Jeremy Bean-Hodges

The first thing to know about Reservoir is that it's really two large suburbs in one behemoth, divided by the train line which bisects the suburb (there is only one crossing point, at a traffic junction co-designed by Satan himself). The western side is the wealthier side; it has the "nice" high street, the library, the higher house values and the lovely Edwardes Lake park. The eastern side is the poorer cousin (a quick glance at its high street - amusingly called "Broadway" - will immediately confirm this) - though the leafy streets and the Darebin Creek Trail are still nice. I've lived on both sides and enjoyed them both.

The suburb also changes from the more affluent south (which houses hipster refugees who can no longer afford Thornbury), to the more traditional working-class north near Thomastown. Geographically, Reservoir is an enormous suburb - so be aware that the train isn't a convenient option for everyone. The 86 tram is good for getting to Thornbury/Northcote, but don't bother trying to take it all the way into the city - it just takes too long. You really either need to be close to one of the train stations, a cyclist, or a car owner.

The suburb isn't quite as safe as its more gentrified inner cousins. I've never personally felt unsafe, but people have tried to burgle my unit before, the police aren't a completely uncommon sight, and hotted-up Commodores do enjoy burnouts on the eastern side of town.

As you can probably guess, the rising house prices in Northcote, Thornbury and Preston are pushing young people into Reservoir, and it's changing the face of the suburb. There's a smattering of nice cafes starting to appear (Gellibrand and Sycamore Meadows in the west, Lady Bower Kitchen in the east), as well as a very nice bar in Audacious Monk down in the south-west. This has only accelerated over the last year.

It is a really great suburb for young professionals, and certainly ideal for longer-term investment as people get squeezed out of more "desirable" suburbs - but be careful to pick your spot well.