BELGRAVE & EMERALD INFO PLS!!!

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BELGRAVE & EMERALD INFO PLS!!!
Topic Started: 19 Jun 2007, 03:56 AM (1,065 Views)
julesg	19 Jun 2007, 03:56 AM Post #1
Addicted Member Posts: 195 Group: Members Member #1,270 Joined: 22 March 2007 Migration Status Citizen My Mood Hopeful	Hello Melbournites Haven't been on for a while but am back looking at areas from afar and need some help: can anyone pls give me the lowdown on Belgrave and Emerald-I hear they're very pretty, 36km from CBD & the houses look gorgeous on the net but that's all I know..are they on a direct train line?, is it possible to commute to CBD or just too far & how long would it take?, is there much there in the way of shops and cafes???, would it be impossible to get a job that far out (is it a tourist area?) Any help is greatly appreciated! :crazy: Thanks :Grin:



The Crow	21 Jun 2007, 06:28 PM Post #2
Elite Member Posts: 695 Group: Members Member #721 Joined: 15 May 2006 My Location The Basin	Hi there Only just found your post - it's not in the main section is it? I'm in The Basin, not far away and will reply to you later once the kids are in bed!! Rachel



badge	21 Jun 2007, 09:11 PM Post #3
Addicted Member Posts: 348 Group: Members Member #138 Joined: 6 December 2004	julesg Jun 19 2007, 03:56 AM Hello Melbournites Haven't been on for a while but am back looking at areas from afar and need some help: can anyone pls give me the lowdown on Belgrave and Emerald-I hear they're very pretty, 36km from CBD & the houses look gorgeous on the net but that's all I know..are they on a direct train line?, is it possible to commute to CBD or just too far & how long would it take?, is there much there in the way of shops and cafes???, would it be impossible to get a job that far out (is it a tourist area?) Any help is greatly appreciated! :crazy: Thanks :Grin: Belgrave is on the line, I thought it slightly feral when we were a few years ago -just a feeling. Emerald nice, but further from the station. It's a tad isolated but doable to Belgrave stn.



Thebears	21 Jun 2007, 09:17 PM Post #4
Posts: 2,172 Group: Moderators Member #798 Joined: 8 July 2006 Migration Status Temporary Resident My Mood GO CATS GO My Location Malvern East	julesg Jun 19 2007, 03:56 AM Hello Melbournites Haven't been on for a while but am back looking at areas from afar and need some help: can anyone pls give me the lowdown on Belgrave and Emerald-I hear they're very pretty, 36km from CBD & the houses look gorgeous on the net but that's all I know..are they on a direct train line?, is it possible to commute to CBD or just too far & how long would it take?, is there much there in the way of shops and cafes???, would it be impossible to get a job that far out (is it a tourist area?) Any help is greatly appreciated! :crazy: Thanks :Grin: Have family in Cockatoo area. Not as rural as I would like but perhaps for some its the country life with out getting too far from lifes essentials.



julesg	21 Jun 2007, 09:58 PM Post #5
Addicted Member Posts: 195 Group: Members Member #1,270 Joined: 22 March 2007 Migration Status Citizen My Mood Hopeful	The 'slightly feral' thing worries me a little-makes me think the townsfolk may turn into werewolves after dark!! :yikes:



The Crow	27 Jun 2007, 09:49 PM Post #6
Elite Member Posts: 695 Group: Members Member #721 Joined: 15 May 2006 My Location The Basin	I've only visited Emerald on day trips - it's pretty, but I've heard from some that it has a few 'social' problems. Probably as it is fairly isolated. I would think it would be too far really to commute to the CBD. I would reckon at least 1hr 20min by car. It is about 15 min drive from Emerald to Belgrave. The train from Belgrave into the city would be about 1hr 10min. Emerald centre has had some money spent on it and there are a number of shops and cafes. Not sure about employment opps. Belgrave has much more - cinema, club/bar, couple of pubs, open air pool (in summer) - on the edge of the Dandenongs (would be hospitality jobs I guess) and good old Puffing Billy. I think some residents verge on the hippy side of feral, but there are plenty of 'normal' residents too. I haven't been out there in the evening, so not sure what it's like. House prices are still low. Hope that helps a bit. Rachel



furkew	10 Aug 2007, 08:06 AM Post #7
Elite Member Posts: 761 Group: Members Member #604 Joined: 5 March 2006 Migration Status Permanent Resident My Mood got our PR Woo Hoo !! My Location Monbulk, Victoria	We have been doing a lot of research over the last couple of weeks into looking into moving in the area. Here are some things we have found. Belgrave : Probably close enough to commute, and you do get more for your money than closer to the city. Quite a few shops, cinema, supermarket etc, but I find it a little soulless, and as already mentioned a little feral, but I dont think anything of a problem. Very popular tourist area with as already mentioned puffing billy amongst some of the attractions. Emerald : Excellent value for money in the houses, very pretty little village, but most of the property around town is really in the tree's, and although we didnt speak to a great amount of people there, I think it would take a certain type of person to settle there happliy. Kallista : A couple of km's past Belgrave heading into the hills. If you want peace and quiet on the side of the mountain, in amongst the tree's & wildlife, this is perfect. Is not for those that get lonely without human contact. Monbulk : 9km past Belgrave (we are actually looking to live here) has a lovely row of shops with a couple of cafe's, supermarket & other general stores. Has a more friendly feel to the town, but I dont think they have a rail link, so commuting could be a problem. There are other area's that also still seem affordable, and are accesible to the CBD, you could try looking at Upwey, Mt Evelyn, Upper Ferntree gully. The whole area from the Yarra ranges to the Dandenongs is a tourists paradise, so i'm sure there must be openings around here in that field of work. hope this helps.



