Glen Iris: The family-friendly Melbourne suburb residents don't want to leave
The leafy Glen Iris, regarded as the geographical center of Melbourne, is a suburb that, once you live there, you will never want to leave.
The 3146 postcode offers a perfect blend of suburban charm and connectivity to greater Melbourne. It boasts some of the best schools in the city, as well as easy access to the central business district.
Heath Thompson, Director at Projects by Buxton, has sold out several new apartment developments over the years and notes that Glen Iris has long been regarded as one of Melbourne’s top suburbs for families and downsizers.
"You find that those who move to Glen Iris often stay for generations," Thompson says.
"Generally speaking, young families move to Glen Iris to enjoy a family-friendly lifestyle, with some of the best schools and parks in Melbourne. As they approach the empty-nesting phase, these parents often look to downsize locally because soon enough they’ll be grandparents, and their children will likely raise their families in Glen Iris as well. This creates a generational knock-on effect, making Glen Iris a really tight-knit community," Thompson explains.
Thompson emphasizes the beauty of Glen Iris as one of Melbourne's established suburbs, with its leafy, tree-lined streets and excellent amenities, while also being one of the most connected areas.
"When you are at that young family stage, there is still great access to the city, whether it be through Glen Iris Station, Gardiner Station, or the extensive tram connections on High Street. You're in close proximity to the city but can feel completely disconnected on weekends, allowing you to immerse yourself in a more family-friendly lifestyle."
Thompson says Glen Iris sits in a prime pocket that enables its residents to enjoy several of the neighbouring suburbs.
"You're on the fringe of Malvern and Armadale to the west, Camberwell to the north, and Ashburton to the east. You can take advantage of all the amenities these areas offer."
Leaning into the trend of downsizing in the suburb, developers in recent years have been gearing their new projects to offer large apartments that can cater for both young and established families, as well as the empty nester.
Thompson has just one apartment remaining in GALERIE, the newest apartment development in Glen Iris which is slated for completion in the coming months.
While the majority of buyers have been downsizers, several are couples looking to upsize as they plan the next phase of their lives.
"The building represents everything that Glen Iris is about."
The penthouse atop GALERIE set a price record for the suburb in 2023, selling for nearly $4 million to a local couple looking to downsize.
Thompson believes Glen Iris is an excellent suburb for downsizing due to its proximity to some of Melbourne’s best neighborhoods and the Monash Freeway.
"There are generally two types of retirees: those who want to travel internationally and can be at the airport in 35 minutes, and those with a weekender on the Mornington Peninsula who can be on the freeway in minutes."
Downsizers are expected to make up the majority of purchases in the latest apartment development launching in Glen Iris.
Avery, located next to GALERIE on High Street, comprises just 24 apartments in a boutique low-rise building designed by Alta Architecture. Alta embraced the principles of wabi-sabi, a Japanese design philosophy that emphasizes natural simplicity and strength.
Alvin Xu of Alta Architecture explained, “I’ve been exploring the idea of wabi-sabi for years. With Avery, I aimed to create tranquillity within an increasingly busy city and instill calm into every aspect of the design. I wanted to sustainably connect nature and gardens to the indoor living spaces."
"Ultimately, I tried to make a place where I would want to spend time, that feels like home as soon as you step inside."
The apartments are designed to maximize natural light with floor-to-ceiling windows and winter gardens that serve as versatile balconies for year-round enjoyment. A central fireplace adds warmth to the living area.
High Street has become one of the most popular streets for new developments in Glen Iris. The seven-kilometer stretch is well serviced by trams to and from the city and runs to the bottom of Albert Park to the east to Ashburton and Malvern to the west.
Downsizers have driven rare Glen Iris townhouse development, Lori, to a near sell-out. Just two of the eight townhouses remain as they approach completion.
The three-bedroom townhouses have been designed by Megowan Architecture to spark some creative flair into Glen Iris.
The townhouses are situated on a sloping block, which allows for expansive views of the surrounding treescape through large picture windows. They feature high ceilings and full-length windows to maximise natural light and provide views of the preserved 100-year-old trees on the site.
There will be even more local amenity for Glen Iris residents if Time & Place's joint venture with Woolworths is approved at 173 Burke Road, on the border of Malvern East.
They've scaled back their shop-top housing development plans by Cera Stribley, now proposing 64 larger apartments above a full-line Woolworths with incresed setbacks and additional affordable housing options.
