Princes Hill, VIC 3054
Ranked 355th best suburb by locals in Melbourne (Greater) Region, VIC
Great for
- Parks and recreation
- Schools
- Public transport
- Clean & green
- Internet access
Not great for
- Parking
- Cost of living
- Nightlife
- Shopping options
- Pest-free
Who lives here?
- Families With Kids
- Professionals
- Singles
- Retirees
- Beach Lovers
Reviews of Princes Hill, VIC
"A small man poked me in the eye while jogging in Princes Hill"
I used to live in Princes Hill and because of the nearby oval I took up jogging. If you jog every day you quickly become “on nodding terms” with the other regulars. During one of my timed stretching breaks a tall man with long hair warned me “if you ever see a little man wearing yellow jogging, steer clear of him!”
I snorted - because this is exactly the sort of malicious neighbourhood gossip I abhor! Though perhaps I should have asked for more information - but he was faster than me and quickly out of earshot.
But not three days later I was jogging my morning circuit when I saw a little man wearing saffron running gear coming towards me.
The other regulars avoided him - but I didn’t want to presume ill intent on his part. So I jogged on with a friendly half smile planted on my face.
He grinned a grin that in retrospect I now realise was wicked and not at all neighbourly. As he jogged by, he quickly reached up and poked my eye.
I stopped running, one hand on my knee, the other covering my abused eye.
The little man ran on looking back over his shoulder - but he didn’t look happy.
And to this day I remain poorly sighted in one eye and singularly vexed. I mean, if poking well-meaning bystanders in the eye doesn’t bring you joy - why do it? Why does that little man even get up in the morning?
Anyway, I hate princes hill and it’s the worst place I ever lived.
"Crime, fear and wild parties"
Princes Hill is a scary place to live, but a great place to party. I lived here for a couple of years until the crime/break ins/car jacking became too much. However, I return for the wild parties. I mean, you take your life into your hands coming into Prinny Hill, but with risk comes rewards.
"Avoid Southern Wilson Street"
The southern part of Wilson Street (near the cemetery) is Princes Hill's red light district. I don't feel safe there at any hour of the day, but certainly not at night what with the night walkers and drugs and all. There are parts of Princes Hill that are perfectly safe, but I'm thinking of moving.
"Princes Hill not Princess Hill"
The laneway drug problem is not as bad as some people say. Good selection available and at reasonable cost.
Foxes can be seen running across the neighbourhood to the cemetery. But mostly you will only see them at night. They run away if you exhale on your vape.
Princes Park is really good. Except it is overrun with boot camps. They are usually not aggressive, even though it appears they want to fight everyone.
Who lives here?
- Singles
- Families with kids
"Perfect oasis in Melbourne"
Princes Hill is a peaceful, picturesque suburb, not far from Melbourne's CBD. Having lived here for over 30 years, I can vouch for the safety of the suburb, community atmosphere among its residents and plethora of parks and nature strips available. With public transport close by, cafes and shops, there is not much to deter anyone from living here...except for the low vacancy rate. This is a highly sought area with high demand for properties to purchase and rent.
Who lives here?
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
But what about the crime and drug problem? Princes Hill has changed a lot in the last 5 years - it is a dangerous place. I wouldn't risk driving through it.
Rentals in Princes Hill
"Beautiful locale, close to CBD, public transport, cafes etc, huge Princes Park - a Blue Ribbon area as reflected in house prices & rentals"
I'm amazed at the bizarre negative reviews here, please see my replies to them. The claims of drug dealers on every corner and brothels seem very odd to me as I've rented here for over 35 years and not seen anything like this. I've never been car-jacked or heard of or seen anyone else experience this - and no I don't live in some gated community or mansion as one reviewer claimed I must, just a house in Pigdon St.
We have the beautiful Princes Park the largest of Melbourne's inner city parks, the houses are mostly very well kept, many tree lined large streets and not much traffic at all make this a very quiet, peaceful and relaxing area to live.
Public transport is at your doorstep and so convenient to many cafes, restaurants, shopping etc in Carlton, Brunswick, Fitzroy, Melbourne CBD etc.
