Kajuku

I rented in Hamilton Street from 1996-2001, and have been through it many times since, and it's a great place for just about anybody to live. Quiet street, a variety of periods and styles, and the convenience of 4 train stations, 3 shopping strips, 1 large shopping centre and many bus routes within 10-15 minutes walk. Neighbours were friendly, and you see the same faces at the local shops all the time. The Seddon shopping strip caters for most things (although the little supermarket isn't great), and public transport can get you to the city within 30 minutes inclusive of walking.

Thompsons Rd in Bulleen runs from the Bulleen Rd/Eastern Fwy up through Manningham Rd, and on to the junction with Templestowe Rd/Union St/Foote St in Templestowe. Along Thompsons Rd you will find a row of 1950s style shops (bottle shop, green grocer, butcher, milk bar, fish & chips, chemist, newsagent, Thai restaurant, bakery), and further along there is a medical centre on the corner of Manningham Rd. With parks, tennis courts, schools, and child care facilities in neighbouring streets, it's quite a convenient spot for people from most walks of life.

The main drawback, I believe, is the traffic volume at all hours of the day & night - so it's definitely not for light sleepers. Public transport is reasonable, but is exceptionally crowded during peak hours, and the buses often get caught in traffic inbound on Thompsons Rd in morning peak, and between the city & Hoddle Street outbound in afternoon peak. Thompsons Rd itself lies entirely in Metcard Zone 2, but if you're able to walk to the last city-bound bus stop on the bottom of the hill (near the freeway & Bulleen Rd), you can get on with a Zone 1 and save yourself a few dollars. Travel time to the CBD (via freeway bus) is 30-45 minutes depending on traffic, but connections/travel times to many other places are poor. Outbound, the buses from the CBD that run via Thompsons Rd terminate at Deep Creek, Doncaster and Templestowe.

Nearby, Manningham Rd buses go to Heidelberg, Doncaster and Box Hill and are fairly quick and don't get bogged down in traffic.

There are quite a few houses which look they were built between 1940-60, on fairly large blocks on undulating or uneven land. Some of the older ones show some external art deco features which are desirable for many home buyers.