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Top commercial areas to invest in Melbourne

 Industry experts reveal Melbourne’s best commercial suburbs for maximum return. You might be surprised about where some of them are.

Melbourne’s inner city can offer the best of every commercial world from retail shopping strips and office buildings to mixed-use and industrial spaces.

Inner-city suburbs

According to Nelson Alexander Commercial partner, Damien Theisz, whose inner-north Fitzroy office covers the retail, industrial and office sectors, the office market is particularly strong in the local area.

“Over the years, there’s been a real focus on office space in these areas but since COVID, people are decentralising out of the city and moving more to inner-city suburbs,” he said.

Fitzroy

“Fitzroy is hot and continues to be hot,” Mr Theisz said.

“There are a number of office developments in and around this pocket.”

Collingwood

Mr Theisz described interest in this suburb as “out of control” as investors flock to the thriving inner-city area.

He believes property billionaire Tim Gurner’s Victoria and Vine development is a perfect example of Collingwood’s rapidly changing commercial scene.

The $280 million, nine-building, retail and residential project sprawls across an entire block, stretching from Wellington St to the intersection of Victoria Pde and Langridge St.

Richmond

According to Mr Theisz, Richmond’s popular, “really groovy” ambience is reflected in how far the suburb’s prices have jumped over recent years.

“Richmond doesn’t offer large areas either so (what is available) is tightly held,” he said.

Mr Theisz added that Cremone, Richmond’s neighbouring suburb, is enjoying similar popularity and rising prices.

Middle-ring suburbs

These suburbs are usually located between 10km and 20km from a city centre, middle-ring suburbs. Those in Melbourne’s south-east have particularly surprised industry experts such as Metropole CEO and founder, Michael Yardney, recently with their rising popularity.

Mulgrave and Notting Hill

According to Mr Yardney, Mulgrave and neighbouring Notting Hill are one of four south-eastern suburbs boasting notable numbers of industrial properties with includes BMW’s and Mercedes Benz’ head offices.

“Melbourne’s south-east area includes some great suburbs to invest in industrial real estate,” he said.

“But there is very little to lease at the moment.”

Glen Waverley and Mount Waverley

Mr Yardney said these suburbs, also in the southeastern area, saw some industrial opportunities bordering The Glen Shopping Centre in Glen Waverley.

 

Dandenong

Once considered the poor cousin to the above suburbs, Dandenong has now become a very prestigious industrial area, according to Mr Yardney, with warehouses as well as factories on offer.

Coburg North

Described by Mr Thiesz as a “good little industrial pocket”, this suburb is popular with investors.

 

Outer suburbs

For warehouses and other industrial properties, Melbourne’s outer suburbs are still great options.

Mr Theisz said truck accessibility in these suburbs also ensured their popularity.

“Melbourne’s outer suburbs have always been fairly strong from an industrial point of view and they’re now even stronger,” he said.

Sunshine

This western suburb and its surrounding areas have become increasingly popular for both residential and commercial in recent years.

Mr Theisz said Sunshine was still highly popular for its many commercial investment opportunities.

“Sunshine is also close to all arterials and it’s accessible from a lot of different areas as well as not being that far from the city,” he said.

He added that other significant industrial suburbs include Truganina, which is close to Sunshine; Thomastown and Campbellfield to the north of the city; and Braeside, 40 km to the south of the CBD.

Potential purchase costs and returns

Offices

According to Mr. Theisz, a small, entry-level office in an inner-city area can be purchased for $500,000 to $1 million.

He added that a similar freehold or stand-alone office would demand a $1 million to $1.5 million price.

But Mr. Yardney believes first-time, or mum and dad investors should stay away from office opportunities with COVID resulting in these spaces becoming increasingly “out of favour” as more people work remotely.

“I think we’re still going to need offices but not as much,” he said.

“On this basis, it would be a brave investor who currently invests in offices… as no one’s knocking on the door asking to rent them.”

Potential purchase costs and returns.

Offices

According to Mr. Theisz, a small, entry-level office in an inner-city area can be purchased for $500,000 to $1 million.

He added that a similar freehold or stand-alone office would demand a $1 million to $1.5 million price.

But Mr. Yardney believes first-time, or mum and dad investors should stay away from office opportunities with COVID resulting in these spaces becoming increasingly “out of favor” as more people work remotely.

“I think we’re still going to need offices but not as much,” he said.

“On this basis, it would be a brave investor who currently invests in offices… as no one’s knocking on the door asking to rent them.”

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