So close to great schools like Princes Hill Primary and High schools, University High school, and Melbourne University so perfect for families with kids and young adults.
It is a highly sought after area with properties selling for well over what properties sell in neighbouring Brunswick for example - anyone can check house prices and see this for themselves. If Princes Hill was as bad as some of these reviews state then why do people consistently pay top dollar for properties here? Real estate agents know it's a blue ribbon area, anyone can search property prices for themselves to confirm this. And no as one reviewer tried to accuse me of I'm not trying to bump up house prices - because I could only ever afford to rent here as I have done for 35 years, house prices are around the 2 million dollar plus mark and I could never afford to buy here. I write such a positive review because it's true, I'm not trying to bump up prices with a positive review and I'm not trying to lower prices with a negative review - I'm just telling the truth as I see it and have experienced for 35 years.
If you're interested in Princes Hill come and have a look for yourself, it's the most beautiful area and that's why I don't leave - and surprised to see people complaining about it yet living here for so long, if it was that bad not sure why they wouldn't move especially given rental prices in Princes Hill are high (reflecting the value of the area).
Who lives here?
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
Maddyh2 - your review is utterly irresponsible and misrepresents Princes Hill. You might be endangering people. A user has already posted "What childrens (sic) sporting clubs are there in Princes Hill?" The first thing that came to my mind was the fight club at PHSC. I've rung the police on many occasions and because they claim to be a secretive martial art, apparently the police can do nothing! And at the bottom of Arnold st, dog baiting goes on during the warmer months! The RSPCA does nothing! Please, stop talking about the value of the area compared to other suburbs and think of the children. Money isn't everything.
Now you're just becoming offensive and defamatory ingaa. You say I "might be endangering people"? How dare you, and what a joke - anyone can look at crime statistics and see Princes Hill is not remotely near so many other suburbs' crime rate! You still obviously think I'm doing this to increase house prices - as you've clearly accused me of in a highly defamatory manner - then again say "Money isn't everything" further indicating you think I'm doing this for 'money', even though I've clearly explained to you this isn't the case. My review is unbiased and not about money at all: like I said I RENT HERE and if I was interested in money I'd be posting BAD reviews to DECREASE property values, not raise them - think about it ingaa. Furthermore I've seen a multitude of children born and raised here for over 35 years, they go to the local schools, enjoy the parks etc - and I've seen the overwhelming majority of them go on to university then lead full productive and happy lives - so please don't give me some line from the Simpsons "think of the children" - what a joke! Most importantly you can claim whatever you like - I'm still unsure of your agenda but you seem to keep living in Princes Hill even though you claim it's so bad so it all seems very suspicious to me - but I've invited others to simply come and look at Princes Hill for themselves then they'll discover the truth.
Dear Maddyh2,
I want to apologise for any offence I've caused you - and I withdraw any remarks that crossed the line. I won't comment again on these forums. I clearly forgot the first rule of Princes Hill...
With genuine apology for any offence caused,
Ingaa.
I agree with both Ingaa and Maddyh2. Princes Hill is a suburb divided where lived out on the streets is the best and worst of humanity - so I can see how you both disagree. I think I'm going to move to a safer and calmer suburb though.
I lived in Princes Hill for 10 years. My car was repeatedly broken into. My husbands car was stolen. My scooter was stolen. Many items were stolen from our front porch. I was carjacked.
"A small, fairly squalid place, high house prices, organised crime."
I've lived in Princes Hill for over 30 years - and I've seen a lot of changes. During that time it has gone from work class suburb to hellhole. This is because organised crime is rife now days. For example, we flat, but when I tried to use the on-street parking in front of our place, I got my face punched in by the mafia guy from across the street. I thought that organised crime would deter street-level hoodlums, but it has done anything but that. Instead illegal prostitution in the laneways is completely out of hand now. I would avoid this suburb unless you can afford to live in one of the gated communities. Even then, be careful of car-jacking when exciting/entering your property.
