George Jones Eatery in Pascoe Vale. Photo: supplied Gentrification can seem like such a dirty word. It reeks of ripping the heart and soul from an existing suburb and replacing it with blandness and expensive places to live. But it can also reinvigorate a forgotten suburb and offer optimism and hope to those who crave the lifestyle of suburbs they can no longer afford to live in (thanks to gentrification).
Basically, if a lot of like-minded folk move into one area, then they can make it what they want. Rather than feeling down-and-out about rising house prices, you can look at gentrification as creating family-friendly neighbourhoods in close-to-the-city suburbs with existing infrastructure. Cue Pascoe Vale, just 10 clicks from the CBD.
Greg Kofoed, of Brad Teal Real Estate, speaks excitedly about the suburb’s growth since he began selling property here 30 years ago. “There’s been a change of guard from the post second world war era,” he says. “A lot of older people are moving out of the area.” And who’s moving in? “Those who formerly looked to buy in Brunswick and Ascot Vale are coming to Pascoe Vale and Pascoe Vale South. They get more bang for their dollar, there’s less population density and good family accommodation.”
Parkland near the intersection of Zenith Street and Cornwall Road in Pascoe Vale. Photo: Jesse Marlow
Mr Kofoed says he is seeing a growing sense of community in the area. “A lot of the families living here are young families, there’s involvement in the local kindergartens and schools.”
Mr Kofoed initially wasn’t sure that Pascoe Street, a street near the Northern Golf Course and almost bordering Hadfield, would work as a location for that alarm bell of gentrification: the cool cafe. However the huge George Jones (“from the team at Cheeky Monkey at Richmond and Rubber Duck in Clifton Hill”) has drawn in breakfasters and lunchers. It gets its name from the first shopkeeper in Pascoe Vale and offers activated almonds, kale and seeds to those who crave that stuff (as well as smashed avo and hotcakes). It’s a different world – but not so far from – fast-food heavy Pascoe Vale Road, though Pascoe Vale’s borders just gently miss a big McDonald’s and a Red Rooster.
Pascoe Vale’s border also shimmies inside the massive Citylink toll road, leaving Pascoe Vale South to deal with it – but only some streets are super close. Combating that is plenty of green. The Moonee Ponds Linear Reserve runs under Citylink, linking bike riders on a winding path to Brunswick and Parkville before straightening up to Costco and Docklands. It has parks galore, including Shore Reserve, home to the West Coburg Football Club and Raeburn Reserve, which houses the Pascoe Vale Panthers.
Buyers looking for a home will do best on lots less than 750 square metres. Photo: Supplied
So now to the money, honey. Firstly, buyers looking for a home will do best on lots less than 750 square metres. Anything more has “developer” stamped on it – and they’re no fun to duel with come auction time. Mr Kofoed says it’s hard to get a house and land for under $600,000 now, and those looking for a good family home may be looking at $800,000-$1 million. There are plenty of townhouses, some older villa units, which are growing in appeal, and even George Jones sits under a mammoth unit development. But the ‘burb’s pretty much an open book, and a new gen has just started writing in it.
Five things you didn’t know about Pascoe Vale
- Heritage overlays protect areas of the ‘burb, with inter-war and post-war houses in the Balmoral Avenue Precinct covered in Pascoe Vale South. Turner Street, Pascoe Vale has examples of Spanish Mission (No.4) and English Domestic Revival (Nos. 6 and 33).
- There are plenty of ovals in the ‘hood, although Pascoe Vale FC (soccer) has its home grounds in North Coburg.
- Pascoe Vale Girls College was established in 1956 and is one of a handful of girls-only state secondary schools.
- Strathmore Secondary College is one of the state’s top 50 secondary schools and those living in sections of Pascoe Vale and Pascoe Vale South have access. It has almost 1600 students.
- Those who don’t fancy a bit of ghost-hunting may want to steer clear of the northern portion of Sussex Street, which faces Fawkner Memorial Park.