Sam Su Real Estate Company 5

Melbourne Rental Properties

716 Rental properties for sale found in: Melbourne 3004, Melbourne 3000

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• Melbourne 3004 VIC (Melbourne Region, Inner City)
• Melbourne 3000 VIC (Melbourne Region, Inner City)

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• Melbourne Rental Properties

  Price

  $340

  Property type

  Apartment/Unit

  Bedrooms

  1

  Bathrooms

  1

  Car spaces

  –

  

  2302/288 Spencer Street MELBOURNE

  As New Spacious Studio with Bay Views
  INSPECTION – SATURDAY 07TH JAN AT 11.30 – 11.45AM Perched on the 23rd Floor of the A…

  Viewable for this property:

  

  Advertiser

  Motion Property

  Contact

  Renae Galea

  View property details

• Melbourne Rental Properties (new listing)

  Price

  $990

  Property type

  Apartment/Unit

  Bedrooms

  2

  Bathrooms

  1

  Car spaces

  –

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  1205/118 Russell Street MELBOURNE

  ‘Hero’ – Fully Furnished – Stay from 1 month plus inc. utilities & Foxtel.
  Corporate Keys specialises in fully furnished short stay apartment rentals in Melbourne. Book over the phone for a minimum 28 nights or more. Hundreds to choose …

  Viewable for this property:

  

  Advertiser

  Corporate Keys Australia

  Contact

  Reservations Department

  View property details

• Melbourne Rental Properties (new listing)

  Price

  $840

  Property type

  Apartment/Unit

  Bedrooms

  1

  Bathrooms

  1

  Car spaces

  1

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  133 Bourke Street MELBOURNE

  Fully Furnished – Stay from 1 month plus inc. utilities & Foxtel.
  Corporate Keys specialises in fully furnished short stay apartment rentals in Melbourne. Book over the phone for a minimum 28 nights or more. Hundreds to choose from – call u…

  Viewable for this property:

  

  Advertiser

  Corporate Keys Australia

  Contact

  Residences Department

  View property details

• Melbourne Rental Properties (new listing)

  Price

  $820

  Property type

  Apartment/Unit

  Bedrooms

  1

  Bathrooms

  1

  Car spaces

  1

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  133 Bourke Street MELBOURNE

  Fully Furnished – Stay from 1 month plus inc. utilities & Foxtel.
  Corporate Keys specialises in fully furnished short stay apartment rentals in Melbourne. Book over the phone for a minimum 28 nights or more. Hundreds to choose from – call u…

  Viewable for this property:

  

  Advertiser

  Corporate Keys Australia

  Contact

  Residences Department

  View property details

• Melbourne Rental Properties (new listing)

  Price

  $780

  Property type

  Apartment/Unit

  Bedrooms

  1

  Bathrooms

  1

  Car spaces

  1

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  1201/280 Spencer Street MELBOURNE

  ‘Mondriane’ – Fully Furnished – Stay from 1 month plus inc. utilities & Foxtel.
  Tastefully presented, these fully furnished one-bedroom apartments comprise a master bedroom with built in robes, large bathroom and an open plan living/dining …

  Viewable for this property:

  

  Advertiser

  Corporate Keys Australia

  Contact

  Reservations Department

  View property details

• Melbourne Rental Properties (new listing)

  Price

  $650

  Property type

  Apartment/Unit

  Bedrooms

  2

  Bathrooms

  1

  Car spaces

  1

  • 
  • 

  901 / 200 Spencer Street MELBOURNE

  NEO200 ,Boutique living at its best
  This light filled two bedroom apartment in Neo200 is presented immaculately. Offering all that Melbourne CBD can give you. Neo200 is located on Spencer Street opposite the award winning Southern Cross sta…

  Viewable for this property:

  

  Advertiser

  City Residential

  Contact

  Tina Maddaluno

  View property details

• Domain

  

  US housing market bleak

  

  New York’s most expensive rental

  

  Smart home theatres

  

  Courtney Love’s rental woes

• Melbourne Rental Properties (new listing)

