It is not an exaggeration to say prospective buyers in my experience have a love or hate relationship with Balwyn – it certainly is not a suburb that provokes a neutral response.
As a Melbourne Buyers Agent, I need to remain un-emotive when assessing a suburb and view from the perspective of my client.
Those that love it are generally families and do so because of the quality state schooling available, the green leafy feel and the quiet lifestyle it offers.
Also popular with retirees – for the same reasons (with the exception of schooling!).
Others see it as too quiet and while being within 10 km of the city, it lacks any inner city “vibe” in regard to cafes, bars, restaurants etc.
Although in fairness there are multiple cafes, restaurants and retail.
It is certainly a very good option re schooling. Balwyn High is one of Melbourne’s highest ranked public schools and private schools nearby including Fintona Girls Grammar and Camberwell Grammar (boys).
However, I’m generally surprised that prospective buyers have not run the numbers on the cost/benefit of paying the at times hundreds of thousands of dollars premium to get a child in to Balwyn High zoning versus the cost buying elsewhere and enrolling their child or children at a private school.
The elephant in the room is the poor public transport – with no train station. This very significantly negates its seeming advantage of being only circa 10 km to the CBD.
Sure there are bus services and the number 109 tram, however, you are still going to face the inconvenience of the traffic delays inherent on Melbourne roads.
Balwyn’s streetscapes have very significantly “modernised” in the last circa 15 years. Modernisation is not necessarily a good thing in an architectural context and Balwyn is a good example of this.
You could mount a strong case that the number of McMansions (including historical reproductions of Neo Georgian which I generally see as an architectural disaster!) and increased multi-unit development (particularly on Whitehouse Road) has reduced the “tranquil charm” of the suburb. However to be fair this has been a Melbourne-wide phenomena.
Last update: 21 Mar 2023