Anyone interested in Princes Hill please see my review and my responses to these negative reviews below. ingaa I can only finally state for 35 years living here I've never seen any drug dealers or prostitution/brothels, and I've never been car-jacked or heard of or seen anyone else experience this - and no I do NOT live in some gated community just a house in Pigdon St. And no I did NOT "create an account only to try to increase house prices" as you accuse me of in a comment to another reviewer below, I rent here so would actually be more interested in seeing house prices go down not up! If Princes Hill is as bad as you claim, and you say you rent too - if you despise it so much why don't you move? Rental prices are notoriously high in Princes Hill - because it is such a highly sought after area to live in - so why not move somewhere cheaper that you don't hate as much as you appear to hate Princes Hill?
If you look at Homely's rating - you will see that Princes Hill has the lowest suburb ranking in Greater Melbourne. I think that tells you what the situation is here.
"So many brothels and dens"
Every corner has peeps selling drugs, every hidden lane leads to a "popup" brothel. Worst neighbourhood ever. However, if your looking action, perhaps worth a visit.
Great for
- All forms of degradation can be bought here.
- None
Not great for
- Crime level is high
- So trashy and so ugly
- Ugly
Who lives here?
- Beach Lovers
Recommended for beach lovers? It's nowhere near the beach! You've obviously got the wrong place. Properties are beautiful in this highly sought after area, many costing well over 2 million. Hardly any crime especially compared to other areas, definitely no drug pushers on ever corner and I've never seen a brothel. Lived in this area for over 35 years.
I suspect that the recommendation for beach lovers was the best thing JoanA1 could say about the suburb - given her other opinions on the place. I have seen drug-pushers (albeit, not on *every* corner, but certainly near the school), and there are two illegal brothels on Wilson street alone!
Given there is no beach near Princes Hill, to get to one around a half hour car drive (anyone can look on google maps and see that for themselves), I still claim this review appears very suspicious - you surely realise this ingaa as you say you rent here too? I've never seen any brothels, never seen any drug dealers - maybe they only approach people who they think would be into drugs or prostitutes and that wouldn't be me - regardless I've never seen any so if you're not actively seeking these drug dealers or prostitutes you won't be hassled as these reviews claim. And ingaa you're acknowledging JoanA1's claim drug dealers are on *every* corner is definitely untrue - so not sure why you're vehemently defending JoanA1's review? And I've never been car-jacked or heard of or seen anyone else experience this - and no I do NOT live in a gated community just a house in Pigdon St. Anyone who visits the area can definitely agree it is not ugly at all - it has the beautiful Royal Park the largest of Melbourne's inner city parks, the houses are mostly very well kept, many tree lined large streets and not much traffic at all make this a very peaceful and relaxing area to live. It is a highly sought after area with properties selling for well over what properties sell in neighbouring Brunswick for example - anyone can check house prices and see this for themselves. If Princes Hill was as bad as these reviews state then why do people consistently pay top dollar for properties here? Real estate agents know it's a blue ribbon area. And no ingaa I have no interest in property prices in Princes Hill as I don't own or intend to buy a house in Princes Hill, just rent. You say you rent too - if you despise it so much why don't you move? Rental prices are notoriously high in Prince Hill - because it is such a highly sought after area to live in - so why not move somewhere cheaper that you don't hate as much as you appear to hate Princes Hill?
Yes Maddyh2, JoanA1's claim that there are drug dealers on every corner is an exaggeration. But you have to admit that the drug problem here is the worst of any suburb. Look I would move, but my grandparents live in the retirement village near the school (and the stories they could tell). I hope they don't read this, because they'd be hurt by your implication that I look like a druggie or a "John" :(
Your claims are an absolute joke ingaa. You say "the drug problem here is the worst of any suburb"....??!! Anyone can look at crime statistics and see Princes Hill is not remotely near so many other suburbs' crime rate - I suggest you do some research before trying to state negative things that anyone can easily check are untrue for themselves! Again: most importantly you can claim whatever you like - I'm still unsure of your agenda but you seem to keep living in Princes Hill even though you claim it's so bad so it all seems very suspicious to me - but I've invited others to simply come and look at Princes Hill for themselves then they'll discover the truth.
