$850,000 Homes in Melbourne, Australia

New York Times

11-04-2025

Blairgowrie | $840,000 (1.395 million AUD)
This three-bedroom, two-bath holiday home sits in the center of a grassy lot dotted with native plants. A deck and fire pit make use of the spacious lot, while the bright interior is designed for entertaining and cozy beach living. The home, which dates to the 1960s, was fully rebuilt in 2024 with a new roof, floors, kitchen, bathrooms, plumbing, gutters and electrical systems.
Blairgowrie, a seaside suburb and vacation destination on the Mornington Peninsula, roughly 60 miles south of Melbourne's central business district, draws Melbournians on weekends and holidays. Its population swells in the summer, when people take to its north and south facing beaches. Vineyards, trails, golf courses and farms are sprinkled throughout the peninsula.
Size: 915 square feet
Price per square foot: $918
Indoors: Sunlight seeps through the cottage's many windows. A family room with a wood-fired, slow-combustion heater and a wall of double doors leading to the deck and garden is at one end of the house. At the other end are three bedrooms connected by a small hallway. The primary bedroom has an en suite bath, while the guest bedrooms have access to a bathroom with a washer and dryer near the living room. Between the bedrooms and the family room, the kitchen has timber laminate countertops, white cabinets and seating for three.
Vertical wood paneling in several rooms lends a coastal feel. The floors are carpeted in the bedrooms and have engineered timber flooring in the common areas.
Outdoor space: The house sits on 0.19 acres, with landscaped gardens featuring native plants. The broad deck off the family room is set up for al fresco dining on sunny days. Past that, a winding lawn leads to a fire pit at the back of the garden. In front, a carport and garden frame the house.
Costs: The local annual property taxes for this home are approximately $1,020 (1,695 AUD). The Victorian state government levies an additional land tax on secondary and investment residences. Here, it would be approximately $2,418 (4,020 AUD) per year.
Contact: Hamish Opray | Peninsula Sotheby's International Realty | [phone]
Collingwood | $857,000 (1.425 million AUD)
This two-bedroom, one-bath loft is one of 26 residences that were converted from a former factory warehouse, Foy and Gibson Whiteworks. Each home was designed by a different architect and builder, according to the listing agent. The style of this residence showcases the building's origins, with original Baltic pine floors, exposed industrial beams and many windows. Its sleek kitchen and open floor plan give it a contemporary feel.
The brick building, which dates to 1912, is one of many warehouse conversions in the trendy Melbourne neighborhood of Collingwood. That industrial past has given way to restaurants, boutiques, record stores and music venues. Melbourne Airport is a 15-mile drive.
Size: 1,830 square feet
Price per square foot: $468
Indoors: The home, reached by elevator, is one floor above street level. The airy, open plan groups together a large living room under soaring windows, an adjoining dining room and a kitchen with white counters and open shelving. Two bedrooms are on opposite sides of the loft, one near the entrance and a slightly larger one with an adjoining bathroom and laundry room just off the living room.
From the living and dining area, stairs lead up to a mezzanine that is used as an office. The loft's spacious white walls are suitable for hanging art, as the seller has. The loft comes with parking for two vehicles.
Outdoor space: This property does not have private outdoor space, but there are eight small parks within a half mile.
Costs: The quarterly body corporate fees, which cover building insurance, maintenance of the elevator and reserve funds for maintenance of common areas, total around $1,468 (2,440 AUD) a year. Current annual property taxes, known as council rates in Australia, are $1,363 (2,265 AUD).
Contact: Michael Amarant | Jellis Craig Fitzroy | [phone]
South Melbourne | $836,000 (1.39 million AUD)
This two-bedroom, one-bath house with a courtyard, a veranda and off-street parking is designed for indoor-outdoor living. While the two-tone brick facade, built-in cabinets and millwork remain true to the home's 1876 construction, the interior is fresh and functional. Standout details include the roomy yard with vine-covered brick walls and stained-glass accent windows above the doors.
South Melbourne, an inner suburb about two miles south of Melbourne's Central Business District, has a mixture of quiet residential streets lined with refreshed Victorian houses and bustling business zones. This home is tucked into a tiny residential side street less than three blocks from Clarendon Street, the suburb's main commercial area. South Melbourne Market and a light rail station are within walking distance. Regional landmarks near the home include the Royal Botanical Gardens and Australia's South Melbourne FC soccer club.
Size: Approximately 800 square feet
Price per square foot: $1,045
Indoors: The house has a square layout, with four rooms on opposite sides of a central hallway. Upon entry, two equally sized bedrooms are off the left side of the hall, and the living room and an eat-in kitchen are off the right. At the back, off the kitchen, is the bathroom, with a glass-walled shower and mocha-colored tiled walls.
The home's Victorian roots are visible in several details. The living room has a cozy fireplace; there are sash windows throughout; and wood moldings painted white accent the hallway and rooms. The property has two cellar storage spaces (one under the kitchen and one under a bedroom) and a reverse-cycle heating and cooling unit.
Outdoor space: The approximately 1,880-square-foot lot includes several outdoor spaces, including a veranda and a courtyard.
Costs: In Victoria, stamp duty on a property that sells for 1.39 million Australian dollars would be or $46,000 (76,450 AUD). The annual council rate (or property tax) is around $1,916 (3,186 AUD).
Contact: Simon Carruthers | Cayzer Real Estate Albert Park | [phone]