Accommodation
The University has an Accommodation Service, which is in the Baldwin Spencer Street Building. Here you will find notice boards listing rental properties, as well as contacts for home stays.
The Student Housing Services website contains information on various housing options available in Melbourne: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/housing/ This website provides information on student apartment facilities, hostels (rooming houses), homestay providers, and information on renting and sharing with others. It also details how to source and secure each housing option and provides contact details and costs for various housing facilities.
Also, have a look at http://www.domain.com.au/ to search listings of houses currently available. A visit to this web site, and others listed below, is recommended for all home seekers. The two main newspapers in Melbourne are The Age and The Herald-Sun and their websites are http://www.theage.com.au/ and http://www.news.com.au/ respectively.
There is a wide variety of accommodation available, from stand-alone (detached) houses, townhouse developments, apartments, and attached terrace houses. Cost is a good indicator of location, size and quality. Melbourne does not have the intensity of inner city high rise condominium accommodation as say Hong Kong or Singapore but there are refurbished inner city buildings and some new developments available. These are predominantly located in the CBD (Central Business District) and Southbank.
Shared accommodation
Shared accommodation means 1 or 2 people will rent a house, then advertise in the newspaper and interview people to fill any vacant rooms within the house. The costs for the bond, electric, gas and water bills and sometimes-basic cleaning and grocery items are shared between the people in the house. Shared accommodation is easy to find, but you will be interviewed before they let you join the shared house. You can also register with http://www.flatmatefinders.com.au/, a website that helps you find housemates. You may also like to register your interest on the MBS Forum at http://www.mbs.edu/.
If you want to rent a property or share a house be sure to pick up your free copy of the Tenant’s Handbook, published by the Tenant’s Union of Victoria. It outlines your rights and responsibilities when starting a tenancy, during a tenancy and ending a tenancy. If you have any queries you can contact the Tenant’s Union on (61 3) 9416 2577 or visit the website http://www.tuv.org.au/.
Suitable neighbourhoods
When you don’t know a city at all, it can be difficult to make a decision about where you would like to live. There are many things to consider when looking for a place, such as cost, access to transport and other facilities, safety, convenience and so on. Suburbs close to the University and MBS tend to be popular with students for obvious reasons. Their popularity also means that the further out from the city you go the cheaper rents will be, but transport costs will be higher and travelling time longer. Here are some details about the most popular suburbs with students which are close to MBS. If you don’t mind travelling time and would like to pay less, you may want to look at some suburbs further out.
Carlton:
would be an ideal place to live, as it is close to school. There are many old terrace houses in Carlton which have been bought and renovated, yet the suburb still manages to retain a sense of the old days when it was very much a working-class area. The houses are unlikely to have backyards with grass, but will instead have small courtyard gardens. Carlton does not have the ‘village’ feel of North Carlton or North Fitzroy , but its major attraction is that it’s on the doorstep of Melbourne University and the city. Carlton has excellent public transport.
North Carlton:
is a 15 to 20 minute walk from school. There are trams, buses and bike lanes all the way into the city. North Carlton has more trees and parks than Carlton and more families tend to live there. Houses are quite expensive so the rents may be high, but there are still reasonably priced gems to be found. It has a lovely ‘village’ feel and has lots of cafés and a pleasant (but small) shopping area. Public transport options are good and the streets are wide and clean.
Fitzroy:
is a 10 to 30 minute walk from school. The heart of Fitzroy is Brunswick Street - a colourful area of restaurants, fashionable shops, pubs and cafés. Fitzroy lacks the parks and green areas of Brunswick and North Carlton. Like other inner city suburbs, the houses tend to be on small properties (or are blocks of flats) so there won’t be much chance of a backyard.
The city:
is a 5 to 30 minute walk from school. There are trams, buses and trains in every direction. It can be exciting to live right in the city since nightlife; restaurants and shopping are all just outside your front door. There are also beautiful parks such as the Botanical Gardens just over Princes Bridge on Swanston Street.
North Melbourne:
is a 10 to 20 minute walk from school. It is a mixed suburb with some parts quite industrial and other parts having a decidedly suburban feel. The residents are a mix of retirees, an increasing number of young professionals and many students particularly international students. North Melbourne is served by a number of trams.
Parkville:
is a 1 to 5 minute walk from school. It is a small residential area with some impressive terrace houses. Because of its proximity to the University and city, rental houses are much sough-after which makes rents high. It doesn’t have its own shopping area, although there is a newsagent and hairdresser on Royal Parade and a Post Office on Fitzgibbon Street .
Brunswick:
is a 20 to 45 minute walk from school. Brunswick is a good option for people looking for rents a bit less expensive than those on offer in Carlton or Fitzroy. Houses tend to be on bigger blocks so there is a better chance of getting a backyard. It is still close to Melbourne University , either by bicycle, tram or even on foot.
Suburbs that are less close but still not too far away include the following:
North Fitzroy:
‘Village’ feel, leafy, close to parks, lots of families living there. Up-market houses and rents.