And please don't try and claim you have to stay here because of grandparents - you can easily find a rental just 5 minutes walk away from that retirement village in Brunswick, which is much cheaper than Princes Hill so you could easily leave this suburb you apparently hate so much if you wanted!
"WORST AREA IN THE WORLD"
Im so scared its so ugly theres so many negative things. Such high crime levels, no education thats good, looks old and terrible and there'd a terrible freaky graveyard in the town. Houses are weird and the residents are mental
Great for
- None
Not great for
- Crime level is high
- So trashy and so ugly
- Ugly
Who lives here?
- Beach Lovers
Again there is something up with this comment! This TiffanyN then immediately posts that she agrees with her own post! No education that's good??? It's right near Melbourne Uni for goodness sake, and Princes Hill primary and high school and University High school, all reputable schools. This review is surprisingly similar to the first, and my comment there was recommended for beach lovers? It's nowhere near the beach! You've obviously got the wrong place. Properties are beautiful in this highly sought after area, many costing well over 2 million. Hardly any crime especially compared to other areas, definitely no drug pushers on ever corner and I've never seen a brothel. Lived in this area for over 35 years.
To clarify my above comment I reported the 2 negative comments on this page I've commented on but they've been left as I was advised everybody has a right to express their opinion, and I was told the best I can do is explain why I think their opinion is incorrect - as I have. But it was apparently noted this TiffanyN commenting on her own review as though she was a different reviewer stating she '100% agreed' with her review and it as accurate etc is not the right thing to do and it has now been removed. Just needed to explain my reference to that now it's disappeared.
I think maddyh2 created an account only to try to increase house prices. And she is also trying to have other opinions removed! Shame! I know Princes Hill well - from the bluestone gutters clogged with hypodermic needles, to the run down flop-houses being used to grow drugs. Sure there are some gated mansions, but worrying about house prices shouldn't be a motivation for posting misleading reviews!
ingaa I have no interest in property prices in Princes Hill as I don't own or intend to buy a house in Princes Hill. Please don't assume my intentions because you're very wrong. Perhaps it is you - who also RENT here like me - that is trying to lower prices to get cheaper rental? And as far as reporting this TiffanyN and you claiming I'm trying to get opinions removed - you fail to notice that despite these what I consider false reviews being allowed to remain because everyone has the right to express their opinion, TiffanyN's response pretending to be another reviewer WAS REMOVED because that's not allowed. All seems very suspicious to me, if TiffanyN's review was in fact honest why did she feel the need to pretend to be another person to back up her review? Think about it ingaa.... And remember - as homely has stated, we're all allowed to express our opinions, you've questioned my motivation for posting a positive review so now I question your motivation for posting a negative review.
"An oasis close to the action"
A little pocket which tends to be known as a part of Carlton North. It is arguably the best spot in the area. The houses are predominantly Victorian terraces and many have been restored. The streets are nice and wide.
Princes Park is at the doorstep so very convenient for a walk or a jog and kid and pet friendly. For public transport, there is a choice of trams on either Lygon St or Royal Parade. It is less than 10 minute to drive into the CBD yet the area is green and generally quiet. It is not uncommon to hear birds chirping in the morning.
The residents are typically middle class but there would be an over representation of academics partially due to its proximity to Melbourne University.
Overall, I wouldn't think twice given chance to live here.
Who lives here?
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
I'm afraid JoanA1 you obviously have the wrong place or are intentionally posting a false negative review - please see my comment on your review above.
I personally agree 100% with this review written by AprilFlame and can assure anyone a walk around Princes Hill will show you a most beautiful and peaceful suburb.
Princes Hill is not safe for families with children, even the drug enforcement units don't travel alone during their many visits here. I don't know what motivation Maddyh2 has for these positive posts - an attempt to increase house prices perhaps? I rent here - so I am not biased.
