Take a relaxed village vibe and stir in some creative inner-city energy and you get a sense of what's happening in Yarraville and sibling suburb Seddon, 10 kilometres from Melbourne's CBD.
While away time in Yarraville
Begin early morning at Beaton Reserve, where the Yarraville farmers' market sets up on the third Saturday of the month with fresh eggs, pumpkin, herbs, cheese and olive oils. Load up your bag and start planning for coffee.
Alongside the train station, Dad and Dave’s has mouth-watering brekky options. Once sated, it’s time to stretch your legs and wander. ‘The village’ has charm and character throughout, with refurbished Edwardian and Victorian shopfronts, grand facades and tiny streets. Also – no parking meters!
Follow the sun
The handsomely restored art deco Sun Theatre takes pride of place: a modern-day icon of Melbourne's film community, it shows cult films, classics and recent releases. Outside its wide doors the street has been blocked off and transformed into a meeting place for families, friends and couples. With two Sun Bookshops (one for adults, one for kids), pop-up galleries and the bustling Cornershop Cafe, Ballarat street is the thriving heart of Yarraville.
Seddon
For a memorable lunch, make your way north to Navi on Gamon Street. Chef Julian Hills has put together a wild-food degustation menu – and even makes his own plates. A few steps further and you've entered leafy Seddon, a quiet and understated neighbourhood with a growing batch of wine bars, cafes and creative outlets seeded amid secondhand shops, fish and chip shops, and milk bars. Pop into Sourdough Kitchen for delectable freshly baked loaves and gorgeous Fig and Walnut Cafe for homemade sausage rolls and mushroom pie.
