tops1

I lived in Glen Waverley for quite some years. I moved away from the suburb many years ago, around 1995. The major issue with Glen Waverley imho is. 'The Glen' needs a 150 Million upgrade, take Ringwood Eastland for example, lots of investment. Not that it's Glen Waverley's fault but Ashburton/Ashwood are drug and crime hotspots very nearby. In Ashburton and Ashwood there are 10% Public Housing there, 10 households in 100. A large portion of Ashwood in some spots 44% public housing and in Ashburton it is dotted with 26% across the entire suburb, and Chadstone also has it's fair share, this is right on Glen Waverley's doorstep and Glen Iris. The 3147 postcode is riskier than average 1 in 54 homes burgled according to the crime stats. In Glen Waverley you have a 1 in 69 chance of burglary, which is the Victorian average. Compare that with say Ringwood 3134 1 in 110 homes burgled which is 'safer than average'. Then as you move along the Lilydale Train line it leaps to 1 in 129. These are statistics from the RACV Burglary Statistics report. This is the problem with living near Public Housing is the crime issue associated with Public Housing. "SERIOUS criminals are keeping their taxpayer-financed public housing while locked up in jail as desperate families remain on waiting lists for years". This is why although I loved Glen Waverley when I lived there I wouldn't live there now because the potential increase in crime and risk of Public Housing issues on the doorstep in Ashburton/Ashwood. The Director of Housing should remove Public Housing tenants that have a criminal record or are currently committing drug offences or crime. This should be Victoria wide. In NSW - TOUGH laws to evict criminals from NSW public housing will be introduced to parliament today after the government announced a crackdown on problem tenants during the election campaign (2015). In Victoria as the 'Education State' we are way behind NSW in education statistics and dealing with Public Housing issues. Not very educated really. But there's my only gripe with Glen Waverley and the sooner some politician cracks down on Public Housing, the crime rate WILL drop.