I rent here too ingaa - see my response above: ingaa I have no interest in property prices in Princes Hill as I don't own or intend to buy a house in Princes Hill. Please don't assume my intentions because you're very wrong. Perhaps it is you - who also RENT here like me - that is trying to lower prices to get cheaper rental? And as far as reporting this TiffanyN and you claiming I'm trying to get opinions removed - you fail to notice that despite these what I consider false reviews being allowed to remain because everyone has the right to express their opinion, TiffanyN's response pretending to be another reviewer WAS REMOVED because that's not allowed. All seems very suspicious to me, if TiffanyN's review was in fact honest why did she feel the need to pretend to be another person to back up her review? Think about it ingaa.... And remember - as homely has stated, we're all allowed to express our opinions, you've questioned my motivation for posting a positive review so now I question your motivation for posting a negative review.
Look, anyone reading this - just look at the overall rating of the suburb - 323rd best in Victoria :(
If you want to see for yourself, make sure you come with friends during the daylight hours in a locked car. And if anyone tries to wave you down or try to sell you something, just keep driving (I only had to learn that lesson once).
I'm sorry ingaa but your reasoning is pathetic. Victoria is a HUGE state with well over a thousand suburbs: Princes Hill may be ranked 323rd best on this site -
but most importantly that rating very much affected by what I believe are false negative reviews for whatever reason reviewers like you are doing that - so quite frankly being ranked 323rd out of well over a thousand isn't bad at all, and would be so much higher if people posted honest reviews about it.
And there are reviews for streets not just suburbs, and people often choose that instead - see the reviews for streets in Princes Hill ingaa.
Wilson St where you claim "there are two illegal brothels on Wilson street alone!" - the review gives 7.2 and says:
" "Good street in a great neighbourhood"
Predominantly Victorian terraces. Wide street with a nature strip in the middle. Little through traffic. Five minute stroll to Princes Park and tram stops. Less than half an hour walk to Uni of Melbourne and Carlton shopping strip. Overall, a lovely place to live!
I have lived in the area for almost 10 years. Moved once to the next street. It is quite typical of people we know in the area. They move in and stay in the area either in the same house or moving houses within a few streets.
Recommended for
Professionals
Families with kids
Retirees". (see here https://www.homely.com.au/wilson-st-princes-hill-yarra-melbourne-greater-victoria)
Hmmmm not sure they'd say that if there are 2 brothels as you claim...
You say "make sure you come with friends during the daylight hours in a locked car"... Seriously your claims are becoming a joke, anyone coming here can see people happily coming and going with no need for locked cars (sorry I can't help but laugh at how you're trying to claim this lovely area is so evil and crime ridden). I trust I've now provided enough information to people interested in the area to question your negative claims and come see for themselves.
When they do then they'll discover the truth. That's all I can do - refute your negative statements and your accusations against me ingaa, provide my own positive review, and I know anyone coming here will see it's a beautiful suburb. Sorry ingaa you can try as much as you like but anyone really wanting to know about Princes Hill will come here and see your claims it's so terrible here are unfounded.
And again - if you don't like it, why don't you move now, and why haven't you moved in the 30 years you say you've lived here?
And please don't try and claim you have to stay here because of grandparents - you can easily find a rental just 5 minutes walk away from that retirement village in Brunswick, which is much cheaper than Princes Hill so you could easily leave this suburb you apparently hate so much if you wanted!
Princes Hill is a peaceful, picturesque suburb, not far from Melbourne's CBD. Having lived here for over 30 years, I can vouch for the safety of the suburb, community atmosphere among its residents and plethora of parks and nature strips available. With public transport close by, cafes and shops, there is not much to deter anyone from living here...except for the low vacancy rate. This is a highly sought area with high demand for properties to purchase and rent.
Anyone reading this - please be sure to read all the reviews to gain a truer appreciation of the neighbourhood. Princes Hill is not without its old world charm, but you don't have to dig deep to find its cruel and brutal aspects (not just drugs etc, but there is a dog fighting club run at Prinny Hill Sec. after hours). Think carefully before considering moving here.
People above are arguing about the number of brothels in Princes Hill! This is not normal! Even two or three is too much for such a little suburb - they attract trade from outside of the area.
Highly sought out by people chasing....