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Life in the ’burbs

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Reg Harris Reserve – once a rubbish tip, now a tranquil space.

I left my small, overlooked suburb. But there’s a reason I came back

It’s played host to marathons, notorious ghosts and generations of family history - it’s no wonder this unpretentious pocket of Melbourne keeps drawing its residents back home.

  • Liz Anderson

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Mooltan St, Travancore.

I thought this suburb was the fanciest place in the world. Then I moved here

My father would bring me here so I could stare at the historic buildings. But I soon realised this suburb needed an injection of youth.

  • Bianca Simpson
The plane trees look pretty, but they also create a heap of work for residents.

My suburb is an urban oasis, never mind the bikies. We even resolved the rotting cabbage smell

A fateful detour led me to this tranquil slice of Melbourne and sparked a 17-year love affair.

  • Todd Lane
Candlebark Walk Reserve in Croydon Hills.

The idea of living in this suburb left me aghast. Then it captured my heart

You would never call it trendy or bustling, but this area is connected to the landscape, and the rhythms of family life dominate.

  • Rebecca Laface
The East Brunswick Hotel on Lygon Street.

People say my suburb is Australia’s coolest. To me it’s just families creating magic

The population of my suburb has doubled over the past 20 years, and yet its beautiful, welcoming essence remains the same.

  • Peter Mattessi
There are a surprisingly wide range of amenities in Upwey, including many cafes.

My suburb has the Mad Mile. We call the rest of you ‘flatlanders’

I have a theory: the closer you are to the city, the less connection you have with your neighbour. I now have a dream lifestyle – and neighbours who will lend me anything other than a blowtorch.

  • Uppma Virdi
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The Doutta Galla Hotel in Kensington.

My suburb feels like it’s hiding. But its genteel exterior belies a boisterous heart

Living in a village has its downsides. When you are trying to have some fun, someone’s mum will inevitably appear to yell at you, and probably text your mum as well

  • Ethan Seiderman
The train bridge north of Balaclava station as it crosses Carlisle Street, featuring the Lady of St Kilda art work.

My suburb is the heart of the city’s shtetl-south. It’s no utopia but a lesson in coexistence

When my family moved here from the Soviet Union, we began a quest to feel at home. It took us to four suburbs, but we ended up right where we belonged.

  • Katia Ariel
Taylors Lakes holds its ground as the city grows around it.

I escaped my suburb on the edge. Now I’ve I found my way back

Kangaroos under high voltage towers, a whole street as our backyard: my suburb was an adventure playground until they brought the dynamite.

  • Aaron Magro
Boys jump off Mornington Pier.

My suburb was seemingly made for summer. Then the secret got out

When I went to uni I finally met all the people who had holiday houses down where I grew up. These kids from Hawthorn, Toorak and Camberwell couldn’t believe that I actually grew up here.

  • Lizzy Gordon