Prof Farnsworth	13 Aug 2007, 02:27 PM Post #8
Member Posts: 36 Group: Members Member #31 Joined: 10 September 2004 Migration Status Permanent Resident	I live in Belgrave Heights just a few kms south of Belgrave. I'd agree that Belgrave is a bit 'ferrel' but not that much. We moved there a few months ago and have fantastic neighbours, who are really friendly and one of them is from Cheshire. We are within a short car/bike ride to Birds Reserve which is a fantastic park with lakes and water fowl. It leads into Lysterfield park which is large and lovely too, but quite difficult to cycle to as some of the paths are quite hilly. Grants picnic area is a short car ride up into the hills and is great for walks in Sherbrook forest and seeing (and feeding) the parrots, cockatoos and gallahs. It also has a nice cafe & gift shop. Olinda is another place to consider in the hills. Also has a great pie shop/cafe. A friend at work (an ex-pat of 20+ years) lives in Olinda and said that it snowed there a few weeks ago! We visit Emerald quite a lot and was one of the places we were looking at to move to. It is however another 15 to 20 mins drive from Belgrave. Emerald park lake is nice (but you have to pay for parking) and also has one of the Puffing Billy stations. Cardinia reservoir is close by and well worth a vist. You almost always see kangaroos there at dusk. I use the train to get to the CDB and it takes over an hour. I get a bus in the morning to get to the station and my wife picks me up in the evening by car. Its quite a difficult journey but I am getting used to it. All in, I think it is a very good environment to live in if you are looking for a place that is more rural but be prepaired for a long commute if you work in the CDB (like me).



badge	13 Aug 2007, 11:31 PM Post #9
Addicted Member Posts: 348 Group: Members Member #138 Joined: 6 December 2004	The Crow Jun 27 2007, 09:49 PM I've only visited Emerald on day trips - it's pretty, but I've heard from some that it has a few 'social' problems. Probably as it is fairly isolated. I would think it would be too far really to commute to the CBD. I would reckon at least 1hr 20min by car. It is about 15 min drive from Emerald to Belgrave. The train from Belgrave into the city would be about 1hr 10min. Emerald centre has had some money spent on it and there are a number of shops and cafes. Not sure about employment opps. Belgrave has much more - cinema, club/bar, couple of pubs, open air pool (in summer) - on the edge of the Dandenongs (would be hospitality jobs I guess) and good old Puffing Billy. I think some residents verge on the hippy side of feral, but there are plenty of 'normal' residents too. I haven't been out there in the evening, so not sure what it's like. House prices are still low. Hope that helps a bit. Rachel Well summed up TheCrow. Belgrave is sort of nice hippy, rather than feral. Depending on what floats your boat any one or more of the Dandenong or outlying Dandenong villages could be one of feral, country, hippy, alternative, professional in mood and flavour. Ours is a mix between city commuters, tradies - professional skilled people and sort of well-heeled hippies mixed in with gentleman farmers/country wannabes. It is commutable which makes it viable. There are other villages like Cockatoo which are more feral and we know people there who will tell you that.



The Sadlers	2 Sep 2007, 07:25 PM Post #10
Newbie Posts: 3 Group: Members Member #1,650 Joined: 2 September 2007	Hi. By ferral, what exactly do you mean?? :blink: We live in North Wales (hardly the hub of the world!), so ferral to us sounds really bad. Hippy sounds OK - kind of non offensive/harmless. We had been thinking of living in the Belgrave/Dandenong Ranges area. Thanks The Sadler :thumbsup:



badge	2 Oct 2007, 10:00 PM Post #11
Addicted Member Posts: 348 Group: Members Member #138 Joined: 6 December 2004	The Sadlers Sep 2 2007, 07:25 PM Hi. By ferral, what exactly do you mean?? :blink: We live in North Wales (hardly the hub of the world!), so ferral to us sounds really bad. Hippy sounds OK - kind of non offensive/harmless. We had been thinking of living in the Belgrave/Dandenong Ranges area. Thanks The Sadler :thumbsup: Difficult one. Feral is a personal thing. I would mean it in a negative way - social problems, druggies. Some people would use it for anyone who is alternative or especially low rent especially in the context of some of the Dandenong villages. The only place I know where locals say it is feral is Cockatoo but of course, they're having a bit of a lend. Self -deprecation and all that. Just because a place is not inner suburbia, middle or outer suburbia does not make it bad of course. if I didn't commute to the city, any acreage in my fav Dandenong villages would be ideal for me. I think Monbulk, Olista, Saffrafras etc are the best in the N, but then suffer with tourists, with the likes of Monbulk, Macclesfield, Clematis the pick of the bunch in the middle, with Upper Beaconsfield the best in the extreme south (not really Dandenongs). I'd rate Cockatoo and Gembrook (E) as below average. I like Emerald and Avonsleigh sort of South Central. Upper Ferntree Gulley gets a mention as a gateway suburb, and I LOVE the Basin as another gateway suburb extremely close. A real find.