  Price

  $640

  Property type

  Apartment/Unit

  Bedrooms

  2

  Bathrooms

  2

  Car spaces

  –

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  1703/8 Franklin MELBOURNE

  2 BEDROOM + 2 BATHROOM FURNISHED APT
  Located on level 17 of the Prestigious Milano Tower, this Brilliant apartment offers sensational views over Melbourne’s Skyline. * Located on level 17 of the Milano Tower * Furnished * Two bedrooms…

  Viewable for this property:

  

  Advertiser

  Melcorp Property Pty Ltd

  Contact

  David Chen

  View property details

• Melbourne Rental Properties (new listing)

  Price

  $600pw

  Property type

  Apartment/Unit

  Bedrooms

  2

  Bathrooms

  1

  Car spaces

  1

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  507/616 Little Collins Street MELBOURNE

  Furnished apartment with electricity & car park included!
  Fully furnished two bedroom apartment located close to Southern Cross station in the refurbished Tramways building. This beautifully presented property includes entrance hall with po…

  Viewable for this property:

  

  Advertiser

  Mitchell Property Management

  Contact

  Ebony McCracken

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• Melbourne Rental Properties (new listing)

  Price

  $525 per week

  Property type

  Apartment/Unit

  Bedrooms

  2

  Bathrooms

  1

  Car spaces

  1

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  G03/55 Queens Road MELBOURNE

  MODERN APARTMENT – EXECUTIVE LOCATION
  Large 2 Bedroom apartment in amazing location near Albert Park Lake, St Kilda Road, Belgium Beer Garden, Public Transport, Shops and Supermarkets. Feature 2 Large Bedrooms with BIR’s, modern open pla…

  Viewable for this property:

  

  Advertiser

  Carroll McKeddie

  Contact

  Michael Sanz

  View property details

• Melbourne Rental Properties (new listing)

  Price

  $500

  Property type

  Apartment/Unit

  Bedrooms

  2

  Bathrooms

  2

  Car spaces

  1

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  7/539 St Kilda Road MELBOURNE

  As new 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom – Inspection to be Advised
  Inspection to be Advised Absolutely stunning as new ground floor apartment, this glamorous apartment certainly stands out from the rest. Boasting large open plan living area Duc…

  Viewable for this property:

  

  Advertiser

  Robert Martin Realty

  Contact

  Daniel Bryan

  View property details

• Melbourne Rental Properties (new listing)

  Price

  $415

  Property type

  Apartment/Unit

  Bedrooms

  1

  Bathrooms

  1

  Car spaces

  1

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Sam Su Real Estate Company 4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A home is one of the most expensive purchases most of us will ever make during our lifetime. Whether you decide to rent or buy, either choice comes with its own rewards and risks. Homeownership offers many advantages over renting including:

Advantages of Buying versus Renting

Buying	Renting
Tax write-off	No tax write-off
You can upgrade your home as you see fit	Need permission to make any changes
Build equity in your home as value appreciates	Your money goes toward the landlords equity
Control of loan payment options	Rent can increase periodically
Pride of homeownership	You have no ownership

While owning your own home has many benefits, there are still risks to consider:

Disadvantages of Buying versus Renting

Buying	Renting
You’re responsible for property maintenance	Your landlord or manager handles general repairs
Need to sell, rent or lease property in order to re-locate. May have to wait until market conditions are right	Freedom to move once your lease expires
You pay for all your own utilities, property taxes and insurance	May include utilities, property taxes, and property insurance
Home improvement upgrades can run into thousands of dollars	You’re not financially responsible for improvements

However, all things considered, homeownership is by far one of the best single investments you can make given the potential long-term benefits.

When does it make sense to buy?

People, who have generally rented their whole lives, purchase a home for various reasons. Owning something of value with a chance of watching their investment appreciate is one reason. Purchasing a home to save money over the long-term is another.

Example

Let’s say you’re currently renting a two-bedroom, two-bath apartment. Your monthly rent is $1,000. You find a two-bedroom, two-bath at a market price of $250,000 (roughly the national average.) You have $25,000 saved – enough for a 10 percent down payment. For the purpose of this example, you’re looking to finance $225,000, which includes closing costs.

Using one of several mortgage calculators on the Internet, your monthly payment would be approximately $1,385 for a 30-year fixed loan at an APR of 6.20 percent (the national average). After taxes and appreciation in equity, your monthly payment over five years would average $499 per month.

