Melbourne's inner-city suburb Caulfield is best known for its famed racecourse, which has served punters since opening its door way back in 1876.

But the area, south-east of the city, is officially split up into four separate suburbs, Caulfield, Caulfield North, Caulfield South, and Caulfield East. No Caulfield West unusually.

There's no obvious point in time when or why it was decided Caulfield would have a number of different suburbs, rather just the changing of planning and urban development in Melbourne over the last two centuries has seen it so.

The track, home to the Caulfield Cup, one of the biggest Group I races on the calendar, is located in Caulfield East, which is the least populated suburb of the Caulfield's due to the size of the suburb, and the fact the racecourse covers nearly two thirds of the whole suburb. The Caulfield train station also sits in Caulfield East, as does Monash University Caulfield Campus.

Caulfield North is the largest suburb at 4.2 square kilometres, with over 16,000 calling it home. Caulfield North has Hawthorn Road dissecting it, bringing both connectivity through public transport and amenity. Caulfield Park and playground draws families to the suburb. Over 50 per cent of the population have at least one child, according to the latest ABS census data. 

Caulfield has the biggest split of apartments in the dwelling count, nearly 40 per cent of the suburb.

Only 20 per cent of Caulfield North is apartments. Caulfield and Caulfield North is split by Glen Eira Road. Hawthorn Road continues to run through the suburb, where there's also the Caulfield Hospital. Caulfield has just under 6,000 residents.

Caulfield South has over 12,000 residents. It has the least number of apartments, just 14 per cent of the suburb. It is also the most dominated by families, namely due to the Caulfield South Primary School and the popular Princes Park.

The domination of family homes across the Caulfield suburbs has proven difficult for developers to acquire land to create an apartment building.

Some developers have managed it however, and are reaping rewards as they're bringing something to the suburbs which don't often see too much in the way of new development.

We've wrapped up the top three apartment developments for sale in Caulfield, Caulfield North, Caulfield South in November 2023.

Project: Caulfield Rise

Address: 649 Glen Huntly Road, Caulfield VIC 3162

Prices: From $750,000

Circa Property Group recently launched Caulfield Rise, a six-level building with 47 two and three-bedroom apartments.

Prior to the launch last month, 60 per cent of the apartments were snapped up, given the rare opportunity to buy into the Caulfield market.

Designed by Ewert Leaf, Caulfield Rise incorporates light brickwork, timber-toned soffits, and abundant, lush balcony plantings, creating a seamlessly integrated look with the streetscape. The charcoal metalwork and vertical modules infuse a contemporary flair and enhance the building's facade.

Upon entry, a designated key drop area welcomes residents with marble and wood elements, providing space for artwork or a mirror. The layout offers spaciousness, accentuated by floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the interiors with natural light. Generous balcony and terrace areas offer views of the city and the bay.

The kitchens centred around an island bench, are well-appointed by Miele appliances and are finished with elegant timber and natural stone surfaces. Each bedroom features full-height, double-glazed windows for abundant natural light with a mid-century touch.

Residents can access communal amenities that include a barbecue and a landscaped garden terrace offering extensive views of Melbourne.

Caulfield Rise offers convenient access to Coles Elsternwick, Hopetoun Garden, and dining and coffee options such as Vegi and Coffee Lover Pty Ltd, Next of Kin and Bep Viet. 

Project: Wanda Terraces

Address: 14-16 Hawthorn Road, Caulfield North VIC 3161

Prices: From $1,035,000

Inspired by the heritage and distinct character of Caulfield North's tree-lined streets, Platinum's Wanda Terraces is set to offer timeless architecture and interiors along with verdant landscaping and a range of amenities.

Wanda Terraces comprises 24 two- and three-bedroom apartments ranging from 90 to 262 square meters, each with two bathrooms and two secure parking spaces.

Designed by the award-winning Ewert Leaf, the spacious apartments showcase pale oak flooring, textured stone surfaces, and bespoke detailing with cutting-edge home technology, such as biometric finger access and an app-enabled video intercom. 

The open living spaces, designer kitchens, and dining areas open into expansive private ground-floor courtyards or elevated terraces. The upper balconies overlook established gardens and the lush expanse of Caulfield Park.

Wanda Terraces also feature modern amenities such as electronic parcel lockers, electric car charging stations, number plate recognition systems, and car and dog washing facilities.

A five-minute drive north of the property, residents can find Malvern Central, Glenferrie Road Shopping Precinct, and High Street Shopping Village. 

To the south of the property, along Hawthorn Road and Balaclava Road intersection is Caulfield Park, the North Caulfield Medical Centre, and various international cuisine restaurants, bakeries, and cafes.

With a tram stop at the property's doorstep and Malvern Train Station just 500 metres away, a commute of eight kilometres to the CBD.

Project: Olive Green

Address: 380 Hawthorn Road, Caulfield South VIC 3162

Prices from: $1.03 million

Freeman Group's Olive Green presents a rare opportunity to invest in the sought-after Caulfield South area.

Olive Green consists of 44 two and three-bedroom apartments above four ground-floor retail stores, two secure basement levels for parking, and a residential lobby with secure mailboxes and courier drop-off lockers.

Upon entering the apartments, residents are greeted by timber floorboards, plush carpets, and ample natural light streaming through expansive double-glazed windows and spacious private balconies.

The master bedrooms feature generous robe space and en suite bathrooms with floor-to-ceiling tiles, designer tapware, and high-quality stone.

The kitchen is a chef's dream with an expansive island bench, Gaggenau appliances, designer tapware, an induction cooktop, and a bar for entertaining.

All residents have access to a communal rooftop terrace with barbecue facilities, communal Wi-Fi, and a covered function area offering 270-degree views of the CBD, Dandenong Ranges, and Port Phillip Bay.

Olive Green's residents are conveniently located just nine kilometres from Melbourne's CBD, with the north-south tram passing directly in front of the property on Hawthorn Road and an east-west tram on Glen Huntly Road. Glen Huntly and Elsternwick Train Stations are both reachable within a five-minute drive.

Olive Green is situated directly behind Caulfield Primary School and is less than three kilometres from Caulfield Grammar School, Wesley College Elsternwick Campus, and Glen Eira College.

An Aldi and Woolworths are located nearby, while top-rated dining establishments are all within a convenient one-kilometre walk from Olive Green.

Residents can take a 15-minute stroll to Princes Park or a short drive to Elwood and Brighton Beach.