Wheelers Hill: The Melbourne suburb where aspiration meets perspiration

When Wal Fife, the then-federal education minister, officially opened the Wheelers Hill campus of Caulfield Grammar in April 1981 it was a far different place to the manicured vision it presents today.

Photos show teachers and grinning students standing in what looks like a scrubby paddock and the “tuck shop” was staffed by volunteers.  It’s also pretty safe to assume there was no Early Learning Centre, rock-climbing wall or 650-seat professional theatre, as there is in 2023.

The campus story aligns with the broader narrative of postcode 3150, where aspiration meets perspiration – as the cyclists who flock to its steep inclines will attest.

The 20 hectares of landscaped school grounds sit opposite Jells Park, an eastern suburban sporting epicentre hosting everything from netball and tennis to football and soccer.

You can also fish off the two jetties jutting into the human-made Jells Lake. Formed by damming Dandenong Creek, its waters are home to red fin, carp and eel, so throwing in a line is more a case of fishing for fun rather than food.

Jells Park is also at the intersection of three significant walking and cycling paths. Lycra lizards are a common in and around the park, as well as hitting the suburb’s taller hills, where houses with views usually go for a premium.

Eat & drink

Keep it healthy at the smart Code 5 Cafe with a mango, turmeric and honey smoothie and Bircher muesli or throw caution to the wind with chilli scrambled eggs or bacon eggs Benedict.

Beer aficionados should head to the Rogue Squire brewpub, an outpost of James Squire brewery boasting plenty of craft beer (grab a paddle of four) and a menu riffing on pub classics. The elevated deck has great Dandenong Ranges views.

See & do

As one of the highest points in metropolitan Melbourne, Wheelers Hill is a magnet for cyclists keen to test their quadriceps muscles against its steep gradients. Take your bike for a spin along the suburb’s golden mile, including streets such as Pleasant View Crescent and Sunnybrook Drive, to enjoy great views of the Dandenongs while feeling your legs burn.

Feel like taking it slower? Hit the meandering paths of Jells Park with a picnic in tow.

In the area

Caulfield Grammar School’s Wheelers Hill Campus offers continuity of learning for girls and boys from early learning to year 12.  Students have access to over 20 lush hectares hugging Jells Park, with extensive indoor and outdoor learning spaces designed to promote creativity, curiosity and connection.

A new state-of-the-art Junior School learning precinct – including STEM classrooms and age-appropriately designed play areas – has allowed expansion to now cater for three years 5 and 6 classes.

Top-notch library, sporting, art, theatre, music and dance facilities, along with specialist subjects and flexible learning journeys, enable each student to find their individual path to success.