furkew	4 Oct 2007, 08:33 PM Post #12
Elite Member Posts: 761 Group: Members Member #604 Joined: 5 March 2006 Migration Status Permanent Resident My Mood got our PR Woo Hoo !! My Location Monbulk, Victoria	We have only been here 3 months, but we have stayed in Kallista, presently in Tecoma/Belgrave and moving next week to Monbulk, but this is what we have found : Kallista : Lovely area, cheapish housing with big plots, a bit Feral (especially the couple in the post office :crazy: ) and everything very steep and a bit isolated. Excellent value for money, but not much fun if you have kids. Belgrave/Tecoma : we are staying right on the edge of Tecoma/Belgrave, and its fabulous where we are. A little isolated from the neighbours (2500m plot) but a fairly quiet little town, with a pleasant high street. A LOT of hippy/witches/wizard types wandering around all the time, a bit Feral at night (safeways can be scary after 10pm :ugh: ) but in general very comfortable here. The area is also very steep in general. Monbulk : I work here every day, lovely area which is just over the mountain. Fairly flat compared to the surrounding area. LOTS of Dutch & quite a few Italians. The whole area is market gardens & nurseries with quite a few small local garden centres & retail nurseries. Quite expensive in comparison to the surrounding area, but also much more of a community than the patch/emerald etc. One problem is everybody knows everybody, so there are few secrets in the village. I love the idea of living there, and many locals agree. Other areas which are very nice are, Emerald, Mount Evelyn, Silvan. More affordable, big plots, and nice houses, but they can be a bit remote. Hope this helps, and if you want more advice, or contact numbers for estate agents etc ( that I would recommend) drop me a PM or just post here. Paul.



2plus3	7 Feb 2010, 10:59 PM Post #13
Waiting for the off! Posts: 43 Group: Members Member #3,012 Joined: 3 January 2010 Migration Status Permanent Resident My Location Buckinghamshire My Mood Optimistic	I've been researching the areas mentioned above. Can I ask which areas mentioned have, in your opinions, the better schools (high school and junior) and which would suit us best taking into consideration that we have sons aged from 18, 13 and 10 who are sport mad (especially cricket)? Kari x Edited by 2plus3, 7 Feb 2010, 11:00 PM.



pleasedeletemyaccount	8 Feb 2010, 07:16 PM Post #14
Member Posts: 34 Group: Members Member #2,996 Joined: 24 December 2009 My Location South East Victoria	Hi there, I would agree with 'ferral and hippy like'. Be;grave & Emerald are pretty tourist places but these areas do get quite wet, cloudy and dull in the winter months and it is wise to look into the bush fire risks/history and house insurance prices. The Dandenong ranges/Yarra have pretty locations and do give good value for money but we sensed that these could be reasons why house prices are cheaper too. Also, termites are problematic and you will need to do some thorough research on termite problems. Many homes that way are made from wood rather than brick, cute but could cost you later down the track. A direct train route from Boronia into the middle of the CBD takes around 1 hr, allow a little extra time for the extra leg coming from Belgrave and the trains may not be as frequent. To get a better idea hop onto this weblink, it gives you the public transport info: http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/ What type of work do you do/are you looking for? Are you needing schools/uni's etc to be nearby? Do you want the quiet life or townships? I hope this helps.



furkew	14 Feb 2010, 06:08 PM Post #15
Elite Member Posts: 761 Group: Members Member #604 Joined: 5 March 2006 Migration Status Permanent Resident My Mood got our PR Woo Hoo !! My Location Monbulk, Victoria	Since my post on this thread 2 1/2 years ago we have since moved to Monbulk (only spent 1 1/2 months in Tecoma after finding our dream house in Monbulk) We absolutely love living here up in the hills. The bushfires last year made it interesting, but we where prepared for any energencies, and we just kept an eye on the CFA site. Prices have gone up a fair bit over the last couple of years, but you still get a lot more bang for your buck than in the city. I would probably have to think very carefully about moving to a place like Emerald or Cockatoo because of the bushfire risk, but this side of the mountain, and towards Mt Evelyn, Wandin etc etc wouldnt be a problem at all. Mooralbark, Lilydale, The basin & Chirnside are also very nice, although probably a bit dearer due to being closer to civilization. Schools around here, plenty of good ones either public of private. My eldest (14) catches the bus every morning and spends 45 minutes on the bus getting to St Josephs in Ferntree gully. Plent of friends at the same school, of Mather Christie girls school in Ferntree. Mt Lilydale also comes highly recommended, and Monbulk High has improved greatly over the last couple of years. any questions, feel free to PM me as I dont look in this section of the forum that often. Paul

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