Costs Savings of Buying versus Renting

Calculations	Rent	Purchase
Monthly rent/estimated mortgage payment	$1,000	$1,385
Purchase price of home		$250,000
Percentage of down payment		25,000
Length of loan term (years)		30
Interest rate		6.2%
Years you plan to stay in the home		5
Yearly property tax rate		1%
Yearly home value appreciation rate		4%
Results
Price of home after appreciation		$304,163
Remaining balance after 5 years		209,887
Equity in house		94,276
Tax savings (28% bracket)		23,030
Avg. monthly payment over time	1,047	499
Total payments (over 5 years)	$62,820	$29,973
Total savings if buying		$32,847
Source: Ginniemae.gov. These calculations are estimates only. You should always seek the guidance of financial or tax experts before making any buying decisions.

The outcome could dramatically change should an unforeseen economic downturn or financial hardship occur (e.g., home improvement costs, catastrophic damage, etc.). While, no one can predict if home appreciation values will spiral downward, or if mortgage interest rates will rise, it’s clear that under the right circumstances home ownership can be financially rewarding.

 

 

Sam Su Real Estate Company 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Total Properties: 951
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Order by Latest Listing Rent Suburb No. Bedrooms

NEWLY RENOVATED! STRATHFIELD – $480.00 week Position doesn’t get much better than this! Ideally located within a hop skip and jump to station, shopping centre and all conveniences of strathfield, this top floor apartment boasts an… View the full details

NEWLY RENOVATED 4 BEDROOM HOUSE – Located at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac HIGHBURY – $360.00 week This newly renovated house consisting of 4 double bedrooms, is located at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac with a park and playground at the end of the court. It has 1 large bathrrom and a sepa… View the full details

3 bedroom + Study + pool in central paddington PADDINGTON – $525.00 week The rental price of this property is $465/week plus maintenance costs for pool and garden is $60/week. Cute, unrenovated, 3 bedroom plus study colonial house in a great area of Paddington… View the full details

New 2bed2bath apartment inner west Chiswick with park view for lease CHISWICK – $650.00 week Near new 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment located in Sydney’s inner west – Chiswick. The apartment has 180 degree of park view, it is next to the harbour and the Cambell Park, next to the shor… View the full details

TOTAL Convenience Plus – FURNISHED – AIR CONDITIONED UNIT – ?? ? KALLANGUR – $320.00 week FURNISHED renovated unit complete with security screens on all windows and doors, plus keyless entry for added convenience. Open plan living and kitchen area including Foxtel outlet and a… View the full details

TOTAL Ground Floor, Location Perfect.? ? ? KALLANGUR – $270.00 week Ground floor comfortable two bedroom unit waiting for you to add your personal touch complete with security screens on all windows and doors, plus keyless entry for added convenience. Open … View the full details

Fully furnished near new apartment close to station for lease (short term aval) NORTH STRATHFIELD – $599.00 week Fully furnished boutique near new apartment located in quiet street and close to cafes, restaurants and North Strathfield Fitness First, this modern, split level unit offers generous light f… View the full details

Brand new Waterview aprt in Breakfast Point for lease BREAKFAST POINT – $499.00 week Brand new Waterview apartment for lease in exclusive Breakfast Point complex Large 1 bedroom apartment Brand new, available now Open plan kitchen, European style appliance Air… View the full details

Family home in quiet street BEACON HILL – $680.00 week Average sized three bedroom brick veneer 1960’s home. Very tidy well maintained condition, clean and comfortable. Fully fenced backyard. Suitable for couple or young family. Close to tran… View the full details

Charming 2 bedroom walk to station shops schools WAHROONGA – $450.00 week Great two bedroom unit – walking distance to shops and schools. Built in robes, bathroom, internal laundry and single garage. Please contact Primary Real Estate primaryrealestate@tpg.com.au … View the full details

 

Sam Su Real Estate Company 2

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Welcome to Australia’s leading independent real estate website.

PropertyNow is the only Australian property website that supports For Sale by Owner listings as well as Real Estate Agency sales. PropertyNow began promoting Private Sales and Real Estate Agents in Australia 6 years ago.

To sell your own property on realestate.com.au and domain start here – Private Sale
Real estate agents can list their properties for free here – Real Estate Agent Sales
Both private sellers and real estate agents are able to upload and edit their property after registration.

