It was once declared ‘unpopular for living’. Now it’s Australia’s fastest-growing region

It was once declared ‘unpopular for living’. Now it’s Australia’s fastest-growing region

The Age explores what’s driving the boom in Melbourne’s western suburbs,and challenges some of the common assumptions about the area.

  • bySophie Aubrey,Adam Carey andPatrick Hatch

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Growing pains in Melbourne’s booming west
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City life

Growing pains in Melbourne’s booming west

In a series,The Age explores what makes the western suburbs the place to be and what’s holding them back.

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Almost halfway between Melbourne and Geelong,this fast-growing suburb has affordable houses ... and not much more

Almost halfway between Melbourne and Geelong,this fast-growing suburb has affordable houses ... and not much more

Mambourin was designed as a beacon of liveability,but is now forgotten. In a series,The Age explores why Melbourne’s west is Australia’s fastest-growing region and what’s holding it back.

  • byAdam Carey
‘Parasite’:The private school trying to eat a housing estate

‘Parasite’:The private school trying to eat a housing estate

Strathcona Girls Grammar School is offside with its neighbours after buying homes near its main campus and using VCAT to overturn a protective covenant.

  • byAdam Carey
These are our ‘sweatiest suburbs’,putting vulnerable at risk in heatwaves

These are our ‘sweatiest suburbs’,putting vulnerable at risk in heatwaves

Inner Melbourne,the northern and south-eastern suburbs are the worst places to be during high heat according to a new metric of Australia’s “sweatiest cities”.

  • byAdam Carey
Donation revelations prompt fears Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece could be ‘mired in conflicts of interest’

Donation revelations prompt fears Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece could be ‘mired in conflicts of interest’

Reece accepted tens of thousands of dollars from donors with property interests in the City of Melbourne despite pledging he would not allow developers to bankroll his mayoral campaign. See the full list of donors.

  • byCara Waters,Adam Carey andSarah Danckert
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‘Like gold’:Allan government urged to set affordable housing targets

‘Like gold’:Allan government urged to set affordable housing targets

Melbourne will need an estimated 177,000 more affordable homes by 2041,but the Allan government’s high-density housing hubs have no targets for their inclusion.

  • byAdam Carey
Woolworths strikes deal with union to end warehouse industrial dispute

Woolworths strikes deal with union to end warehouse industrial dispute

The United Workers Union declared victory and said they had secured a clause stopping workers being disciplined for failing to meet monitored pick rates.

  • byLachlan Abbott andAdam Carey
Picket line blocks bus from Woolworths’ warehouse despite Fair Work ruling

Picket line blocks bus from Woolworths’ warehouse despite Fair Work ruling

A coach with a group of people in hi-vis vests turned away from the supermarket’s Dandenong South distribution centre on Saturday morning after being blocked by protesters.

  • byAdam Carey,Sarah Danckert andLachlan Abbott
Wealthy suburbs splurge on renovations as new home building suffers

Wealthy suburbs splurge on renovations as new home building suffers

Spending on renovations has boomed in the past five years,mainly in wealthier postcodes,while expenditure on building new homes remains in the doldrums.

  • byAdam Carey
Victorian council election results 2024 LIVE updates:Suspected postal vote tampering in council elections

Victorian council election results 2024 LIVE updates:Suspected postal vote tampering in council elections

All the updates on the results in Victoria’s local government elections.

  • byRachael Dexter,Tom Cowie,Adam Carey,Sophie Aubrey,Benjamin Preiss,Patrick Hatch andCara Waters