Once a hidden gem, it’s easy to see why delightful Yarraville has become one of Melbourne’s real estate hotspots.
Historic, intriguing, convenient, and bursting with character, the village-like suburbs of Yarraville and neighbouring Seddon and Kingsville, have earned their positions as the new darlings of Melbourne’s real estate market.
Steeped in history, the quiet streets proudly reflect their colourful heritage when the area was home to dockworkers, stevedores, fishermen and factory overseers. Remnants of its industrial past can be seen in many of the renovated brick warehouses that are now home to smart loft conversions and Manhattan-style apartments.
Although the railway line first came through in the 1870s, giving residents easy access to the city – a valuable asset that certainly continues to this day – the residents of Yarraville preferred to build their own community rather than venture across the river to the busy cbd just a few kilometres away.
This community spirit set the tone for the village ambience that has helped shape Yarraville’s popularity today. Without doubt, the glittering centrepiece of the suburb is the iconic, Art Deco Sun Theatre which was opened in 1938 and found new life in 1995 when it was rescued, refurbished and returned to its former glory. Around the cinema, Yarraville’s eclectic shops, busy cafes and diverse architecture create a balance of the exotic and the familiar, where generations of local families and a myriad of new cultures and have made their mark.
Skirting the numerous parks and landscaped avenues, many of the area’s classic workers cottages have been carefully updated to provide modern living in a quintessentially Australian setting – although there are plenty still waiting for inspired renovators to work their magic.
Where artisans’ shacks once creaked in the wind, impressive contemporary townhomes now stand, and along Fairlie and Powell Streets, the double fronted villas of the suburb’s well-heeled early residents now attract families and astute investors, keen to take advantage of the large yards, adaptable dwellings, close proximity to transport, and of course the magical neighbourhood vibe that Yarraville is famous for.
Visit this welcoming, fascinating suburb and its charms and appeal will draw you in, you’ll feel at home straightaway.
