Spotswood – one of Melbourne’s tiniest suburbs

This sleepy little suburb is one of the remaining few which offers incredible value to buyers who are looking for period houses within a distance of 6km to the city.

Take this cute Victorian cottage for example; bought last week for $540,000 in arguably one of Spotswood’s best streets. When I first arrived at the property, the leafy streetscape was a welcoming start. I wondered what kind of condition this house would be in given its price tag. I was pleasantly surprised, and in fact I noted that the property presented a wonderful opportunity for improvement given the house was in relatively good condition. A repaint, an upgraded kitchen and some clever configuring of a covered outdoor area could significantly enhance the property, and for relatively little cost.

Spotswood fascinates me a little bit because it seems quite underrated when compared to its adjacent neighbours; Yarraville and Newport. Seemingly quiet, it is poised for bigger things as the land use is changed from industrial to residential and commercial. Once a grungy little town on the banks of the Yarra, this little gem at the base of the Westgate freeway is now home to some excellent cafes and one of my favourite local hotels – The Spottiswoode Hotel. Significant redevelopment is on the cards for the area too with a much-talked about plan for an Aldi, Woolworths, specialty stores and high density housing being documented. Like it or loathe it, locals understand that the implication of close proximity to the city spells gentrification.

Hudsons Road offers a few great cafes including Mies,  Chase Kitchen (grab the Boston Burger!), Candied Bakery and the ever-popular Duchess, serving fantastic English style breakkies and lunches. Being just a quick ride over the Westgate, foodies from Port Melbourne have ventured over to sample the coffee and try out the all-day breakfast on offer.

Spotswood station is just seven train stops from Southern Cross – meaning the suburb offers a more affordable option for city commuters who value an inner-city lifestyle. And one of my favourite Sunday family activities is a visit to Scienceworks. For anyone who hasn’t visited the museum, it’s a great day out and a worthwhile train trip!