The gem on Melbourne's outskirts that's getting new life

For a township of 2000 people, Gembrook in Melbourne’s outer south-east packs a punch, largely thanks to Puffing Billy which terminates on its main street.

Every year, 400,000 visitors step off the century-old steam train and into the historic town, where many of the buildings have been restored and converted into modern businesses.

An old hardware store has transformed into an Argentinian restaurant/rustic wedding venue. “Melbourne” coffee is served at Spencers, a former grocery store of the same name. And the Ranges Hotel, built in 1896 for the farmers and local timber mill workers, has undergone major renovations. After a six-year hiatus, it reopened last year as a bistro pub, breathing new life to the town centre.

“The makeover of Main Street is attracting buyers into Gembrook,” says Aaron Day, of Bell Real Estate. “That, and the views of Warburton and the Dandenongs that you just can’t get anywhere else.”

Gembrook sits in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges some 54 kilometres from Melbourne CBD. Tree changers are naturally drawn to the vast and unspoilt bushland, walking trails and Australian wildlife.

“It’s one of the few suburbs in the area where you can buy land of 100 acres,” says Day.

But not everyone wants 100 acres, and there are also quarter-acre blocks closer to the main street, and units at the heart of town which appeal to downsizers.

Young families are here too, looking for affordable land.

“Prices are going up but an acre block in Gembrook is less than $800,000, whereas a similar block in Narre North or Lysterfield, just 20 minutes down the road would be over $1 million,” Day says.

The distance from the city hasn’t deterred young families.

“People have realised Gembrook is not that far from Melbourne,” says Sam Gordon, who grew up in Gembrook. His parents set up Robert Gordon Pottery in a tin shed in Gembrook back in 1979 and remembers Gembrook as a “bustling little town” in the early 1980s.

“Things changed in the late 80s and 90s when farming and logging got tough and people moved away. The town’s population stagnated. However, the town is coming back in a big way,” says Gordon.

New early childcare centre Little Gems (opened in 2015) and double prep enrolment at the local primary school from last year are signs of a new era. Population growth in the surrounding suburbs (the Shire of Cardinia grew by 4.4 per cent in 2014-15 while Victoria grew by 1.7 per cent) has also created local jobs in hospitality and education.

“A lot of locals work within 30-40 mins of Gembrook, whether it’s in the Pakenham/Berwick direction or the Emerald/Burwood Highway direction. Gembrook is well connected.” Gordon says.

Gordon, now grown up with three children of his own, has returned to Gembrook and is building his dream house with his wife, Carrie, on 11 acres, which borders a national park.

“I work in Pakenham and it’s a nice 20 minute drive with one traffic light. I also travel up to four months a year (for work). While travel is something I love, there is nothing better than getting home to a rural setting, with peace and quiet but also have excellent amenities nearby.”