Templestowe

Lifestyle & dining

Templestowe's lifestyle centres on its outdoor spaces and the Yarra River, which runs along the suburb's edge and shapes much of its character. Life here tends to be low-key rather than social-strip driven, with locals more likely to be found walking along the river trails or heading to nearby Doncaster for a wider choice of cafes, restaurants and entertainment. That said, local shopping strips and neighbourhood cafes service day-to-day needs comfortably, and the suburb's relaxed, semi-rural feel remains one of its biggest drawcards for families and retirees alike.

Shopping

For bigger shopping trips, residents typically head to Westfield Doncaster, just a short drive away, which brings major retailers, supermarkets, dining and cinemas within easy reach. Templestowe itself has smaller local centres catering to everyday essentials, meaning residents get the best of both worlds — a quiet residential feel with substantial retail infrastructure never far away.

Getting around

Templestowe is car-reliant by design, with no train line running directly through the suburb — the nearest rail access is via neighbouring areas, making bus services and arterial roads like Manningham Road and Foote Street the main way residents get around. Buses connect through to Doncaster and on to city-bound services, while commuters driving into the CBD generally use Eastern Freeway access via Doncaster Road, keeping the trip to around 25–30 minutes outside peak times.

The suburb's layout, with its winding streets and larger lots, reflects its development era and reinforces the need for a car, though this trade-off is one many residents make willingly in exchange for the quieter surrounds.

Schools & families

Templestowe is well set up for families, with Serpell Primary School and Templestowe Park Primary School both serving the local area and contributing to the suburb's appeal for those with young children. The broader Manningham area also offers access to well-regarded secondary options nearby. Combined with generous backyards and a settled community feel, it's easy to see why families make up such a significant part of the local population.

Parks & recreation

Green space is one of Templestowe's defining features. The Yarra River corridor offers walking and cycling trails, picnic spots and pockets of native bush, while numerous local parks and reserves throughout the suburb give families and pet owners plenty of room to spread out. This access to nature, combined with proximity to the Yarra Valley's wineries and rural pockets further out, gives Templestowe a semi-rural character that's increasingly rare this close to Melbourne.

The property market

Templestowe's property market reflects its status as an established, land-rich suburb. The median house price sits at $1.51 million, with units and apartments considerably more affordable at a median of $1.09 million — though current listings show apartments make up only around 10% of stock, alongside 9% land and 16% townhouses, with standalone houses dominating at 65% of the mix. Median rent across the suburb is $890 per week.

House prices have eased slightly of late, down 2.6% in recent measures, which may present an opening for buyers who've been priced out during stronger growth periods. Neighbouring suburbs including Templestowe Lower, Doncaster, Montmorency and Lower Plenty offer comparison points for buyers weighing up lifestyle and budget, but Templestowe's larger blocks and established gardens continue to set it apart as a long-term family destination rather than a transient rental market.