6 kms E of CBD
City Of Boroondarra
First settled in late 1830’s
Generally regarded as one of Melbourne’s last surviving bastions of the post gold-rush expansion. One of Melbourne’s most affluent suburbs with amongst the highest land values in Australia with streets such as Hawthorn Grove in the Grace Park Estate, to Coppin Grove near the Yarra River.
Also considerable student accommodation due to proximity to Swinburne University near Glenferrie Railway Station. Hawthorn has access to many private schools in surrounding areas. Originally a brick-making area, many of its parks are filled-in quarries.
Glenferrie Road is the areas major shopping strip, with strip shops in Auburn Road and Burwood Road. The area is known for its many hotels and nightclubs and restaurants with diverse ethnic styles.
Hawthorn is serviced by three train stations: Hawthorn, Glenferrie and Auburn and multiple tram routes passing through the suburb.

5 kms E of CBD
City Of Boroondarra
Suburb borders Yarra River to its west and north, Hawthorn to its south and Balwyn to its east.
Crown Land sales commenced in 1851. Nicholas Fenwick purchased and subdivided his land holding east of Richmond naming the region Kew, after the Kew in England also located near Richmond.
Commercial precinct known as Kew Junction commenced in the 1850’s, with the Post Office opened in 1856. In 1856 a site near the Yarra River was reserved for the Kew Lunatic Asylum and was completed in 1871. Kew Cottages for children were added in 1887. The hospital was built despite objections from residents and today is known as the Willsmere Estate.
Kew is one of Melbourne’s most affluent suburbs with many superb examples of grand Victorian and Edwardian architecture.
The area has many prestigious private schools.
Bordered by Barkers, Burke, Cotham and Glenferrie Roads, Kew has multiple strip shopping areas with High Street being the area’s shopping hub.
Kew has multiple tram routes passing through.

10 kms E of CBD
City Of Boroondarra
Part of Henry Elgar’s special survey of 8 sqr miles in 1841 which was subdivided into small farms and grazing runs.
In late 1850’s Andrew Murray commercial editor of The Argus newspaper bought land and named his house “Balwyn” – “the home of the vine”. It was located at the present site of  Fintona Girls’ School and gives the area its name.
Balwyn Primary School was opened in 1868 in Balwyn Road 100 metres north of Whitehorse Road, but moved to its present site in 1880. The town centre containing a few shops, blacksmith, Athanaeum or Mechanics Institute were located at the corner of Whitehorse and Balwyn Roads.
Balwyn Cinema originally built in 1930 as a single screen theatre and operated by Palace Cinemas has seen several conversions of (office) space and now is an 11 cinema complex.
Balwyn’s status as one of Melbourne’s most exclusive suburbs has seen middle to upper class families move there for the larger land sizes of blocks. It also has access to many of Melbourne’s prestigious schools located in surrounding areas. The Reid Estate located between Mont Albert Road and Whitehorse Road is specially noted for containing many architecturally significant interwar mansions.
Transport servicing the area is by the Whitehorse Road tramline.