29 May 2023

Let’s explore Cheltenham

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Cheltenham has made a name for itself as one of the largest shopping and employment hubs in Melbourne’s south east.

A stone’s throw from popular Bayside beaches, Cheltenham is a go-to destination for retail and dining – with vibrant shopping strips at both Cheltenham and Highett, and Southland Shopping Centre. The suburb is also a suburban jobs hub, with significant industrial areas including the Bayside Business District.

Cheltenham is connected to Melbourne’s CBD via the Frankston train line, with bus routes providing access to the surrounding areas.

The new underground Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) station at Cheltenham will become the southern gateway to the SRL network – connecting more people to this bustling centre and providing Frankston Line passengers a fast and easy connection to Monash, Deakin and La Trobe universities.

So let’s take a look at this evolving suburb and its bright future.

The combination of Vietnam and French cultures has created a stylish bar with the flavours and aromas of Vietnamese cooking — Miss Viet

An inviting Laksa that can be bought at Laksa King — Laksa King

The Fruit Men Food store located within Cheltenham — The Fruit Men Food Store

The Fruit Men Foodstore employee picking kiwi fruit from their range of fruits. — The Fruit Men Foodstore

Exterior of The Flour House located on Graham Street — The Flour House

Interior image of the Flour House, showcasing open planned dining and exposed metal beams. — The Flour House

Accessories and stationary on display at Kaisercraft — Kaisercraft

Busy shopping strip long Charman Road, Cheltenham — Bromley's Bread & Ann's Flowers

Eat, drink and be merry

Cheltenham is home to restaurants and cuisines to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. You may recognise The Buckingham as the location of Kath and Kim's 'Wedding of the Century’, but dinner at their French restaurant Deux Soeurs will be a memorable experience in its own right. Treat yourself to a coffee and scrumptious baked goods from The Flour House where they mill their own grain to make artisan bread and pastries. Catch up with friends over a craft beer and smoked meats at Bad Shepherd Brewing Co. or visit The Garden of Good and Evil for their signature paella.

The Buckingham | 7-minute walk from Highett Station
The Flour House | 10-minute walk from Southland Station
Garden of Good and Evil | 2-minute walk from Cheltenham Station
Bad Shepherd Brewing Co | 15-minute walk from Southland Station

Retail therapy

Spend the day enjoying Westfield Southland’s extensive mix of fashion, beauty, home and wellbeing - a one-stop destination with more than 360 stores to choose from including Myer, David Jones, Kmart, Target and Big W. Wander the vibrantly coloured shelves of Kaisercraft for craft supplies and homewares. It’s also the perfect destination to catch a movie and a bite to eat, with Village Cinemas and a number of restaurants to enjoy with friends and family.

Westfield Southland Shopping Centre | 1-minute walk from Southland Station

Children enjoying the interactive installation at the Museum of Play and Art — Museum of Play and Art

High arches of the interior of the Museum of Play and Art with patrons sitting and talking — Museum of Play and Art

Outside staircase leading into Cheltenham park and reserve — Cheltenham Park and Reserve

Two children on scooters riding through the Cheltenham picnic area — Cheltenham Park and Reserve

Two children enjoying the slide at Cheltenham Reserve — Cheltenham Park and Reserve

See and do

With tranquil parks and exciting activities, Cheltenham has something for everyone – from the young to the young-at-heart. The Museum of Play and Art (MoPA) on Bay Road is one of the biggest children’s museums in the Southern Hemisphere and features immersive exhibits and interactive art to encourage curiosity and creativity. For outdoorsy types, Cheltenham Park Reserve and Playground and Sir William Fry Reserve offer plenty of walking trails, picnic areas and leafy views.

Museum of Art and Play | 1-minute walk from the Avoca St/Bay Rd bus stop on Route 822
Cheltenham Park Reserve and Playground |5-minute walk from Cheltenham Station

A local’s perspective

Owner of Miss Viet, Phil standing outside his businesses shop front

‘Cheltenham is a great place. I think for the local community, SRL is going to be fantastic. Anything to connect people to Cheltenham is going to be good.’

Phil - Owner, Miss Viet

$Owner of Bromley\'s Bread, Jenny standing in front of her shop front$

‘What I love about Cheltenham is the people. All of our customers are so friendly and loyal. We live and work in Cheltenham and it will be great for us to have easier access to different parts of the city with SRL.’

Jenny - Owner, Bromley’s Bread

The owner of the Fruit Men Food Store standing in front of his business.

‘Cheltenham is so close to the beach, a major train station and a shopping centre. It has a lot of benefits for families and there’s lots of new people coming to live in Cheltenham. SRL will give people more of an opportunity to discover our little pocket of the world.’

Rory - Owner, The Fruit Men Foodstore

The future of Cheltenham

Already a popular spot to live and work, Cheltenham is set to boom when SRL East (Cheltenham to Box Hill) opens by 2035.

The new underground SRL station at Cheltenham will provide faster and more convenient public transport to destinations across Melbourne.

A Cheltenham student travelling to the Box Hill Institute will save up to 80 minutes on their daily public transport commute.
A Burwood local will save up to an hour on a public transport trip to Southland.

Eight thousand passengers are expected to use the new SRL station at Cheltenham every day, with around 2700 people changing to and from the Frankston Line.

The new station will attract more quality and diverse housing, new businesses and local services, with local jobs expected to double to around 36,500 by 2056 when SRL East and North are operating.

Visit the Cheltenham Precinct page

Suburban Rail Loop