If you are a provider of home loans look at this NOW! if you are a Mortgage Broker  -1300 Home Loan, the first broker-owned home loan brand in Australia is running fortnightly presentations in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

You are also invited to source your next home loan at our home loan comparison page which highlights the best home loans deals for 2012. Also if you provide any real estate related service, consider claiming excusivity for your suburb within our real estate directory.

Sam Su Real Estate Company 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Should You Buy or Build a New Home?

 

The prospect of building your own home is incredibly exciting and can save you some money in the long run, but you need to really stop and consider what a major step it is. There’s no clear cut answer on whether you should buy or build, it’s different for everyone, but we can provide you with a few aspects of building your own home to consider in order to decide whether or not it’s for you.

Inexpensive Ways to Increase Home Value

 

Many first-time home owners look for ways they can increase the value of their home before they commit to a purchase. Buying a home that is essentially perfect and without need for improvement can be easy on the pocket, but may not be the best option in the long-term. For the market value of a home to stay the same, or go up, the home has to be worked on and improved. This said, it is a common misnomer that the only way to make a home worth more is to conduct a large-scale renovation.

Buy to Let Locally for the Best Outcome

 

As people decide to get into the buy-to-let market in order to increase their income during trim times, it is important that they comprehend the basic essentials of obtaining and purchasing the ideal rental property.

The most important steps is to take a look at own local area. People who tend to live in this area will probably be trying to find the same things that made you purchase your own home, so you can attune your property lookup to those needs. Buying a residence nearby means you have the good thing about local knowledge, and will also allow you to deal with maintenance issues easily and quickly, without having to travel to far to resolve the problem.

Another thing that you should contemplate is the amount of effort you want to invest in the property. Look for something needs little maintenance because your first buy-to-rent, so that you don’t have to worry about things in the property consistently going wrong. Try and avoid complexes with major issues, including subsidence or serious roof destruction, as these can be costly to repair. It’s also advisable to not be swayed by significant gardens, or ‘leisure’ rooms, as these are unlikely to affect the final rental amount.

The rental market in the UK can be increasing rapidly, with people becoming a lot more interested in making a buy-to-let purchase. Because rental market increases, therefore banks are becoming more available to lending investors the money to finish the purchase. There are also specialist loan providers available who can offer the consumer a range of advantageous loans.

Even though traditional renter’s mortgage has allowed a lot of people to start investing in buy-to-let properties, finance institutions and building societies have become aware that these borrowers need a particular kind of mortgage. They can advise lenders with regards to taking out discounted mortgages, as well as trackers, depending upon the borrowers particular needs. You may decide that the top type of mortgage for a buy-to-let property is the fixed rate, since this steady loan can help you to fix your own rental prices.

Most mortgages with regard to buy-to-let investors are purchased through an middleman, someone who talks to both the lender and the borrower. Mortgage brokers might be particularly useful in working out the type of mortgage you will need, and how to work out with the banks in order to get the top price available. Whatever form of mortgage you choose, the real solution to getting a good return for the investment is to find the perfect house to purchase first, and then take out a home financing to suit that property.

Choosing a Property Developer

 

In order to choose the right property developer, one must first understand what property development entails. What a property developer does is complex and so is the decision of choosing the one that will most fit your needs. In most cases, they will first buy the land or lots, and then develop a strategy for marketing the property. This is followed by designing a building program either to build houses which are then leased or ultimately sold off. There is also a lengthy public approval and financing process. While the work is complex, the rewards are well worth the effort.

Including Pavers in Your Home Renovation Plans

 

Homeowners who have the challenging task of breaking into the world of outdoor renovation are often faced with the dilemma of whether or not to use pavers or go with concrete. While there are some people who are fine on their own with certain projects around the house, there are other things that are just better left to the professionals; one of these instances is when concrete paving involved.

Unfortunately, most people do not consider how much work is going to be involved during the process. It’s also true that the wrong choice of paving materials and inadequate site preparation can turn good intentions into a failed DIY project. So, with that in mind, the best option if you want to make your very own backyard paradise is to leave all of the concrete blocks – related tasks to the professionals. This will help to ensure not only your safety, but also that you get an end result that will suite all of your needs and wants.

