MargaretE1

I moved west about 12 years ago. Started in Seddon and watched the Victoria Street precinct area go from boarded up ghetto to one of the best eating strips in Melbourne. Had never considered Kingsville until someone drove me up and down its streets full of Edwardian houses which are now protected by heritage overlay and only 'destroyed' by the odd 'wog palace' from the 70's. We sold and moved the short distance. The streetscape is beautiful, the neighbours are lovely and the good eating and entertainment areas of Seddon and Yarraville are only a short distance away, as are local shopping centres, public transport and supermarkets etc. Yes, parking can be challenging at times but it is a gorgeous strip of Edwardian suburbia that has only just been discovered by the masses. Average block size in the prized heritage streets (first 5 streets including Queensville, Chirnside, Coronation, Empress and Wales) ranges from 270 sqm (ish) to the odd 350 sqm (ish). Still smallish, but bigger than a lot of the blocks in central Seddon and Yarraville. Developers can't move in, so you are not going to end up with ugly new build or townhouses next door - under heritage rules you must keep the front facade. However, behind the front door you can turn your lovely worker's cottage in to a modern family home.The streets and area have a lovely vibe and it is wonderful watching new people move in and restore the houses. I get a lot of interstate visitors who leave singing the praises of the suburb and it character, closeness to everything - my trip to the city for work takes 20 minutes door to door via the train. The only downside is that it is wedged between 3 main roads that are getting busier and busier. However, a series of one way streets and speed bumps keeps 'rat running' to a minimum.