Football Association.
The suburb also has a strong track record of producing sporting superstars, with legends such as footballers Peter Curran, Cecil Austen, Robert DiPierdomenico and Jack Gervasoni, who is also Mayor, as well as cricketers Michael Clinger and Glenn Maxwell once calling the suburb home.
Kew is also home to the MCC Kew Sports Club, where visitors can enjoy a spot of lawn bowls, barefoot bowls, tennis, bridge and even group fitness, whereas Kew Recreation Centre offers four heated indoor pools, a gymnasium and health club. Rally the troops and hire a tennis court at Victoria Park, or catch some bat and ball action over a game of cricket, with the Kew Cricket Club dating back to 1863.
TRANSPORT
Kew is well serviced by roads and public transport, boasting numerous bus and tram routes, as well as easy access to the Eastern Freeway.
Traffic permitting, a trip into the city can take as little as 15 minutes (or as long as an hour in peak hour), and you can be sipping cool climate Yarra Valley pinot noir direct from the cellar door in a little over 30 minutes.
Or, if you prefer to leave the car at home, hop on a tram or bus, with services that will get you anywhere you need to go in Melbourne. Hawthorn and Glenferrie train stations are also easily accessible via the tram, if you’re looking for an express ride into the city.
12 OF THE BEST PLACES TO EAT/DRINK IN KEW
Eating out is easy in this eastern foodie front, with cafes and restaurants to suit every palate and price point.
26 Cotham Rd
Feast like a Greek god at George Calombaris’ signature Hellenic Republic restaurant. And the best bit? If you’re not up for a night out, or you’re got people coming for dinner and haven’t got time to cook — the Hellenic takeaway packs at $69 are exceptional value. They come loaded with enough pita bread, taramasalata, tzatziki, Cypriot grain salad, chicken from the spit, slow roasted lamb shoulder, chips and risogalo (rice pudding) to feed four hungry people.
916 Glenferrie Rd
Kick off your weekend wine down with a glass of vino at Cru. The cafe-come-wine-bar-come-bottle-shop has all your Friday night needs sorted. They also offer ice cold beer, cocktails and charcuterie and bar snacks, if you’re after something to nibble on.
56 Willsmere Rd
Allpress coffee, buttermilk waffles, burgers and a light and bright space make Willo a lovely spot for a weekend brunch date. Be sure to grab some Doughboys Doughnuts on your way out — but be quick because they sell like hot cakes.
96 Denmark St
If you like specialty coffee, homemade sausage rolls and kid-friendly play areas, Ora has you covered. Beans are by Zest (milky) and Market Lane (single origin), turmeric lattes by heal’r, croissants from Brioche by Philip Bakery and seriously delicious scrolls from Oregano Bakery. Oh, they’re also slinging Butterbing Cookies and Butter Mafia slices. Because #treatyoself.
2 Gladstone St
Brunch and plant hunting are a match made in weekend heaven. Kew Nursery Cafe is bringing you the best of both worlds with an extensive range of indoor and outdoor plants, and a breakfast menu to match. Try the smashed avo with pumpkin pine nut pesto, poachies and pickled onions on sourdough.
117 High St
A Hiatus is the last thing you’ll want after a trip to this creative Kew newbie. With a menu that showcases local and native ingredients, as well as Coffee Bird beans, Larsen and Thompson teas and some seriously Zen vibes, it’s sure to become one of your new go-tos.
1 Boathouse Rd
Brunch against the backdrop of the Yarra River and natural bushland? Don’t mind if we do. With a restaurant, cafe and kiosk on site, you can choose from a laid-back, post-row refuel at the kiosk or, if you’re there for the view — not the cardio — kick back with a glass of wine and some lemon tart or apple crumble in the cafe.
321 High St
You know the pizza is going to be good when the dough has been fermented for 72 hours. That is pretty much guaranteeing a light and fluffy base with the ideal amount of crisp on the bottom. Add to that a thoughtful selection of authentic, Neapolitan-style toppings and your tastebuds are in for a real treat.
155 High St
If you haven’t had a chicken parma from the Skinny Dog, you haven’t lived. This refurbished pub offers a sprawling beer garden, sports bar and all the live sports action you could ever dream of.
341-343 High St
This fresh Japanese restaurant has made a home for itself in the space that used to house the Tassel smoked salmon outlet and cafe. The elegant eatery is using top-quality seafood to ensure its sushi and sashimi platters are fresh and fragrant.
6 Woodford Avenue
This fragrant Vietnamese soup is pretty much a winter staple for Melburnians and this Kew tuck shop is the real deal. It’s understated, inexpensive and delicious.
285 High St
A modern Italian restaurant fusing southern flavours with contemporary European finesse. Think pumpkin and mascarpone ravioli with burnt butter, sage and salted walnuts, or roasted celeriac tortellini with peppered duck meatballs and winter greens; heaven.
72 Willsmere Rd
Flatiron Side Door is basically bringing the three musketeers — wine, pizza and cheese — to the ‘burbs. The indoor/outdoor wine bar is also slinging salumi boards, boutique beers and handcrafted cocktails. So it’s pretty much a triple threat.
WHERE ARE YOUR FAVOURITE PLACES IN KEW? LET US KNOW BELOW.
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