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Louise's Job is in Bundoora (Latrobe) and a likely employer for me (Bureau of Met) is in Docklands...
So what are some nice places to live along the 86 tram line?

With no knowledge of the socio-economics, just purely looking at transit lines vrs price places like preston and Thornbury look nice....

There is a brand new suburb behind Latrobe called Springthorpe. If your agile enough and close enough you can hop over the back fence to Latrobe.
Other suburbs -
upmarket: Eaglemont, Ivanhoe: - Heidelberg,Rosanna, all have train stations for quick trip to city.
Others : Bundoora,Kingsbury,Reservoir,Preston etc etc. Very handy trams

Many choices.

Thornbury is an upcoming area and it's closer to Latrobe than the city. Has decent PT as well.

What are you after? Shops? Parks? Bike tracks? Police stations?(!) Bit more info and we'll get our thinking caps on

As I am a smelly hippie when it comes to cars in cities being handy to Public transport is a must...

My ideal would be a 3-2br townhouse (Must have a bath I have been informed by the +1) for $350 p/w or under

There is a good chance I will work in Docklands, and Louise will be working in Bundoora so somewhere 1/2 between is the ideal..

I guess what I am trying to ascertain is the socioeconomics of some of the suburbs we are looking at... Some prices seem to good to be true at times... Which may mean I might need to money lost from the occasional mugging

I'd go Thornbury too. Pretty close to everything with good PT.

Hi. Your remark about the socio-economics of the nothern suburbs is spot on. Not that we have many problems with muggings. I live in East Reservoir, which is a 'low' socio-ecomonic area. It is mainly a public housing area, although are quite a few privately owned homes. The other side of the Darebin Creek (Ivanhoe, Heidelberg proper (NOT West Heidelberg) are considered "better" and hence more expensive suburbs.
Just to let you know, while the Bundoora tram is a very reliable line and a good way to get to the City, it will take you an hour to travel from Bundoora to the CBD. Zone 1 ends at Kingsbury Drive (Latrobe Uni), so if you live north of that, it will cost you more to travel to the City. (Melbourne has a Zone fare system.)
Thornbury is a much older area, and is closer to the City. It has the advantage of having a rail line as well as 2 tram lines connecting it to the City. It probably is a good halfway suburb between the City & Latrobe, but care has to be taken in purchasing houses because of their age. The soil is clay and inspection should be made of the foundations (stumps etc.)
The local community (free) paper is the Preston Leader. If you like I could send you the next copy.
Hope this helps.

Regards
meicw

Since you're such a hippy, around that near has some pretty decent bike paths as well

I live in South Preston (and previously in Thomastown & Epping) and agree - Thornbury sounds like a good compromise for you.
The North is a predominantly an industrial & working class area with a shift towards middle class. Generally speaking the further cityward you travel, the higher the socio-economic status (& house prices). Northcote has gone through a boom and is a step up in price. Thornbury many consider still affordable. Preston is cheaper & reservoir cheaper still. As Meicw says, that part of Reservoir on the 86 line is/was a public housing area and as a consequence lis a ower S-E area (muggings aren't so much a problem as burglaries).
Depending on if you both are using PT (or just you), somewhere along the 86 tramline works well. It forms a V with the Epping line train with its vertex roughly at preston. So if you want the option of train as well as tram travel, a place that straddles both lines would be ideal.
As Pirostitch mentioned if you are a sweaty smelly hippy, there are good bike tracks going towards the city in these suburbs.
I agree with Mike - avoid West Heidelberg and beware the many older houses in Thornbury & Northcote (though if you are renting, I guess this is less of a concern).
Let us know the particulars you are looking for and we can help you further.

Renting, as discussed in an earlier thread I fail to see the financial benefit of buying

I like the sound of Bike paths! How many K's would you estimate for preston to CBD?

Not sure how far to the city but check out

http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/vrne/vrn ... edestrians

for all the bike paths in melbourne

MHD wrote:How many K's would you estimate for preston to CBD?

Roughly 1000 Km.

I'd go closer to the city, than closer to latrobe uni, as you travel against the traffic each way, so less commute (cars to public). Although, directly opposite the uni is "Mount Cooper" a new estate.

If you like gr=unge and culture, get closer to the city, say anywhere between Clifton Hill, Northcote, Westgarth, Fairfield, THornbury (all on the hurtbridge train line). You could get teh training to Macleaod, and bus to latrobe. And train into Docklands (SPencer Street Station)

As with Sydney, the inner 6-10kms, has had a renovation rescue. Everysecond 50-100 year old home have had a renovation, so lots of nice homes.

PiroStitch wrote:Not sure how far to the city but check out

http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/vrne/vrn ... edestrians

for all the bike paths in melbourne

Thankyou muchly!

If you are the bohemian type, Clifton Hill, Westgarth and Northcote are for you. Central Northcote has Train, 2 x Tram lines, Bus and shopping centres. All these suburbs above are close to bicycle paths.

Macloud,Rosanna, Heidelberg Hights,Montmorency are green Middle class areas. Because of 2 very large Hospitals plus a medical consultancy area there are many medical types who live in the above areas plus the more affluent areas of Eaglemont and Ivanhoe.

Thornbury, Preston, Reservoir were formally more working type areas with older wooden single fronters and California bungalows. A lot have been renovated and the less affluent have been priced out

If you have a map - anywhere south of Bell street is in Zone 1 for public transport - cheaper. In Melbourne it is compulsory to have a Melways - Street directory.

Stay away from West Heidelberg (The old Melbourne Olympics Village) or Bellfield

gstark wrote: Roughly 1000 Km.

Between 8-10Km depending on which part of Preston. Thornbury is about 6-7.

For a preview of The Melways, I suggest looking at http://www.street-directory.com.au which uses the same images (though it's not working with opera for some reason atm).
On a tangent, [url]maps.google.com[/url] I find is fantastic as well (google melbourne). You can drag easily and you can overlay google earth to see your own house.

Here's a link of a summary of times for the 86 tram which takes you to both Latrobe U & the docklands (though not at the same time ):
http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/layout/set/print/maps_stations_stops/metropolitan_trams/tram_86

joolz wrote:

gstark wrote: Roughly 1000 Km.

Between 8-10Km depending on which part of Preston. Thornbury is about 6-7.

No ... give or take, about 1000 Km from the CBD.

gstark wrote:

joolz wrote:

gstark wrote: Roughly 1000 Km.

Between 8-10Km depending on which part of Preston. Thornbury is about 6-7.

No ... give or take, about 1000 Km from the CBD.

Oh you mean "THE" CBD not "a" CBD.