essendon43

Melton South is ok, there are many nice streets, and only a few "bad" areas, but, you will get better elsewhere. Pay that small amount extra and buy into Melton, Melton West or Kurunjang, those 3 suburbs are lovely, well serviced and alot cleaner. As in investment area it is fine, but I just don't see why anyone would set up home there, when you can buy a house in a good street in the other Melton areas at not much extra cost.
For the record, the area is seedy, but it isn't thrown in your face. Your neighbour may be on drugs but they won't bother you.

Melton West is wonderful, I don't know why Brookfield keeps being mentioned, it has its own suburb profile.
Very well created community Melton West is, and well serviced.

All the fantastic services of Melton in a nice little parcel away from it all. You are still close enough to take advantage of what Melton has to offer though. Resale value is strong. Meltons bus system runs through so you can get anywhere.

I am actually bothered by a few ratings in this suburb review. They are undeniably dishonest. 2 stars for childcare? Melton has so many childcare facilities it isn't funny. 3 stars for internet? It is equal to Melbourne and will soon be one of the first areas recieving the NBN. There are options that are opinion and that is fine, but some of these star ratings are based on fact and the fact is people are being dishonest.

Anyway enough of that. I have lived in Melton for 15 years. I grew up here, and I know it well. Seeing as the suburb rating has seperate some sections of Melton such as West, South, Kurunjang and Brookfield I will try to focus on the central area, which is where I have grown up.

The first thing I'd like to say is that most of Meltons central residents have finally reached an age where they can affgord to put money into their homes, over the last few years I have noticed Palmerston street go from looking a little run down to looking beautiful because people have started putting the work in.
Anyway lets start with facilities. You will not be found lacking Parks, Gyms, and recreational activities. Melton has multiple tennis clubs, a great golf course, so many gyms it isn't funny, a fantastic all year round swimming pool, bowls, squash, horse riding schools, 3 football clubs, 2 indoor recreation centres and multiple soccer pitches. Hannah watts park is lovely and green all year round. Navan park icludes an off leash dog area, and there are many green spaces between streets which is great for young families. The high schools need improvments but the primary schools are great. Melton primary is quickly becoming a highly desirable school and many of the other primary schools have been updated in recent years. As for high schools we need upgrades. Kurunjang high school looks like it is being upgraded and Melton high has been under going construction works over the last year. If you want a catholic option CRC is great, clean and well taught. Mowbray is the private school option it is P-12 and they get results, it is expensive though and you may be better off sending them to Bacchus Marsh grammar which is a very affordable private school. There a lot of chilcare available in Melton so you will not have an issue there.

There is nightlife for the young adult, 2 Friday/Saturday night clubs and one Thurday night Bar/Club, it is also serviced my the niterider so late nights in the city are an option.
There are pleanty of restaurants and cafes, some better than others, and Woodgrove shopping centre has whatever you need. If you want more options Watergardens is 15 minutes away so you will be sure to get what you need.

I have never felt unsafe walking the streets, and I often see people out and about walking their dogs at midnight, so clearly they feel safe. You will see hoons from time to time, but it is nothing close to what you get in the Sydenham area. Sad thing is that all of that would be stopped if the police where making themselves seen.
The train service is really good in some ways, and needs improving in others. We are serviced by Vline, which I like because their trains are clean, comfortable and run on time. This issuse with V-line is service numbers though. Morning and afternoon peak are fine for commuting, but the rest of the day is 1 per hour. The highway access into the city is fantastic though. 20 minutes to the West gate bridge in non peak hour traffic.

All in all it is a great place to buy as a $300,000 will still double in 10 years.

There is a way around anything it lacks. That is the beauty of Bacchus Marsh. The shopping here is fine, basically whatever you need you'll find. Can't find it? Meltons Woodgrove shopping centre is 10 minutes away. Done.
The schools are sufficent, and the grammar is fantastic, one of the most affordable private schools you'll find. However there is only one public high school and with the growth the town is experiencing they will need another one. So, fine for now, not 5 years from now. Access to Melbourne is great, Geelong and Ballarat too. It's a friendly place, you do get some backwards views, but that is changing as the town grows, and people won't bombard you with opinions anyway. Lots of sports and recreation available, and a very cute main rd. Trains are Vline which I love for comfort and cleanliness, they also run on time BUT unfortunately Vline services are hourly (morning and afternoon peak have more services so commuting isn't hard) and the trip can take 45 minutes if you are unlucky and have to stop for the Ballarat bound train because of the single lane. A very well presented town that is easy on the eye, and very affordable.