Canterbury: Why high-end buyers love this old timey suburb

Haste is a forgotten word in Canterbury. With leafy boulevards and a preserved heritage charm, the eastern suburb feels largely unhurried. Stretching across the architecture to the oak-tree-lined Monomeath Avenue strip (aka the Golden Mile), you’ll find the exclusive pocket has an understated take on luxury. Exploring Canterbury often feels like you’ve stepped into a sepia-toned portrait. There’s easy access to trains to connect you to neighbouring Camberwell and Surrey Hills, but you’ll find plenty to see and do locally first.

Maling Road’s quaint shopping village offers a compact yet well-rounded set of cafes, boutiques and services fronted by Edwardian architecture. A particularly leafy spot, Theatre Place keeps the suburb’s historic feel intact. Here you’ll find Alleycat Cafe, delivering a strong rotation of freshly baked pastries, soups and snacks. Or stop by newcomer Extracted. Housed in the heritage-listed building of an old post office (constructed in 1908), the cafe’s house blend and single-origin coffees are best savoured slow. Note the stained-glass windows and white pillar entrance as you take in the surrounds. Other breakfast offerings include Between Us Coffee, Food and Wine; and Chapter Three Espresso and Bar.

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Browse through A Pocket of Lollies, a pastel-green time capsule to a sweeter past. Operating since the mid-1980s, the humble confectionary store brings memories of childhood nostalgia. Its signature Snowballs – Bounty-flavoured treats – are a must-try among an assortment of boiled sweets, old-fashioned fudge, liquorice and red cinnamon mints. The milk bar-style jars invite you to indulge in a classic pick-and-mix.

Seventh-generation, family-owned Bennet’s Butchery is a local staple. Behind the counter, you’ll find a range of aged and house-cured meat, fresh cuts and take-home roasts perfect for Sundays or even a hearty weeknight dinner.

For elegant blooms, Maison Canterbury or Flowers of Canterbury are top destinations. Pop into Canterbury Books to choose your next read from old-school classics to gripping new releases.

Adjacent to Canterbury train station and a short walk from Maling Road sits Canterbury Gardens. Stroll through lush greenery and around the rotunda, or just sit and ponder – the gardens offer pockets of shade under trees perfect for picnicking. For kid-friendly play, there’s Boroondara Park, complete with a playground and off-leash dog area.

After dark, local favourite Outlaw is the ideal day-to-night spot. Robust coffee and sandwiches during the day are replaced with a refined menu and cocktail offering on Thursday and Friday nights. For a more casual affair, head to Lennox Wine Bar. A recent addition to the suburb, it offers an exclusively Australian wine list on rotation, with the option of vino by the glass or the bottle. Tuck into a petite menu with curated, tapas-style plates including whipped goat’s cheese with figs and walnuts, lobster roll on brioche and tasty local charcuterie.  A rotating selection of jaffles – including three-cheese with truffle oil, and salami topped with pesto and mozzarella – come with pickles and potato chips. There’s also a short list of Aussie beers and classic cocktails including Margaritas and Negronis, plus you can grab a takeaway bottle for a nightcap at home.

Agent lens

with Tom Staughton from Kay & Burton

Why does this suburb appeal to high-end buyers?

Canterbury is regarded as one of the premier suburbs of Melbourne’s east. Its appeal is largely attributed to the area’s many prestigious schools (Camberwell Grammar School, Camberwell Girls Grammar School) and leafy green boulevards (in particular the Golden Mile) that showcase some of Melbourne’s historic and contemporary residences. This amenity and location, along with larger block sizes, have been a leading factor for many high-end buyers – notably families – to purchase, where the median house price is north of $3 million.

For sale in Canterbury

Expressions of Interest

7 Alexandra Avenue, Canterbury VIC 3126

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Designed by renowned architect Phillip Mannerheim, this family home blends old-school elegance with cutting-edge technology to deliver style and function. Find a magnesium pool, a Control4 home automation system, a wine cellar, a gym, a home theatre, an undercover al fresco area and a five-car garage.