15th March 2021 / Prue Fletcher: Suburb Spotlight | Doncaster East, VIC 3109

SUBURB SPOTLIGHT | DONCASTER EAST, VIC 3109

One of the great family suburbs of Melbourne, Doncaster East is a quick 20km commute north-east of Melbourne's Central Business District.

With good access to both public and private education options, it's also home to home to a range of open spaces including Ruffey Lake Park, Rieschiecks Reserve, Zerbes Reserve and Currawong Bush Park, which make it a great choice for young families.

Although there is no train or tram line, Doncaster East has a range of different transport options to get you safely in and around town. It is well serviced by bus routes and a Park + Ride system where travellers can leave their car and commute via a bus which travels along the Eastern freeway.

It's not just the influx of growing youth who adore this postcode; the more senior residents have been fans for years, with facilities like Probus and Bowls Clubs, community centres, excellent libraries and the support services the Manningham Council offers the community.

@zero95pizza

The City of Manningham has adapted to the restraints of Covid-19 extremely well and has taken the lead with many of its online initiatives. Residents have been given access to guest speakers such as Stephen Biddulph, psychologist and world-renowned parent educator, with his talk 'Raising Boys' available through their council website. Tickets are just $16 and the webinar will be held on 23 February 2021, from 8pm - 9pm.

Some other main attractions include the Tunstall Square Market, held on the last Sunday of every month. Tunstall Square comes alive with its Rotary Market, where you can find over 100 stalls selling an eclectic mix of items including art, crafts, books, plants, farm produce, clothing and more! Located at Tunstall Square Shopping Centre, corner of Doncaster Road & Tunstall Road, the market runs from 8am – 1pm.

A suburb which celebrates multiculturalism, over the years we have seen consistent growth in property prices due to the migration of international residents. With cultures such as Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Italian & Persian seemingly the most popular, you will see this translate into an array of cuisine options popping up in and around town.

Fletchers Partner Jack Zhang & Property Consultant Ken Chan believe "Jackson Court becomes a regular haunt if you're a fan of great coffee!", with a favourite of theirs being Three Monkey's Place. Open 7 days a week, it's the perfect spot for brunch amidst their serene outdoor dining space.

Catching up with them both, they explain that one the strengths of their business partnership is having the ability to speak English, Mandarin and Cantonese fluently, "it allows us to target the widest possible audience, both locally and internationally", Kent says.

With the median property price in Doncaster East sitting at $1,131,000* and an average rental of $530 per week*, the reasonable median value is another reason why young families seem to be drawn to the suburb. Domain's Senior Research Analyst, Nicola Powell, believes this will only continue to strengthen, and we will continue to see steady growth in these north-eastern suburbs as Australia once again becomes a highly desirable migration destination as our borders open up.

@bobsyourunclecafe

Here, Jack & Kent share their top tips on how to spend a day in Doncaster East:

Weekend hangout: Tunstall Square market (Last Sunday of each month)
Coffee: Three Monkeys Place
Brunch: Bob's Your Uncle Cafe
Dinner: Edoya
Wellbeing/Fitness: Jetts Doncaster East
Fashion: Westfield Shopping Centre
Homewares: Matchbox
Park: Ruffey Lake Park
After work drinks: Zero95
Skincare: Just Breathe Urban Skin Bar
Date Night: Tender Trap Restaurant

*Median priced sourced via REIV website