Woodend, VIC 3442

We've lived in Woodend since the early eighties after moving here from the suburbs of Melbourne and we are now too spoilt to return to the city. We live on acreage about 4kms from the township and so I can attest to the quietness of the area for us. The only downside is we are on a dirt road and when the morning dew has not settled the dust or it has not rained for a while, not all drivers adhere to the 40km speed limit. The other downside is that we have a couple of neigbours who like to burn off leaves rather than composting them and of course this usually occurs on a weekend when washing is flapping on the line. Thank goodness for the summer fire restrictions. We don't have street lighting and we don't have a roadside mail delivery but that has never been an issue for us. When its a full moon or the sky is clear the stars are amazing and the full moon is magic. We have snow most years and that 's pretty good too. When Melbourne is scorching, we come home to temperatures anywhere between 2 and 6 degrees cooler so sleeplessness nights are very rare from it being too hot. The medical centre in Woodend is probably one of the best for many a mile and we have had a great service at the Kyneton Hospital on more than one ocassion. If there is an emergency your usually flown to the city. Public transport is not brilliant if you rely on buses but the train service in either direction - Melbourne - Bendigo is regular and reasonably reliable. As for travelling down the Calder to the city I think its a breeze, I am at work in the Western suburbs on most days in 50 mins peak times and my other half gets to work in Tulla in 40 mins also peak but an hour earlier than me. I have never been 'carparked' on the Calder unless there is an accident or road works, of course it slows down when we have fog or black ice but the Calder Freeway has warning lights and surfaces to counteract this which usually slows you down until you get to South Gisborne and then your on your way again. The number of days this happens is minimal. Compared to how long my colleagues travel they are amazed how far away they think we are and how little time it takes to get to work. Our children went to the local state school in Woodend and we were very happy - I can't comment today. The same goes for secondary school - lots of choice in either direction and of course Braemar up at the Mount. University/Tafe, well you have to go to Melb, Bendigo or Ballarat for those but again its not that far and kids think its a great adventure to leave home if they can! As for fast food, well we came here because there wasn't any and still isn't today but there are options and also some fine eating establishments dotted around town and up and down the road within easy reach. I have never felt the need to shop other than Woodend unless I chose to do so for no other reason than a change. Everything you need is here - almost and if its not you could go to Kyneton, Gisborne or the big centres like Watergardens and Highpoint. If you were a family with young children I would highly recommend Woodend, your children will grown up in a friendly, clean and safe environment. You can be as involved in the community as little or as much as you want and there is no shortage of options on all levels for all the family. The real estate values in Woodend have been slow but they are gradually improving. I think by the time we will need to move to smaller digs we will be happy with what we get for our place. I have younger friends who are finding it very difficult to get rental accommodation - and I think this has always been an issue. Good if you want to purchase for an investment. The council restrictions can be a bother for some and a bonus for others. Protecting the village atmosphere is of course good but its a downer if your a baby boomer wanting to downsize - not alot of options in that area. I think progress is inevitable, it can be done without losing the appeal of why we moved here in the first place, just takes a bit of strategic planning and good common sense. Everyone who ever comes to Woodend alway, always say how much they love it and wished they could live here - well you can, its not that hard and you would not regret it.

Woodend is a fantastic town for families, it has 2 fantastic primary schools and loads of sporting & activity clubs within walking distance of the main street.

It’s a quiet and peaceful town with beautiful walking trails, parks and a picturesque golf club. It has multiple medical clinics and great maternal & children health services, 3 churches, a library, outdoor pool for summer use and views of Mt Macedon.

In town there are many old renovated homes with character along with new builds that are mostly sympathetic to the village vibe. You can find acreage properties on the outskirts of Woodend.

Shops, cafes & clothing boutiques are of a good standard and further shopping can be done in Kyneton or Gisborne ( 10 mins away) Sunbury or Watergardens ( 20 mins away) or Bendigo & Melbourne (50 mins away)

Commuting to the CBD is only an hour on the comfortable V/line service from Woodend station.

Thanks so much everyone for your posts. I’m 48 & hoping very much I can use my SMSF to get a town house here (can’t afford the houses) to retire at 60 and rent out until then (in the process; all phalanges crossed!). Woodend is divine. I don’t drive, yet I can be in Melb or Bendigo in 1 hour by train - and wander about safely & happily in this truly lovely place every other night and day. It is perfection. After 25 years living in Sydney (which I’ve also adored, but it is 2 hours any which way from the CBD before you see any form of nature, and nothing comparable to the Macedon Ranges), I cannot wait to retire here. Divine place for single LGBTIQ people like me to retire to alone, safely, with local friendliness (everyone is intelligent and very kind and welcoming) and still know that all your city, suburban, and rural friends (from Uni days & since) are merely a train ride away (in Victoria you get both - in Sydney it can take over 2 hours just to see friends in other psrts of the metro area, much less in the countryside!). Woodend is pure bliss for all ages, and it is “indescribably right” for me in what I plan to be very happy retirement years. I hope the ongoing madness of the Oz property market doesn’t prevent people who really appreciate this place from getting to live here (which sadly it will). It is a place of bliss.

This is the perfect town to get away from the every day craziness of the city life. With beautiful big backyards, pine trees and the view of the mountain in the background it’s great for any nature & outdoor lovers. Plenty of walking trails around town, nice cafes for breakfast and a huge playground if you have kids. The community as a whole is very friendly and welcoming with a neighbourly spirit you only find in country towns like this. Train access to the city or straight on the Calder for work in Melbourne if needed - you get used to the commute!
Favourite thing about Woodend would be the nature... Macedon ranges has incredible walking tracks, gardens and wildlife!

