Series
Growing pains in Melbourne’s booming west
In this collection, The Age explores what makes the western suburbs the place to be and what’s holding them back as the number of homes looks set to more than double in some areas over the next decade.
This family moved to Australia’s fastest-growing region. Decades ago, it was ‘unpopular for living’
People are flocking to Melbourne’s west as it’s close to the CBD, affordable and multicultural. But pollution and a lack of public transport and essential services are causing problems.
- Sophie Aubrey, Adam Carey and Patrick Hatch
‘It’s beautiful, but we’d like fresh air’: Life inside Melbourne’s most polluted suburb
Brooklyn residents have suffered odours and dust pollution from heavy industry for years, but there are plans for a greener future.
- Sophie Aubrey
Almost halfway between Melbourne and Geelong, this fast-growing suburb has affordable houses ... and not much more
Mambourin, on Melbourne’s western fringe, was designed as a beacon of liveability but is now forgotten.
- Adam Carey
Long walks on gravel along dangerous roads: The fast-growing Melbourne suburbs waiting for public transport
In outer western suburbs where car is king and roads are congested, residents are calling for better bus links, Metro trains and more railway stations.
- Patrick Hatch
- Opinion
The west I knew was treated as second best, but those days are numbered
Melbourne’s western suburbs have been deprived of infrastructure for decades, but flagging support for Labor could mean Australia’s fastest-growing region will finally be heard.
- Adam Carey
- Editorial
Melbourne’s west is a growing force, and politicians should beware
The western suburbs are changing and growing. Whoever can meet the region’s needs and expectations of services and infrastructure is likely to reap huge rewards.
- The Age's View
- Opinion
I grew up in Melbourne’s west. We knew it wasn’t a nice place to live
In many ways the west never existed. We weren’t united by anything other than a vague geography and the discriminating gaze of those on the other side of a bridge.
- John Weldon
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