Malvern

One of Melbourne's more desirable inner south-eastern suburbs, Malvern is separated from ultra-select Toorak and Kooyong by the South-Eastern Freeway. There is a strong vice-regal connection with the area as stately Stonnington House was home to seven Victorian Governors before it was absorbed into the Toorak campus of Deakin University. The suburb also has a strong artistic tradition. The Malvern Theatre Company, one of Melbourne's leading and multi-award winning amateur companies, first opened its doors in the Malvern Congregational Church hall in 1957. Countless productions later, the company is still playing to packed houses from the same venue which is now part of the Malvern Community Arts Centre. Malvern shares the upmarket shopping strip of Glenferrie Road, which was also famous as the original address of the manufacture of Australia's most renowned bicycle, the Malvern Star. Shoppers more interested in bargains than exclusive labels will be perfectly at home in Chadstone, one of Australia's largest shopping centres.