Why a tree change to regional Victoria has never looked so good

The search for greener pastures has long captured the popular imagination, both figuratively and literally.

In real estate terms, the ideal of the acreage in a quaint country town has become an idyll held closely to the heart of many stuck in the city rat race.

And with city prices pushing homebuyers ever further out, and the digital revolution enabling more people to work from home, the tree change has never looked so good.

“The number of tree-changers has increased by about 20 per cent over the past 12 months because of the market change,” says Ryan Bell of Bell’s Real Estate, based in the Dandenongs north of Melbourne. “People are being pushed further and further out just to find something affordable, so they’re finally saying to themselves, why not go the whole hog and live in an area that’s beautiful and has lots of lifestyle amenity? If you buy 800 square meters in Heathmont these days it’s upwards of $1 million, but here you’d get between two and five acres.”

Not every green-changer needs to be as heroically hardcore as the 19th-century American writer Henry David Thoreau, who documented his quest for simple living in Walden. Far from it, in fact: the modern Melbourne tree-changer is likely to be carrying a checklist that includes essentials such as a maximum 90-minute commute to the city and a period home stuffed with historical charm but with every mod con. Oh, and a garden, with enough room for a chicken coop and a vegetable patch. Maybe even a swimming pool or tennis court.

Domain group senior economist Dr Andrew Wilson says the 90-minute zone continues to drive significant price growth in several regional areas within striking distance of Melbourne. “There’s no doubt there are a number of prime spots for green-changers, with the combination of suburban proximity and infrastructure.”

Dr Wilson nominates the Macedon Ranges as a tree-change leader, along with hamlets in the Dandenong Ranges such as Sassafras, Tecoma and Olinda. “They’re suburbs but could still be part of that green-change energy at a different level.”

South-east of Melbourne along the Princes Highway, Drouin past Pakenham is another area of interest – house prices in the Baw Baw Shire grew 9.1 per cent during the past year to a median of $370,000. North of Melbourne, stretching from Upper Plenty to Puckapunyal and Avenel, house prices in the Mitchell Shire grew 18.5 per cent to a median of $379,250.

The 90-minute rule of thumb rubs Bendigo out of contention as a true tree-change area for the person who still plans to commute to Melbourne at least a few days a week, while Ballarat is doing nicely, especially thanks to its proximity to Melbourne’s western suburbs.

Director of Lifestyle Estates at Colliers International, Kim McQueen, has seen a new trend emerge: a growing number of retirees are looking to retire from corporate life but still want to keep themselves busy while generating an income: “They’re looking for places that can be run as B&B businesses, or with a separate cottage that can be rented out on Airbnb.”

“The majority of people I deal with are middle-aged professionals or retirees looking for a tree change. Most are either selling or have sold their family home and have purchased a low-maintenance apartment or townhouse in town and are looking for a change in lifestyle. Many of these are looking to also cater for family and friends coming to stay.”

McQueen is also seeing the decline of traditional popular sea-change locations such as the Mornington Peninsula. “During the past 12 months I have seen a shift away from the Peninsula as many couples have either been outpriced or are becoming disillusioned with the crowds and the density. There is now a real appeal for acreage around Victoria – usually within the one to one-and-a-half hour radius of the city.

Areas around Yea, Strath Creek, Seymour and Nagambie are great locations with quick access via the Hume Freeway, and some properties have beautiful river frontages,” she says. The Central Victorian towns of Trentham, Daylesford, Woodend and Macedon are becoming increasingly popular as well, especially thanks to their great restaurants, pubs, and all the attractions of spa country. “And I’ve also seen more recently the Phillip Island and the San Remo area picking up as a lifestyle choice, particularly for families with a great secondary college down there, and a relaxed beach lifestyle that’s also very accessible to Melbourne.”

And with more people accustomed to their city coffee moving further out, the symbiotic benefits are growing more apparent by the day. “The restaurant and cafe scene out here in the Dandenongs just keeps getting better and better,” says Bell. “Everyone’s a winner.”

Cover property

877 Mount Macedon Road, Mount Macedon
$2,475,000-$2,675,000

Kick back and enjoy the serenity of beautiful Mount Macedon at Cooinda, a renovated homestead down a majestic private driveway and secluded from neighbours and roads in private gardens with well-eatablished European trees. A luxury retreat far from the madding crowd, the recently renovated Alistair Knox-designed homestead has plenty of country character in reclaimed slate floors and timber gabled ceilings, as well as every mod con including underfloor hydronic gas heating, a massive open fire in the huge living area and double glazed windows to keep the winter chill at bay. There are three bedrooms, two with en suites, and the romantic master suite also has an open fire, along with two walk-in-wardrobes and a separate study/library area. The large farm-style kitchen features Miele appliances and Zimbabwean black granite counter tops, and a separate two-bay garage has remotely operating doors. There is a large, well-equipped machinery shed or workshop. The property, set on just under 4 hectares of prime Mount Macedon golden mile land, also features a self-contained cottage with large open-plan living area with a wood heater and integrated modern kitchen, and bedroom with en suite.

RT Edgar Macedon Ranges, Rhys Nuttall 0438 383 221

Time to branch out

Give me a home among the gum trees? Well, yes – the view from the stately Mount Macedon property Cooinda isn’t short of eucalypts, but you’re also going to find the homestead framed by a wealth of European trees including oaks, cedars and birches. “When I took it over 16 years ago I transformed it into a park,” says owner Adam Warden, above. “It’s all about the trees.” And little wonder: Cooinda’s garden was designed more than 100 years ago the by Europhile botanist Sir Frederick McCoy, who designed the Botanic Garden at the University of Melbourne. “The whole place was really run down when I bought it but after a lot of time … clearing the place up it became quite a wonderful retreat,” says Warden. His tree change, in which he moved from Melbourne to Macedon, was driven less by lifestyle factors, more by the practicalities of finding a weekend spot to keep horses. The corporate consultant lessened the lifestyle shock of moving to Macedon permanently by keeping an apartment in the city, but nonetheless relishes the country life. “I say I’m off to the big smoke whenever I come to Melbourne. It’s dead quiet at night out here. I’d definitely recommend it. I wake up at sunrise, get up and do work, and it gives a great balance to my day. When I drive up the mountain I can feel stress leaving my shoulders”

Or try these …

134 Vincent Street, Daylesford
$1.25 million

This grand Victorian home on a large block overlooking Lake Daylesford (with rooftop deck to enjoy the view) features four bedrooms with en suites, a fully equipped farmhouse kitchen, large spaces for entertaining and marble fireplaces – all only a stone’s throw from Daylesford’s main attractions.

Private sale, Hocking Stuart Daylesford, Mark Smith 0439 321 566

217 Ridge Road, Mount Dandenong
$850,000-plus

A charming and flexible two-level home on more than 1000 square metres of established formal gardens, Oakridge has four bedrooms and two bathrooms, plus a formal reception area, grand timber staircase, country-style kitchen, upstairs rumpus room and open fireplaces.

Private sale; Bell Real Estate, Ryan Bell 0417 052 297

805 King Parrot Creek Road, Strath Creek
$1.2 million-plus

An hour from Melbourne’s CBD, Aislinn is a sympathetically restored 1870s home on about 40 hectares with a self-contained, separate guest cottage. The main house features three bedrooms, three bathrooms, four living zones and a renovated gourmet kitchen.

Private sale, Colliers International, Kim McQueen 0417 116 657