Hawthorn
Suburb profile, market snapshot and recent listings for Hawthorn, VIC 3122.
About Hawthorn
Welcome to Hawthorn
Hawthorn sits about 6 kilometres east of Melbourne's CBD, straddling the inner east in a way that feels both urbane and genuinely liveable. Bordered by the Yarra River to the south and neighbours including Kew, South Kew and Hawthorn East, it is one of Melbourne's most established and recognisable suburbs — a place where grand Victorian and Edwardian architecture lines wide, tree-canopied streets, and a strong community identity has been built over more than a century.
The suburb draws a broad mix of residents: long-standing owner-occupiers who have no intention of leaving, young professionals drawn to the café culture and tram access, and families who value proximity to some of Melbourne's most respected schools. It is not a suburb that needs to prove itself, and that quiet confidence is a large part of its appeal.
History & character
Hawthorn was gazetted as a borough in 1860, making it one of Melbourne's earliest self-governing municipalities. The suburb grew rapidly during the land boom of the 1880s, and the legacy of that prosperity is visible everywhere — in the ornate ironwork on terrace verandahs, the solid double-brick homes along the ridge streets, and the civic buildings that still anchor the Glenferrie Road precinct. It was later incorporated into the City of Boroondara, but residents have never really stopped thinking of Hawthorn as its own distinct place.
That sense of layered history gives the suburb a texture that newer development areas simply cannot replicate. Even as apartment buildings have risen — particularly around the Glenferrie corridor — the overall character has remained rooted in its 19th-century bones.
Lifestyle & dining
Glenferrie Road is the suburb's social spine, running north to south and offering a concentrated stretch of cafés, restaurants, independent retailers and everyday services. The strip has enough variety to cover a Saturday morning coffee run and a Friday night dinner without much effort. Lygon Street territory it is not — Hawthorn's dining scene is more neighbourhood than destination — but that suits the locals just fine.
The Yarra Bank Reserve provides a natural counterpoint to the streetside activity. Walking and cycling trails along the river connect Hawthorn into Melbourne's broader path network, and on weekends the riverbank draws a steady crowd of joggers, dog walkers and families spreading out on the grass. St. James Park and Creswick Street Reserve add further breathing room within the suburb itself.
Parks & recreation
For a suburb so close to the city, Hawthorn is genuinely well served by open space. The Yarra Bank Reserve along the southern edge is the standout — broad, grassy and lined with river red gums, it offers a genuine sense of escape from the surrounding inner-suburban density. Connections along the Yarra Trail make it easy to ride or walk to Kew, Richmond or further afield.
Within the suburb's quieter streets, Creswick Street Reserve and St. James Park provide local green space that serves the day-to-day needs of families and nearby residents. The overall green network is one of Hawthorn's understated strengths — something that becomes particularly apparent in autumn, when the street trees turn and the suburb takes on a distinctly photogenic quality.
Schools & families
Hawthorn and its immediate surrounds carry considerable weight in Melbourne's school landscape. Scotch College, one of Australia's most prominent independent schools, is close by, as is Bialik College and Strathcona Baptist Girls' Grammar, which has a campus serving Hawthorn directly. For primary-age children, Glenferrie Primary School, Hawthorn West Primary School and Erasmus Primary School are all local options with solid reputations.
This concentration of well-regarded schools is a significant factor in the suburb's sustained demand from families, and it is one of the reasons Hawthorn has historically attracted buyers who might otherwise look further out for more space. The trade-off — smaller blocks, higher prices — is one that many families appear willing to make.
Getting around
Hawthorn is served by tram routes along Glenferrie Road and Burwood Road, providing direct links into the CBD and across the inner east. Tram stops including Stop 24 at Hill Street and Grattan Street, and Stop 23 at Hawthorn Bridge, keep much of the suburb within easy reach of the broader network. The Hawthorn Bridge stop in particular provides a useful crossing point connecting the suburb to neighbouring areas across the Yarra.
Cycling is a genuinely practical option here, with the Yarra Trail and relatively flat terrain making two-wheeled commutes straightforward. The suburb also benefits from its position between the Eastern Freeway corridor and major arterial roads, so car travel to the CBD or out to neighbouring Kew, Kew East and Deepdene is manageable, even if peak-hour traffic on Glenferrie Road can test patience.
