Why we love Upwey: Dandenong Ranges suburb with a big heart

The blocks are larger, there’s close access to national parks and less than one hour on the train to Melbourne’s CBD. Locals love Upwey’s small-town community — here’s why you may want to consider a tree change.

There’s a lot to love about Upwey in Melbourne’s outer east. Picture: File.

If you’re looking for a tree change but still want access to the city life, then Upwey at the cusp of the Dandenong Ranges may be an ideal place to live.

Upwey, located 32km east of Melbourne’s CBD, is today home to 10,046 residents.

In the 1800s Upwey was know as “Mast Gully” as the straight and long native trees were used to make ship masts, including the barque Admiral in 1850.

Eagle-eyed locals will see nods to the nickname in Mast Gully Creek and Mast Gully Road, which remain in place today.

The suburb was named by the three Tullidge sisters, who’d bought a home in Mast Gully in 1897 and called it ‘Upwey — on the River Way’, paying homage to an English village of the same name that’s also on a river.

The name stuck and in the 1900s when a station was needed to service a new railway between Upper Ferntree Gully to Gembrook, it was called Upwey.

In the 1930s the Victorian government opened housing in the area and residents began flooding in.

Fast forward to 2020 and Upwey is one of the most sought after locations to live in Victoria.

Here’s everything you need to know about living in Upwey.

The homes are extravagant along Mast Gully Rd in Upwey.

REAL ESTATE

Property in Upwey, like most suburbs across Melbourne, is in high demand.

Harcourts Tecoma principal Jim Georgiou has listed three properties for sale since Christmas.

“There’s not many available at the moment and there’s more demand (for homes) than ever before,” he says.

Suburb-review website Homely lists Upwey as the 8th best suburb to live in metropolitan Melbourne, according to locals.

Mr Georgiou said Upwey’s laid-back, small-town lifestyle was very attractive for young families and professionals looking to make a tree-change from the city.

“The lifestyle is a big drawcard, plus the larger blocks and friendly environment … people will come and speak to you in the street, something city-slickers may not be used to,” he says.

“Over the last five years there’s more nice eateries and coffee shops in the area … you won’t need to go off the hill for anything.”

He said most blocks of land started at 1000 sqm in size.

Mr Georgiou said blocks of land in Upwey were quite large.

The demand for rentals is also high in Upwey, with only five listed on realestate.com.au.

Realestate.com.au lists 12 properties to buy and Upwey’s median house price as $696,500.

The suburb profile shows older couples and families (aged 55-64) make up 27 per cent of residents, followed by established couples and families (aged 45-54) and then maturing couples and families (aged 34-44).

Sloping blocks, steep driveways and bushfire risks concerned locals who posted on the website Homely.

“Anywhere that has flat ground attracts great prices, like Glenfern Rd and surrounding side-streets,” he said.

“The million-dollar homes are at Matson Drive.”

Most properties in Upwey were on a slope or had steep driveways.

SCHOOLS AND HIGHER EDUCATION

Upwey High School is the suburb’s only government secondary school. In 2018, the year 7-12 school enrolled 751 students, had a median study score of 26 and 2.9 per cent of students achieved a study score of 40 or above.

Other public schools include Upwey Primary School, Upwey South Primary School and Tecoma Primary. For younger years, Upwey Pre-School takes children aged three to four years. If you’re after a private education there’s options at boys school St Joseph’s College in Ferntree Gully, the girls schoolMater Christi College,St Thomas More’s Schooland Belgrave Heights Christian School.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Upwey Railway Station is on the Belgrave line and is the main and fastest way to reach Melbourne via public transport. Residents say on Homely the commute takes about one hour to commute and 54 minutes express. Some residents say they can get a carpark at Upwey Station about 8am, while surrounding stations have their carparks fill up by 7am.

To get around in the suburb, the 699 Belgrave bus or private transport is your best shot.

Upwey South Pre-school is just one of the education options in Upwey.