Clifton Hill:
Family area with lots of parks and a good local shopping area. May be expensive and hard to find rental properties.
Collingwood:
There are some nicer areas in Collingwood and other industrial parts. Rents tend to be cheaper.
Richmond:
This is a multicultural area with a Vietnamese shopping area and restaurants. There is good shopping, some industrial areas with small clusters of residential areas.
South Melbourne:
Is situated between the south bank of the Yarra river and Port Phillip Bay. Close to the city and beach, up-market area where rental can be expensive. South Melbourne market consider one of Melbourne’s best fresh produce markets.
Port Melbourne:
4km south west of Melbourne , close to the beach, excellent cafes and restaurants.
Real estate terms
Some explanation of Australian real estate terms might assist you in your search. Most inner city housing is made up of small houses or a small group (approx. 10 to 20) of 1 or 2 bedroom units or apartments in one building. The word flat, unit or apartment is interchangeable in Australian real estate terms.
Bond (or deposit) for rental is usually one months rent. Rent is paid normally paid each month in advance.
Nearly all rentals in Melbourne are arranged through a real estate agent who acts as the Property Manager for the owner. Unlike in most European countries you don’t pay the real estate agent an agency fee! Therefore contacting several agents is inexpensive and may be helpful.
Some real estate agents in Melbourne region
- Thomson: http://www.thomson.net.au/ Carlton
- Hocking Stuart: http://hockingstuart.com.au/ Carlton
- Collins Sims: http://www.collinssimms.com.au/index2.htm Clifton Hill
- Peter Markovic: http://www.petermarkovic.com.au/ Fitzroy
- Nelson Alexander: http://www.nelsonalexander.com.au/ Fitzroy
- L.R Reed: http://www.domain.com.au/lrreed Melbourne
- Melbourne Inner City management: http://www.micm.com.au/ Melbourne
- Jeffrey Wilson & Co: http://jeffreywilson.com.au/ Richmond
- KP Smyth: email: mailto:kpsmyth@netspace.net.auCollingwood
- Kay & Burton: http://www.kayburton.com.au/ South Yarra
- P.Williams & Co: http://www.williamsco.com.au/ South Yarra
- Walshe & Whitelock: http://www.walshewhitelock.com.au/ East Brunswick
Other websites for rentals
The Trading Post
The Trading Post is a classifieds newspaper (also online) listing furniture, household goods, electrical and white goods, etc. for sale.
University accommodation
University accommodation might be a good idea particularly early in your program. At the end of your first term you may find that graduating students advertise flats or houses for rent on the School’s student notice board. By the end of Term 1, you may consider sharing with fellow students.
NB: All prices are quoted in Australian Dollars.
| ACCOMMODATION | DESCRIPTION | APPROX. COST PER WEEK |
|---|---|---|
| College Square 560-598 Lygon Street Carlton 3053 Tel: (613) 9349 3600 Fax: (613) 9349 2455 Email: college@ymcavic.asn.au Website: http://www.collegesquare.ymca.org.au/ |
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Other accommodation
| ACCOMMODATION | DESCRIPTION | APPROX. COST PER WEEK |
|---|---|---|
| College House 570 Swanston Street Melbourne 3000 Tel: (613) 09349 2087 Fax: (613) 9349 2089 Email: manager@collegehouse.com.au |
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| Arrow Heights on Swanston 488 Swanston Street Carlton 3053 Tel: (613) 9225 9000 Fax: (613) 9225 9001 Email: mailto:reservations@arrow-heights.com.au Website: http://www.arrow-heights.com.au/ |
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| Private Rental Market / Shared Housing |
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Cambridge Court
45 Victoria Parade, Collingwood
Tel: 9486 0585
Fax: 9486 0557
Email: geofogge@connexus.net.au
Website: http://www.cambridgecourt.com.au/
Le Student 8
205 Bell Street, Preston
Tel: 9485 0200
Fax: 9485 0280
Email: info@lestudent8.com
Website: http://www.lestudent8.com/
Taylors on A’Beckett
106-116 A’Beckett Street, Melbourne
Tel: 9328 8449
Fax: 9329 0199
Email: info@toab.com.au
Website: http://www.toab.com.au/
Unilodge on Flinders
238 Flinders Street, Melbourne
Tel: 9224 1500
Fax: 9224 1530
Email: unilodge.flinders@unilodge.com.au
Website: http://www.unilodge.com.au/
Unilodge on Swanston
339-341 Swanston Walk, Melbourne
Tel: 9224 7888
Fax: 9224 7777
Email: unilodge.swanston@unilodge.com.au
Website: http://www.unilodge.com.au/
University City Apartments
408 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Tel: 9600 1855
Fax: 9600 3977
Email: info@unicityapartments.com.au
Website: http://www.unicityapartments.com.au/
Metro Real Estate Services
26 Rakaia Way, Docklands
Tel: 9600 4433
Fax: 9600 2010
Email: reception@metrorealestate.com.au
Website: http://www.metrorealestate.com.au/
