Erin Arnett

If you've read my review of Croydon, you'll know my fundamental opinion of this place. I lived in Croydon Hills/Croydon for 28 years, the first 12 of which were in the former. When it comes to housing and local schools, Croydon Hills trumps Croydon in terms of quality. There's also a local community centre and some decent footpaths and green spaces. Ultimately, Croydon Hills is ideal for upper-middle class families. Though this was a fantastic place to spend my childhood, I don't think it would suit me now as it's far from public transport and — of course — rather far away from the city. (Also, I probably couldn't afford it. Let's be real.)

I've lived here for four years and it's certainly a serviceable suburb! With plenty of trees, green spaces, and walking tracks, this was an ideal location for living throughout lockdown. I love having bushy trails to explore and great local cafes to peruse. It's also a sleepy suburb without all the hustle and bustle of city living, which is great for my introverted self. Having lived in Croydon for so long, I can't help but compare the amenities between the two suburbs; unfortunately, Blackburn's do pale in comparison. When it comes to cafes, restaurants, boutique stores, and community spaces, Croydon has Blackburn beat. That said, Blackburn does have some fantastic highlights that I keep coming back to again and again. It's also the ultimate compromise between suburban living and city accessibility. A train trip to the CBD takes 20–30 minutes, depending on where you get off.

I could happily live here long-term, especially with my workplace just 20 minutes down the road. Unfortunately, property here is very expensive so the largest we'd be buying is a unit.

I lived here for 28 years and I've come to appreciate it more since moving away. For a family, it's ideal: it has some good schools and plenty of green spaces. Since I've left, it's really upped its cafe game, too. My main drag has nothing on Croydon Main Street! My only criticism is it's too far away from the city — 50 minutes by train. Commuting from Croydon to almost anywhere beyond its general locality is always a hike. If accessibility to more central locations is important to you, don't live here. If you want to live in a bubble that caters to your every need and that you'll rarely need to stray from, Croydon is your suburb. (It's also fairly close to the Yarra Valley, if that's something that interests you.)

I had to commute here to work from Blackburn. As someone who had to travel 1.5 hours ONE WAY, there was VERY LITTLE payoff. It's basically one big, grey strip with zero trees or green spaces. There's also nothing here that you couldn't get in the Eastern suburbs. The only thing it has going for it is cheap property, and that's because no-one wants to live there. (It is close to the Werribee Zoo, though, if you consider that a perk.)