Genius Ways to Stretch Your Decorating Budget

 

For most families, wages are staying the same while the cost of living is going up. This means that there isn’t much left over for discretionary spending such as buying a new fitted kitchen, improving your bathroom, or re-doing the rest of the house.

That doesn’t mean that you can’t redecorate, though – it just means that you might need to get creative about how you do it, and perhaps do more of it DIY style, instead of hiring in a carpenter or a painter to do the work for you.

The following tips will help you to save money without skimping on the important bits of your new design.

New Bathroom to Increase the Value of Your Home

 

If you are considering ways to increase the value of your home, you will want to start with your bathroom. Renovating a bathroom can be inexpensive and a great way to attract buyers to your home. You will need to choose a contractor to perform the work. Make sure that you can look at their past work. You will also want to confirm that they do not have any outstanding complaints against them with any consumer agencies.

 

Discovering Melbourne section 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

History & heritage

Find reminders of Melbourne’s rich history in the numerous historical buildings and monuments around the city. Originally the home of the Kulin nation and made up of five Aboriginal language groups, Melbourne began as a tent city of 50 settlers but quickly grew to a population of 700,000 by 1869.

Aboriginal heritage
Bunjil, the spiritual creator, taking the form of a wedge-tail eagle, gave life to the first people, the rivers, the mountains, the animals and trees – all living and natural things in the Kulin Nation. Today, the Kulin Nation continues to live, practise and strengthen its customs in urban Melbourne through the Boonwurrung and Woiwurrung people. Visit the Koorie Heritage Trust and the multi-award-winning Bunjilaka at the Melbourne Museum. Journey into the ancestral lands of the Kulin nation and explore their rich and thriving culture on a heritage walk in the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.

The First Settlers
The first white settlers sailed up Port Phillip Bay in 1835 and decided upon a site for a trading post. See the striking interiors of the World heritage listed Royal Exhibition Buildings and explore horrifying tales of prison life in the Old Melbourne Gaol. Discover Melbourne’s maritime past then stop by the beautiful Fitzroy Gardens to see the reconstructed Cook’s Cottage – the childhood home of Captain James Cook, one of the first European navigators to chart the east coast of Australia.

Gold rush boom
The rapid population growth was down to the gold rush of the 1850s, which saw Melbourne take off as a true international city. Those lucrative years and the ensuing land boom left Victoria with an outstanding legacy of fine architecture, examples of which ca be found around the city today. Visitors to the region in the late nineteenth century labelled the city ‘the jewel of the southern hemisphere’.

Houses and homesteads
Melbourne is home to a number of outstanding and architecturally significant National Trust homes and museums, as well as historically significant parks and gardens. Among the best are the lavish French Rennaisance-inspired Como house, a colonial mansion set in five acres of garden at Toorak, and Rippon Lea Estate, the last of Australia’s great privately owned nineteenth century suburban estates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The City Circle Tram service provides a free and convenient way to get around central Melbourne. Tourists, shoppers, office workers and families can use the City Circle Tram to travel to major attractions, shops and city events.

An audio commentary provides details of city landmarks and major attractions such as the City Museum, Parliament House, Docklands, Federation Square, Melbourne Aquarium and the Princess Theatre.

The City Circle route is serviced by heritage W class trams decorated in special maroon and green with yellow and gold trimmings.

Tourists can spend all day on a City Circle Tram! Information leaflets, including an ‘easy to understand’ map of the city are available on board each City Circle Tram. The City Circle Tram can be used as a ‘hop on – hop off’ service, this way tourists can enjoy each of Melbourne’s sites and have the added bonus of traditional Melbourne transportation.

To catch the free City Circle Tram service (route number 35), simply board the tram at any of the specially marked stops on the route.

Old Melbourne Gaol Crime & Justice Experience

 

Step back in time and walk the road to the gallows in a 19th century prison, be arrested in a modern-day Police Station or put yourself on trial in court.

Home to the oldest prison, historic Magistrates’ Court and former Police City Watch House, Russell Street has been at the heart of crime, law and order in Melbourne since the 1840s.

Most of Australia’s infamous characters, including iconic bushranger, Ned Kelly and notorious gangster Squizzy Taylor have spent time within the walls of this amazing precinct.

A ticket to the Old Melbourne Gaol Crime & Justice Experience grants you visiting rights to the past, present and future of crime and justice in Australia.

