Moonee Ponds: History, culture and a fresh buzz in Melbourne’s north-west

There’s no shortage of famous Australians who have called Moonee Ponds home. The Dames, for starters – Nellie Melba and Edna Everage. Singer Tina Arena. The Moran crime clan.

Even explorers Burke and Wills stopped over en route to the top of the continent in 1860, and their ill-fated quest is memorialised in the north-west’s green heart, Queens Park (look for the artfully rusted Corten steel camels to see where they camped for the night).

A fine example of Victorian-era planning wisdom, the park also boasts a 50-metre swimming pool, an ornamental lake with huge fountains, and cannons that are poised for action in case of invasion.

Moonee Ponds offers plenty of reasons for a tactical takeover. Long considered a refuge for middle-class conformism – an attribute that Barry Humphries successfully took to the global stage – it’s recently had a shot of civic adrenaline.

In scenes never imagined beyond the white picket fences of the 1950s, apartment towers have shot up around the train station and delivered a new demographic of residents to the main shopping strip of Puckle Street, and more picknickers to dot the park’s green lawns in warmer weather.

Brother Hen cafe, near Queens Park on Pascoe Vale Road, is a microcosm of the wider area.

“We get a lot of families, but we’re also seeing a lot of travellers coming in,” says owner Pratik Thakkar. “Queens Park is brilliant. There’s always something going on, like a music festival, and it’s always busy.”

Brother Hen has its own attractions beyond Reverence coffee and Turkish baked eggs with chorizo. The courtyard is home to chickens, making it a favourite of local kids and a throwback to the days when youngsters knew where their food came from.

“I could take the chickens out and add a few tables, but everyone likes them,” Thakkar says.

My local

with Paul McDonald from McDonald Upton

Market insights

Moonee Ponds has long been a suburb that has a healthy buyer demand regardless of market conditions. The median price for houses hovers around $1.6 million, a price point that is attractive for families and professional couples alike. Currently, most auction sales are competitively contested.

Favourite street

I like Newhall Avenue. Despite being a short stroll from Moonee Ponds station and Puckle Street shopping strip, it is relatively unknown and delightfully quiet. Most of the homes are solid-brick Californian bungalows, and sales are rare. The migrant Italian community purchased many in the 1960s and still reside there, thanks to the convenience and serenity.

Best eats

I love Bekka for its authentic Lebanese-style menu and magnificent lamb char grill, and for high-end dining, you can’t go past Escagrill. Good coffee can be found at Ocab Bakery and Top Notch on Puckle Street, while Young Street has a number of sandwich and coffee options for lunch or a snack.

Homes for sale in Moonee Ponds

$1,700,000 - $1,800,000

117 Vine Street, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039

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This light and airy home has the classic charm of a 1920s Californian bungalow from the street, but is renovated to modern specs within. It retains its period features, including ornate fireplaces, picture rails and ceiling roses. An entertainer’s deck is an “outdoor room” and a place you won’t want to leave in summer.

$1,750,000 - $1,925,000

47 Winchester Street, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039

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There’s a formal lounge for your fanciest friends and a first floor devoted to a main bedroom – including a walk-in wardrobe and bathroom-sized en suite – at this double-fronted Victorian. Set among easy-to-care-for landscaped gardens, the house has been renovated for ease of living, including a grassy lawn perfect for ball games with the kids.