Future Victoria: Collingwood, Carlton, Flemington top list of most liveable suburbs

The best suburbs for access to health, education, community and sporting facilities have been named. See how your area rates.

Inner city Collingwood has been ranked Melbourne’s most liveable suburb in a study by RMIT researchers.

The hipster enclave scored highest in the Social Infrastructure Index which measured its access to a range of 16 everyday services such as health, education and community centres, as well as proximity to sport and recreation.

Other suburbs within 5km of the city also scored highest in the assessment conducted in 2021.

Associate Professor Melanie Davern, director at the Australian Urban Observatory, said the results revealed a divide between inner and outer Melbourne and an inherent flaw in planning our city.

“We see inequity across the city because the way we plan at the moment, particularly for services like these is that we wait until the people arrive, that the numbers get big enough and then we deliver the services,’’ Associate Professor Davern said.

“So the growth areas, you always will see a real disadvantage happening.

“What that also means is that we’re building cities in a way that doesn’t promote health and well being.’’

Collingwood was among other inner city locations such as Parkville and Fitzroy to score highly.

Sheree Costello moved to Collingwood one year ago with her daughter Bri, 10, and said the trendy inner-city suburb had everything the pair needed.

“It is great location, there is so much good food here, and there is always something happening,” she said.

Sheree Costello and daughter Bri, 10, love living in Collingwood. Picture: Nicki Connolly

The 38-year old grew up in Collingwood and said the area had undergone a massive transformation since she was a child.

“It’s changed a lot, it is pretty cool now, ” she said.

“There is definitely a lot more going on and much more hipsters around here now!

“It is a great community and everyone sticks together,” she said.

“A lot of my friends have moved here now, I don’t think I will ever leave.”

Sophie Louchart and Amy Laing enjoy a day out in Collingwood. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

A map of the suburbs from the index shows the outer growth areas in Melbourne’s west, southeast and north scoring lower because services have not caught up with population growth.

The discrepancy showed the need for more spending to help people living in new housing developments.

“Let’s invest our public funds into these services … and to where the people really need them.’’

“The way we’re planning these services is the way we planned them probably 200 years ago.’’

Associate Professor Davern said the aim of the index was to identify gaps in services with a local government authority.

The research centre is working with state Department of Environmental, Land, Water and Planning.

The index will be updated later when more data from the 2021 Census is released.

The index was compiled based on proximity to community centres, museums and art galleries, cinema and theatre, libraries, child care, after-school care, schools, aged care, dentists, GPs, family health centres, pharmacies, public pools and sports facilities.