The property market
Hawthorn's property market operates at the premium end of Melbourne's inner east. The current median house price sits at $3.21 million, reflecting the suburb's combination of heritage stock, school proximity and lifestyle appeal. The median unit and apartment price of $638,000 tells a different story — one of relative accessibility for buyers priced out of the house market — and it helps explain why the current listing mix skews heavily toward apartments and units at 61%, with houses making up 23% and townhouses 16%.
Median rent is $1,500 per week, underpinning a solid investor case for well-positioned properties, particularly those within walking distance of Glenferrie Road or tram routes. House prices have recorded a modest decline of 2.3% in the recent period, a movement consistent with broader softening across Melbourne's upper-end market rather than any suburb-specific concern. For buyers with a long-term horizon, Hawthorn's fundamentals — location, schools, amenity and the enduring scarcity of quality period homes — have historically provided a strong foundation.
Market snapshot
Hawthorn property market
Median sale price
$3.20m
House · 4 bed
Median rent
$1,500
per week
Gross rental yield
2.4%
annual rent ÷ sale price
Typical price range
Entry
$2.26m
Median
$3.20m
Premium
$5.91m
Days on market
39
Auction clearance
69%
Sold this year
70
Median sold price trend · House 4 bed
Compound growth +1.0% / yr over 4 yrs
Median price by bedrooms · House
Property types on market
Share of current listings in Hawthorn by dwelling type.
Who lives here
Demographics
ABS Census 2021 figures for Hawthorn, VIC 3122.
Population
22,322
residents (2021)
Median age
34
years
Household income
$2,145
median, per week
Median rent
$400
per week
Median mortgage
$2,259
per month
Mortgage / income
24%
comfortable
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. Suburb-level (SAL) aggregates.
Education
Schools in Hawthorn
Government school catchment
Independent & Catholic schools
Strathcona Baptist Girls' Grammar - Hawthorn Campus
SEDA College (Victoria) - Hawthorn Talented Player Program (TPP)
Recent results
Recently sold in Hawthorn
$700k
15/494A Glenferrie Road
Sold ~July 2026
$795k
6/34 Auburn Road
Sold ~July 2026
$130k
306B/71 Riversdale Road
Sold ~July 2026
$560k
19/179 Power Street
Sold ~July 2026
$390k
213/6 Lisson Grove
Sold ~July 2026
$600k
516/2 Golding Street
Sold ~July 2026
$533k
4/27 Grove Road
Sold ~July 2026
$2.34m
3 Hill Street
Sold ~July 2026
Sold prices as published on the original listing; some may reflect the last advertised price. Dates are approximate.
Explore the area
Properties & amenities in Hawthorn
Compare the area
Price map around Hawthorn
Every listing for sale near Hawthorn, coloured by price — so you can see how it stacks up against the streets and suburbs next door.
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Common questions
Hawthorn suburb FAQ
What is the median property price in Hawthorn?
The median unit price in Hawthorn, VIC is $645k for a 2-bedroom home. Over the past year, median sold prices have fallen about 0.8%.
How much is rent in Hawthorn?
The median weekly rent in Hawthorn is around $625 per week.
Is Hawthorn a good place to live?
Hawthorn is an inner suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) east of Melbourne's central business district, located within the City of Boroondara local government area. Hawthorn is an established residential suburb in VIC, with a population of around 22,322 and 9 schools in the area.
What is the population of Hawthorn?
Hawthorn has a population of 22,322 (ABS 2021 Census), with a median age of 34.
What schools are in Hawthorn?
There are 9 schools in or near Hawthorn, including Bialik College, Scotch College and Strathcona Baptist Girls' Grammar - Hawthorn Campus.
How long do homes take to sell in Hawthorn?
Properties in Hawthorn take around 37 days to sell on average, with an auction clearance rate of about 76%.
How much do you need to buy in Hawthorn?
Entry-level properties in Hawthorn start around $409k, while premium homes reach $1.23m.
What suburbs are near Hawthorn?
Suburbs near Hawthorn include Hawthorn East, South Kew, Kew, Kew East and Deepdene.
Fresh to market
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