CAFES

Cafe Have Ya Been? is best known for chalkboard-scrawled specials, rotating muffin flavours, sandwiches and soups. Upwey’s much lovedCafe Groundedclosed its doors earlier this year, after serving coffee and sweets to locals since 2016.

Maria Cafe opened mid 2019 serving Industry Beans coffee in your mug.

RESTAURANTS

Vegetarian and vegan restaurant Nevedyaprides itself on serving plant-based food. If you’ve got an appetite for Asian cuisine, there’s Le’s Vietnamese Restaurant, Tamarind Thai, Bukhara Indian Tandoori Restaurant and Pearl Garden.

The Main Corner also has an Asian-leaning menu, as well as fun cocktails. Tin Pan Alley is the place to go for wood-fired pizza, pasta and grilled meats.

Maria cafe owner Omar Viramontes.

You won’t go hungry at Maria cafe.

BAKERIES

Upwey Village Pies and Cake is your go-to for pies, pastries and bread. In Upper Ferntree Gully you’ll find Amelia’s Bakery and Baker’s Delight at the Ferntree Plaza Shopping Centre. But for more traditional country bakery, there’s also Tecoma Bakery and Hot Bread.

Gerry Raffaut, of Amelia's Bakery, in Upper Ferntree Gully.

FAST FOOD/TAKE AWAY

No-fuss dinners like fish and chip Fridays are best enjoyed at eitherUpwey Fish and Chips or Green Forest Fish and Chips. The Side Corner also does fish and chips and burgers. Upwey’s Charcoal Chicken and Upwey Pizza are other options. After something faster? The closest McDonalds is in Tecoma.

Expect pretty-as-a-picture brunches at Maria cafe in Upwey

PUBS/ BARS

Come to The Fat Goat for a beer at Upwey’s first micro brewery. It also makes a great place for a Sunday session, with live music. While Poppies Restaurant at the Upwey/Belgrave RSL makes all your favourite counter meals, except Mondays or Tuesdays when the restaurant doesn’t do a dinner service. Thursday is American BBQ night and Friday’s there’s free live music.

The Upwey/Belgrave RSL is a watering hole for many locals.

The popular 1000 Steps walking track is a short drive away.

PARKS AND RECREATION

There’s plenty of parklands in the Upwey area. Not only is there close access to the Dandenong Ranges National Park and the 1000 steps walking tracks, but lots of smaller reserves to visit for a picnic or to take the kids. Glenfern Valley Bushlands is one of these areas, while Upwey South Reserve has basketball and netball courts. Gilmour Park in Upper Ferntree Gully is good for dog walkers. The Belgrave Rail Trail, which follows the Puffing Billy route, is also great for cyclists and hikers alike. If you prefer to workout indoors, Pinnacle Health Club in Upwey has great reviews from locals.

You’ll have plenty of interesting neighbours in Upwey.

The area is home to the Upwey Tecoma Junior Football Club Tigers, which welcomes both girls and boys, and the Sherbrooke Suns part of the Sherbrooke Basketball Association.

Burrinja Arts Centre hosts community events and performances, but is undergoing renovation and won’t reopen until April 2020.

The largest nearby shopping centre is Westfield Knox, located 8.8km from Upwey along the Burwood Hwy.

Upwey’s closest cinema is Cameo, found in Belgrave, and shows all the latest releases.

Kalorama artist Mary Tonkin and her exhibition of her work at Upwey’s Burrinja Cultural Centre.

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COMMUNITY EVENTS

The Upwey Township Group hosts the annual Upwey Billy Cart Race which lets local kids race their own creations down the main street. More than 150 teams enter each year. This year marks the event’s 14th year.

Upwey Township Group holds an annual Billy Cart Race. Picture: Steve Tanner.

HOSPITALS AND HEALTH

Angliss Hospital is a public hospital in Upper Ferntree Gully, part of the Eastern Health network. Knox Private Hospital is another option.

DID WE MISS ANYTHING? [e-mail]

@kara_irving