Woodend is a picture perfect little place,an easy commute from Melbourne.The locals are friendly, both old timers and new arrivals. There is occasional hoon activity in the wee small hours, but nothing serious and life here is relatively peaceful.One negative is the preponderance of wood-burning fires around town during the long cold winters .This can make for a very smoky and polluted atmosphere instead of the clean country air one expects.Particularly bad for asthmatics ,this detracts from the otherwise attractive lifestyle on offer in Woodend .

Woodend is finally catching up with the rest of Melbourne, in that the price of housing is quite a bit more than 4 years ago, still affordable (just) so if you are thinking of moving here do it sooner rather than later. A new bus service has just been implemented (3rd Oct 2016) and the Vline is a quick journey into work. Melbourne CDB is rarely more than a 50 minute drive away, there are a lot of local activities, we even had snow this year enough to make snowballs, snow angles and a snowman it was great fun getting up at 6am and playing snowball fights with the kids. We are usually 5 degrees cooler than Melbourne and get more rain, especially in Winter/Spring. There are plenty of restaurant and pub options as well as hair dressers and other great shops. Kyneton and Gisbourne are a short 10 minute drive away all with large major super markets. A new large coles supermarket is earmarked to be built sometime soon. Woodend is a fantasic place to bring up children and the great this is that because of our position Woodend will never become part of the suburbs, we will always be a separate village. The people love the way Woodend is and its not likely to change a lot in the future despite councils best efforts.

A fantastic place to bring up children, so great schools in the area and safe as well. We live on 5 acres and its very peaceful and quiet, no hoons here. we have CHicken, ponies etc and grow our own veggies. if you do find you become a bit bored, there are always some of the other village/towns to visit and farmers markets. We are kept quite occupied. The vline to the city is a great transport option as is the Calder with only a 50 minute travel time. some great pubs and restaurants. We are really pleased we came to live here and get out of the ratrace, its a great place to relax and unwind after work. There is a lot more community activities compared to a lot of other villages.

Love living here. People are genuine and friendly. Wide blue skies during the day. Millions of stars at night. Pubs great, excellent atmosphere. Some great places to eat.

Great community feel. Friendly people. Beautiful countryside and walks. Great freeway access and V-line to city or further into country - Echuca, Swan Hill. Great coffee shop's and bistro's

Woodend, population 3500, nestles in the middle of Macedon Ranges.
If you are looking for McDonalds or KFC or even a night on the pokies you will not find it here.
But you will find a lovely small town with wonderful schools, probably one of the best Medical Centres in Victoria, except for the major hospitals, a fast train link to Melbourne, good motorway links to the centre of Melbourne, 40 minutes to the Airport.
Woodend is a quiet town ideal for families with young kids,safe for retirees, good community spirit and proud to be a town that is pokie free..
I have lived here ten years and and have lived in five countries before setting eyes on Woodend and deciding this place is where I want to live.
Wonderful, Woodend.

Small and insignificant town with population of 3000. Nearby Kyneton and Gisborne are twice the size. Freezing in winter as next to affluent and wealthy Mount Macedon and this means lots of dangerous black ice on the roads. In summertime, forested areas mean high fire risks and this town narrowly missed the damage caused by Ash Wednesday bushfires in 1983 which came within reach of the town a couple of kilometres away. Your lifestyle is very much restricted. For instance if hospital treatment is required, travel to Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat or Bendigo may be required and that means travelling distances return will be around 200 kilometres. Shopping is restricted to basic items. Need Pirelli tyres for your BMW? You'll have to travel to Sunbury (25 kms) to get them. If you're after brand clothing from Hugo Boss, Armani, Burberry, etc then you'll have to travel long distances to get them otherwise go online. After a university degree? The nearest is an hour's drive away if you want to avoid the lonely method of distance education. Want a particular kind of beer? Again, travel is required. Absence of fast foods suppliers such as KFC, McDonalds, Hungry Jacks, Pizza Hut, Domino's, Eagle Boys and others will leave you hungry if you are unwilling to eat the 'local bloke's cooking'. The restrictions from living in this area can go on and on and they point to the extra costs associated with living in isolation from major areas of economic concentration that must be borne by the Woodendner. Unless you're in business operating a farm or a hotel or something sensible to justify living here, it doesn't take many brains to realise that the best city in Australia - Melbourne - with nearly four million people is where they want to live, not Woodend. However, making Woodend a place for your weekend getaway might be worth entertaining as many properties are quite expansive in land size and building quality, many with the 'WOW' factor. Famous names from the past include the Ponsford family (cricket legend), Richard Pratt and family of VISY (owners of Campaspe Park for 4 years), Sir Roderick Carnegie (former CEO of CRA Ltd - now Rio Tinto Ltd), and the Barker family (manufacturers of truck trailers).

Surrounded by Forest or Housing Commission. Over rated. Over Priced.

Fantastic life style, coffee shops, resturants, wineries. Great schools, direct V Line to Melbourne makes commuting easy.
Very safe, everyone is so nice and friendly - come and join us !

Easy commute to Melbourne CBD on VLine.
Great country lifestyle handy to city amenities.
Clean country air.
No Traffic
Friendly locals
Wide variety of activities