 

Discovering Melbourne section 4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shopping

From locally-designed originals to the best of international brands you’ll be spoilt for choice in Melbourne’s shopping precincts. Explore department stores and shopping centres and meander through the city’s myriad arcades and laneways.

Whether you’re after high fashion or fine art, Melbourne’s ever-evolving shopping choices make it difficult to decide where to start your spree. Explore Melbourne Central, discover the QV and GPO precincts and lose yourself in laneways and arcades.

Discover fantastic fashion at Husk, Alice Euphemia and Chiodo. Find a forgotten gem in retro stores Shag and Retrostar or gorgeous jewellery at e.g. etal. And then revive yourself with hot chocolate and coffee at Koko Black.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fashion

Having sewn their first fashion seeds in various garages and bungalows around Melbourne, many of these stalwart Melbourne designers have notched up their first decade in business, operate their own stores and are an inspiration to a new generation of creatives.

Obüs
Pop on any piece from Obüs and you’ll feel like you’re going places. For eight years founder Kylie Zerbst – originally a graphic designer – has delivered gracefully restrained and meticulously conceived pieces and many Melburnian ladies still treasure vintage Obüs garments. Although a great many stores around the country now offer various pieces of the range, it’s at the Gertrude Street flagship location where you can see the precious works in their natural surrounds.

226 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy
4/289 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

Gorman
Gorman is so firmly established in the Melbourne fashion landscape you could almost think of it as a ‘chain’ of stores. It began in 1999, when Lisa Gorman launched her label at the insistence of her then-housemates, the Fat Four (who eventually opened the first Fat boutique on Johnston Street). Lisa’s winsome, playful approach to design has seen the label grow in astonishing leaps and bounds. Lisa is still Gorman’s sole designer and oversees the customised prints that take as long to develop as the garments themselves.

GPO, 350 Bourke Street, Melbourne
235 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
248 Chapel Street, Prahran
561 Chapel Street, South Yarra

Leonard Street
This label is a long-time favourite of Melbourne girls for its wearable yet unique designs. Amanda McCarthy’s background as a sculptor is evident in her cleanly structured but still feminine designs. Named after a small pocket of London’s East End, Leonard Street’s three annual collections contain batwing dresses, swing jackets and pleated pants, all with a slouchy 1980s lilt and loads of street-cred cool. A sophisticated palette of grey, khaki and black merge with bright florals, sharp graphics and colours that pop.

178 High Street, Prahran

Claude Maus
For a long time, Claude Maus was the only Melbourne label that catered perfectly to this city’s black-o-philia and its 1999 arrival meant Melbourne’s art crowd finally had a local source for satisfying its sartorial preferences. More than a decade later, Claude Maus has lightened up considerably, but still caters to this city’s noir-ish streetscapes with winter collections that include the Melbourne essential – a nice warm (and stylish) winter coat, available at the wonderful and just-off-the-beaten-track Manchester Lane store.

19 Manchester Lane, Melbourne

Alpha60
Started in 2002 by siblings Alex and Georgie Cleary, Alpha60’s sophisticated streetwear has grown into an empire that includes three Alphaville stores across the city – one north, one south and one in the middle. Pop culture is a constant source of inspiration: cult films such as La Haine and Twin Peaks are referenced and each season’s collection has a different muse – River Phoenix being the latest in a line that includes Kate Moss lampshades, ‘Love Mick Jagger’ T-shirts and Vincent Gallo evening gowns.

201 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
179 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
230 Chapel Street, Prahran

Arabella Ramsay
Melbourne’s much-discussed north–south divide is nowhere more evident than in its fashion tastes. While the northern suburbs breed members of the omnipresent black faction, the further you get toward the beach, the happier become the colours and the friskier the dresses. Hence, Arabella Ramsay’s clothes, sold at the Armadale flagship store, certainly ain’t moody or sculptural, they’re happy. The nostalgic folk-meets-rock-rebel style, in a heady fusion of silk, leather and floral fabric, has earned her a throng of fans.

1073 High Street, Armadale

Vixen
After 16 years of working her way into the fabric of Melbourne fashion, Georgia Chapman joined the Gertrude Street forward-thinkers in March 2007 with her flagship store. The focus of her label Vixen has, in line with Georgia’s background in textile design, always been on fabric. Vixen’s fashion and homewares are custom-dyed, hand-printed, etched and embellished silks, jerseys and velvets fashioned into garments like skirts, wraps and shoals.

