dgz

I've known quite a few people who live in and around Belgrave, and they all enjoy it, but say to steer clear of the station rats/druggies.

Owning a car is essential really in Belgrave if you need to go to the city much, as it's a 75 minute train ride and you sometimes have to wait around at Ringwood station on the way there or back. The roads in the area are great fun, Lots of twisty mountainous roads. It's not very far to the Monash.

Ruby's is a good place to go for some live music, I think it has lost a lot of its atmosphere since the smoking ban came in and it's not as mellow as it had been ;), but it's still pretty laid back and some good bands come through.

The Bell Tavern isn't bad either, they serve a very good parma.

It's basically the mountain lifestyle without the pricetag, It's a good place.

Last time I went to St Arnaud was to buy diesel in the middle of the night, hidden in the backstreets is a self serve 24 hour unmanned servo run by a card reading machine, lifesaver!

Nice friendly town a bit over an hour west of Bendigo, a few pubs and a swimming pool, fairly relaxed place. Years ago bikies used to go there every so often to the pubs, but stayed well behaved. I have no idea if this still occurs. The houses are cheap, many are quite nice, though there are a few dumps of houses too. I would consider St Arnaud if I could.

I like Avoca, and have been there a few times, I would consider it if I was able to move out that area

A fairly quiet town with friendly locals, good pubs, hardware shop, IGA, a few servos, a retravision and some other businesses, mostly nice houses (many older style), a golf course and in the median of the main street there is a small park with playground, picnic area public toilets and an information center.

A lot of trucks pass through the main street in the middle of the night, as Nhill is in the middle of the main truck route between Melbourne and Adelaide, so living on one of the backroads is wise.

Nice place, good access to shopping and public transport, not far from the city, but far enough that it's nice and there isn't much crime.

Mount Evelyn is a nice place to live, Like anywhere in the area I suppose. Fairly peaceful, although there are some knobs (graffiti vandals and such)
If you want to live here, make sure you have a car, as public transport from here is terrible, 2 buses come through, about once an hour, the Chirnside Park-Ringwood route, and the Lilydale-Monbulk route, that is the full extent of public transport. taxis take forever to get here and the train line was closed in the 60s.
There are several cafes, fish and chip shops and plenty of small businesses, an IGA for your groceries, a Commonwealth bank, a Bendigo bank, Subway, 3 pizza shops, a bar, a library and a 24 hour gym. There is a servo, but many people will not use it, due to bad experiences in the past with poor quality petrol. I have no idea if they're better now as I haven't bought petrol there in years.
The service at the post office is a little poor, not as good as Montrose.

Very nice spot, high enough up to see the city, close enough to public transport, Dandenong ranges national park is accessible from the road for walking etc. Very safe area and a great atmosphere where you can sit back and watch the world go by. I lived there for a year and a half and wouldn't have moved if I didn't have to.