Templestowe was a great place when it was vibrant with new houses being built in the estates of the 1970 -1980's. However, it is also very dated now and doesn't really cater to school access very well. If you want a private education you need to go OUT of the area and the transport is limited, the public schools are still scattered around but for such a high level of confidence in how brilliant the suburb should perform and the money that should create a high expectation the schools don't perform as well as one would think. Let's face it the schools are dependant on the government in the area so unless they are a priority then the performance will be low. Also there's a strong sense of entitlement among young people and as a result they don't push themselves as they think it will all land on their lap out of thin air some day. I don't think Templestowe has grown much from it's beginning's, it's still the same as it was some 40 years ago. It needs a train station, it has always needed a train station. The price to house radio is over stated IMHO, and the traffic so much worse. The houses were once the cream of the crop and everyone from suburbs elsewhere used to be a gasp at their size. But they aren't looking like that these days as they really tell a story of a time past. Is it still an exciting place? Well, was it ever an exciting place? Upon reflection, not really, it never was that exciting, the best thing about Templestowe was the friendships formed. But it was also a place where many people lost themselves too. I don't remember to many times that I could say that the place really inspired me, which is probably the reason why so many of us aspired to rise above our peers. We wanted to do so, so that we could feel as though we had moved above and beyond the restrictions of the suburb. The suburb is still a car reliant suburb with an average vibe. But it is still Melbourne's East and that says something. The problem with Melbourne's East is that it's too much about individual suburbs and should be more about the whole region thereby integrating the suburbs to unify and share resources, including more public works to link the whole East. There was also a lot of deception that went on in Templestowe and had some very dangerous elements once, including guns and shootings, Karmein Chan a poor 13 yr. old girl that was a victim of foul play and who could forget Mr Cruel? We were terrified by the events. So there has been a very high rate of crime in the area and that hasn't got much better. At one point for a couple of years the Westfield Shopping Town was traversed by up to 400 youths being the Euro Boys and the Skips (Australians). Wild parties, drugs, you name it! These days, I do wonder if the stigma of those old days and the ghost's of the past will come back to visit as these things sometimes come full circle and the darker claimed areas re-emerge. Hard to say... But for those living in Templestowe today it is the past, and that said the suburb is free of government housing which is a plus! But if it was a choice between the old days of ducking at a car backfire in Templestowe thinking it was a gunshot or a few feral bogans with uneducated insults, it would be hard to choose. Again, all areas have their morons but as a suburb Templestowe is quite nice but not as desirable as some others. Once you've been outside of an area for long enough you then realise what you liked and what you didn't, perspective I guess. I don't miss Templestowe as much as I would like. I really should be quite grateful and feel privileged, but as the saying goes. 'Cash doesn't buy class'. So would I want to live in Templestowe today, probably not, but I do have my eye's on other suburbs nearby. If you are a car lover and like the 1970's retro look that Templestowe provides then it is a great fit, it also has a number of very good facilities here and there, close to the Yarra River in some parts also, some isolated shops and 'Shoppingtown'. But you must travel and you must have a car to utilise the area conveniently. I like the place but I don't like it enough. But that's just my opinion and not a reflection on the current residents and owners in the area. Now more than ever I really have narrowed down what suburbs are the gold trophies. Templestowe isn't in my top 10, but may come in at say 16th or 19th place. High, but not high enough. Still one of the better ones if you are outside of the organised crime circles, ignorance is bliss. The suburb holds it's price very well, but not in the same league as some other areas. The main thing is, price aside, being happy is the number one goal. Templestowe has reasonably clean air and good shopping. So all in all not too bad. I'm thinking I should pay another visit to the old areas around Templestowe and see if I have a renewed sense of ownership. Will write a follow-up if I have a WOW factor. Probably start around King St and work my way down to the Yarra River. Admire the high voltage power lines that I used to ride my motorbike under and some of the skateboard challenges down 'The Grange and the point of no return 'Chippendale Court' starting around 'Castlewood place' it was a real speed thrill and a choice between victory,terror and the speed wobbles. I wonder if the Milk Bar is still at Mossdale Crt and the Public Telephone Box? Not likely?

Hi all, I used to live in Doncaster East then move to Templestowe in the 70's. My old stomping grounds were Balwyn, Kew and Box Hill etc. Mooroolbark is like stepping back in time, I've been here over 20 years and it's a beautiful, hospitable and lovely place to live. Most people are friendly and realistic. My understanding is that people from the area who have been here for some time know it's value and often after visiting the old areas they grew up in have returned home with a sigh of relief. Mooroolbark has undergone some major development recently but hasn't lost it's sense of calm unlike the feeling you get inner city (to the locals, you know what I'm talking about). There are a number of churches in the area, if you're into that? But that said, they do impact you, those lovely christian people, just way too friendly and descent and good for the community. Mooroolbark is a Blue Ribbon Liberal seat and currently Tony Smith is the speaker of the house in Canberra. Mooroolbark was once considered by the outer leafy suburbs of Canterbury etc to be the bushland. But what a reversal, now Canterbury is in the stink, it's unhealthy while the cars spew out poison that can't dissipate and the crime rate is off the chart. Housing in Mooroolbark is basically affordable but it isn't likely to stay that way anymore as some people are doing knock down and rebuilds which is a bit unfortunate because the families can't get into the area as easy as they once could, but still some large parcels of land were you can step outside and take in that peace and fresh air. Compared with other suburbs it's a hidden Gem and the longer it stays that way the better. We can afford the apparent luxuries of Balwyn and Canterbury and we have looked there a few times. But apart from the schools which are very good and at a premium fee cost, there's not much else going for the suburbs unless you like to sit around and drink coffee and be constantly trying to compete with the neighbors. They internet has made proximity to the city pointless I mean St Andrews is fine example of that (second highest wealth in Australia). Staying in Mooroolbark and love the place.