163 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

Scanlan and Theodore
Feminine without frills, structure without stricture, and subtle without ever being boring, Scanlan and Theodore has been defining Melbourne style for more than two decades. The label began with a tiny boutique in Chapel Street in 1987, resolutely rejecting the boxy power suits of the time, and is now highly coveted both here and overseas. The much-revered label has survived the departure of Fiona Scanlan in 2003 and continues to move from strength to strength under Gary Theodore’s precise eye.

285 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
566 Chapel Street, South Yarra

The Signet Bureau
This is a very unusual store indeed. A clever hybrid between designer flagship store and multi-label boutique, The Signet Bureau features the work of a few clothing labels (and one shoemaker), who together share the cost and joy of creating their own public face. One of the driving forces behind this wonderful store is Miriam Borcherdt with her label Munk. Behind the store are also local shoe designers Preston Zly (one of the only survinving local shoemakers), as well as Melbourne newcomer Robyn Black with her beautiful dresses. New York Label Nami is the third musketeer.

165 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

 

Discovering Melbourne section 3

Pubs

As crisp days lead into cool nights, Melbourne pubs provide perfect sanctuary. Catch a band, shoot some pool, or settle by an open fire and feast on hearty fare.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retreat Hotel

Address: 280 Sydney Rd, Brunswick, Victoria 3056

Phone: 03 9380 4090

Web: http://yourbars.com.au/guide/retreat_hotel/

Overview

Funky, laidback and grungy, this pub attracts drinkers who share similar qualities. DJs and bands play at the back. The huge beer garden is a crowd magnet in summer.

More info

Opening hours

Sun-Thu
12:00pm -12:00am

Fri-Sat
12:00pm -3:00am

Union Club Hotel

Address: 164 Gore St, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065

Phone: 03 9417 2926

Email: info@unionclubhotel.com.au
Web: unionclubhotel.com.au/

Overview

Slurp down some wine in the sunny beer garden, shoot some pool or soak up the DJ sounds. Pub nosh will tame those with an appetite.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sporting Club Hotel

Address: 27 Weston St, Brunswick, Victoria 3056

Phone: 03 9380 8777

Email: sergio@sportingclub.net.au
Web: http://yourbars.com.au/guide/sporting_club_hotel/

Overview

Locals flock to this unpretentious pub for its “comfort” factor, with features such as an open fireplace for the chilly months and a fab little beer garden for summer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Napier Hotel is the ultimate ‘local’. It’s the sort of place you’d love to have within walking distance when you’re heavily hung-over, starving and wearing yesterday’s clothes. With a casual vibe and a value-for-money atmosphere, this pub welcomes in both the post-work suits and those that are trackie-dack-clad. It hasn’t succumbed to the trendy homogenisation of bar culture. Instead, it has held onto its original Aussie pub roots – offering good beer, music, pool and legendary food. This old colonial style establishment represents grungy Fitzroy at its best. With well-worn dark wooden floors, it stands proudly decorated with dusty paraphernalia and historic photos from the defunct Fitzroy Lions Football Club. All the great locals hang out here – Carlton Draught, Cascade, Mountain Goat, Little Creatures and Coopers (as well as the odd international interloper). These amber liquids are a great way to wash down one of the Napier Hotel’s gargantuan pub meals. The huge servings are designed for the post-work or post-booze appetite. The Bogan Burger (a burger with the lot, including a potato cake!) is the most famous dish on the menu, but you’d better be seriously hungry if you’re even contemplating tackling this bad boy.

 

Discovering Melbourne section 2

The Market

Label

Queen Victoria Market is Victoria’s premier open-air market. It’s a thriving and vital place pulsating with life.

The friendly competition between stallholders, and their concern for customers, is what gives the Market its Old World charm and the addictive power to draw millions of visitors each year.

The vibrant, cosmopolitan atmosphere of this historic site has endeared the Market to Melburnians for 130 years. The Market is probably best known for its huge variety of fresh produce. Almost 50% of the Market area is dedicated to the sale of fresh produce, including fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, chicken, seafood and delicatessen products.

