WONDERFUL FAMILY LIVING
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At circa 12 km from the CBD, Brighton is just outside the magical "within 10 km zone" but it is still great living, particularly for families – relatively close to the CBD.
The housing stock is a mixture of grand historic houses on large blocks, mainly Victorian and Edwardian, newer mansions (some of questionable architectural merit, for example Neo Georgian), townhouses, and both historic and newly built apartment complexes generally of higher standard than most Melbourne suburbs. The newer ones often targeting local down sizers.
The suburb has very well regarded single sex and co-educational private schools –Haileybury College, St Leonards College, Brighton Grammar School, and public schools such as Brighton Secondary College and Brighton Primary School.
Rich in sporting options, for example there is easy access to Beach Road cycling and multiple sand belt golf courses, gyms, sailing, tennis courts, swimming, yoga studios.
Many residents take advantage of the beach, whether it be for a laze during summer, a walk or run – often with a dog in tow. For the more active, it is great for a run, stand up paddle boarding, kite boarding and more.
Brighton is “famous” for its bathing boxes – circa 80 distinctive small wooden “huts” lining the shore on Brighton beach since the 1860s – all without water or electricity. From a Melbourne Buyers Agents perspective, the bathing boxes are representative of Brighton property generally, i.e. they are expensive! The last one I am aware of selling, sold for $340,000 in 2019. I suspect it would be worth more in 2023.
The retail and cafe, restaurant options offered by Church and Bay streets add to the suburb’s appeal and it is one of the most well-serviced suburbs in Melbourne for film fans, with multi-screen complexes in both Church and Bay streets as well as the Classic Cinema complex in relatively nearby Elsternwick.
It is very well-serviced by four train stations (on the Sandringham line) within walking distance of residents in Brighton. It also has bus and tram services.
Like anywhere in Melbourne, car access can be challenging in peak times on the main roads servicing the suburb from the CBD (Nepean Highway and Beach Road).
In late 2022, the suburb received significant press in the Herald Sun re crime issues – in large part I suspect because one the victims of a home invasion was a relatively prominent Melbourne celebrity. Basing an assessment of the suburb’s safety re crime, on police published crime figures, Brighton is a safe suburb by Melbourne standards.
Brighton definitely deserves its reputation for being expensive (median house price of $3.2m in 2022). However given the quality of lifestyle offered, size of the properties, relative to proximity to CBD and beach access, a case can made that it represents good value – particularly for family buyers who intend staying there long term.
Last update: 21 Mar 2023