The remainder of the Market is used for variety and speciality goods, with Sundays being the most popular day for this category. On Sundays, the hustle and bustle of the weekday Market gives way to a more relaxed and leisurely family day. Queen Street is closed and converted into an outdoor cafe area, with children’s rides and other activities.

The Market is divided into a number of Market Precincts; the Deli Hall, Elizabeth Street Shops, F shed laneway, Vic Market Place Food Court, Fruit and Vegetables, The Meat Hall, Organics, General Merchandise, Victoria Street Shops and the Wine Market.

Grossi Florentino

Address: 80 Bourke Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000

Phone: 03 9662 1811

Cuisine: Italian

A swoop of staff greet you at the top of Grossi’s legendary curved stairs, heralding your arrival with a studied chorus of ‘buonasera!‘­ – it’s the prelude to an occasion of high theatre. With its famed Florentine-style murals and shimmering chandeliers, Grossi is like a stage set, evoking a Tuscan palazzo. Celebrity chef and owner Guy Grossi sticks to his popular script of classic Italian. Consistently impressive as entree is the swooningly good black rice risotto – dark and velvety, topped with a Moreton Bay bug, and a salty dollop of parmesan sabayon. For mains, the Glenloth pigeon – a roasted breast and a large raviolo filled with leg meat – is delicately balanced, with a sauce that seamlessly merges marsala, cardamom and liquorice powder. Though John Dory with green olives might seem too subtle, desserts – such as the Valrhonachocolate souffle – are show-stoppers. It’s a pleasingly conservative and fine performance – though, like premium seats at the opera, something this special comes at a price.

Cafes

Melbourne is the coffee capital of Australia. In the CBD, the cobblestoned laneways are filled with the aroma of espresso coming from a myriad of cafes. Further afield, Richmond, St Kilda, Fitzroy, South Melbourne and Prahran also offer great cafe strips, with a more laid-back feel.

 

Discovering Melbourne section 1

http://www.visitmelbourne.com/

Get your head around Melbourne’s eclectic precincts and fringe suburbs and dive in to uncover little-known places for cheap, filling lunches; coffee worth boasting about; underground art; subterranean dens and bars high on the rooftops; green spaces; fancy places; and some good yarns along the way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

City precincts

Just when you think you’ve got Melbourne figured out, you’ll uncover one more pocket of the CBD with a particular vibe that makes it feel so right to lose another three hours or so.

While fairly compact in size, Melbourne’s CBD is split into distinct areas, each with its own fortes and flavours. Bourke Street Mall offers no-strings-attached retail therapy, Chinatown is all dumplings and heritage, Collins Street knows how posh you really are, Flinders quarter squeezes your creative juices, and the sports precinct’s fever is contagious. The alleys and laneways, conventional and vertical, make their own rules, and encourage you to break them.

Go on, just look around one more corner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bourke Street Mall

Take a deep breath and dive into the bustling hive of commerce that is the Bourke Street Mall, emerging hours later, arms laden with shopping bags and head reverberating with the sounds of the street’s lively buskers.

Melbourne’s retail heart links Swanston and Elizabeth streets and is only open to trams and pedestrians. Listen out for the bells of approaching trams as you drift between department stores and the flagships of as Forever New, Sportsgirl and Zara.

David Jones and Myer
Here you’ll find Melbourne’s two main department stores. David Jones occupies three buildings for its vast array of wares, while Myer looms with its nine stories, plus the Lonsdale Street store. Check out the Mural Hall for a diversion, and come at the year’s end for the nostalgia kick of the cherished Christmas windows.

Melbourne’s GPO
Melbourne’s 1864 postal building has been stunningly refurbished and converted into a sophisticated and contemporary retail experience showcasing fashion, luxury goods and dining. Look out for gorman, Leona Edmiston, Mimco, Ben Sherman, Georg Jensen, Camper, Cacao Fine Chocolate & Patisserie plus delicious eateries in GPO Lane.

Visitor information
The Melbourne Visitor Booth is midway along the Mall, with friendly volunteers and staff who can assist you with directions, shopping and handy tips.

How to get there
By tram: Any tram along Swanston or Elizabeth streets to Bourke Street.

By foot: Two blocks north from Federation Square (about 5 minutes).