Rates updating. Speak to us.
Leave your details and a broker will discuss your options.
Market reference only. Your enquiry goes to Rate Challenge. Some lenders are outside our panel; a broker will confirm available options, conditions and eligibility.
Explore Collingwood beyond the median. Get to know its history, different housing pockets and everyday trade-offs, then compare prices, recent sales and your buying budget.
Collingwood rewards a closer look than its familiar warehouse image suggests. Smith Street supplies an obvious shopping and social centre, but the streets to the east reveal different scales of building: smaller homes, former industrial premises and later residential development. A pocket park or a quiet-looking side street can change the feel of a short walk. The useful question for a buyer is how a particular home sits within that mix, rather than whether Collingwood as a whole matches an attractive description.
The area's manufacturing history helps explain its architectural variety, but a building's character is only the start of the inspection. In a conversion, test how daylight, ventilation and sound separation work in the actual rooms. In a smaller house, investigate condition, access and outdoor space. In either case, explore the immediate block outside the scheduled open inspection. Think about your daily entrance, groceries, bicycle and work routine. The strongest shortlist connects the Collingwood you want to enjoy with a home that works when the street's attractions are not the main thing on your mind.
Smith Street runs along the Fitzroy–Collingwood boundary and gives both sides a substantial retail and hospitality destination. Being near it can be convenient without requiring a home directly on the commercial frontage. Check which side and entrance an advertised property actually uses, then walk the surrounding blocks rather than judging the address from the precinct name.[1]
The former industrial landscape around the Collingwood Slope includes substantial factory and warehouse structures. Their size and relationship to the street differ from the smaller houses nearby. That contrast makes the area interesting to explore, while reminding buyers to investigate how an individual building has been adapted and what remains shared or commercial.[3]
Peel Street Park occupies a former car park and provides lawn, planting and seating within the built-up neighbourhood. It is the kind of modest local destination that can matter more to daily life than a distant major attraction. Walk to it from a shortlisted home and decide whether its scale and setting match how you would use open space.[5]
Johnston Street has its own council planning framework across Collingwood and Abbotsford. That makes it useful to examine as a corridor with ongoing change, rather than assume every nearby block has a settled outlook. For buyers, current neighbouring uses and actual approvals matter more than broad claims about what an area might become.[6]
Walk the routes you would use, visit at different times and compare the actual building, land and title. A suburb name is only the beginning of the shortlist.
The house median in this snapshot is $1,315,000. A 20% deposit at that price is $263,000, before duty, conveyancing and other buying costs.
The unit median is $690,000 below the house median. That is a difference between two types of housing, not a discount on an equivalent home. Compare floor space, land, parking and shared costs.
Apartment records make up 13 of the 20 residential sales shown here. This is a partial sample, so the mix may differ from sales across the whole suburb.
A lower purchase price is only part of the budget. Add ongoing rates, insurance, maintenance and any owners corporation fees, then test whether the repayments still leave room for your normal life.
Collingwood's development combined small homes, workshops, shops and larger factories. The city grew around work as well as residence, and later reuse of industrial buildings added another layer to the housing stock. Smith Street's commercial history and the manufacturing scale of the slope still help explain what buyers see today. The result is a suburb where close comparison should begin with the building and block, because a single label such as warehouse apartment or period home misses much of the detail.
Council traces Collingwood's first subdivision into large allotments to the land sales of 1838–39. Later subdivision created a much finer pattern of streets and properties. That history provides context for the close relationship between small houses, businesses and larger buildings within a relatively compact area.[2]
Collingwood grew rapidly during the gold-rush years, with small houses interspersed among businesses and later factories. Its residential story was therefore closely connected to employment and production. The surviving mixture is part of the suburb's interest, rather than evidence that every street developed for the same purpose.[2]
The heritage citation describes Wellington Street as an important commercial street by the early 1860s, alongside boot-making and brewing premises in the wider slope area. Housing and work occupied nearby sites. This is useful background when investigating the original function of an older building.[3]
Foy and Gibson began with a Smith Street shop in 1883 and expanded into a major retail and manufacturing complex. The larger buildings associated with that expansion remain an important part of the slope's setting. Their scale helps distinguish this area from streets dominated by smaller residential rows.[3]
A cable tram service arrived in Smith Street in 1887, bringing customers to its department stores and other businesses. Council's heritage walk describes the street as an established commercial destination by that period. Looking above modern shopfronts can reveal older detailing that still carries that story.[4]
Council records the redevelopment of many former factories for housing in more recent years. New uses have retained parts of the industrial landscape while changing how people occupy it. For buyers, that history makes the quality and approval of the conversion worth investigating, alongside the condition of the original structure.[2]
Exposed structure and a broad room can be appealing, but inspect how the dwelling functions after furniture is added. Check the source of bedroom light, opening windows and acoustic separation. Ask how the residential conversion was approved and whether later internal changes were documented. Character features should sit alongside those answers, rather than replace them.[2]
Industrial history does not establish a problem at any particular property. It does give a buyer a reason to investigate the subject site's former uses and relevant documents, especially when considering significant work. Have any uncertainty assessed by an appropriate adviser. Avoid assuming that either the whole suburb or every converted building shares the same conditions.[3][8]
Ask which parts of a conversion are private, common or used by another occupier. Inspect how people, deliveries and waste move through the property. Have the title, common-area arrangements and responsibilities explained. This is particularly useful when an older building has been divided into homes at different stages or retains another use.[7]
The Johnston Street planning framework is a reminder to check nearby sites rather than rely on their current height. Review relevant current applications and approvals, and look at privacy as well as distant views. A plan for an area is context; it is not proof that a particular neighbouring project will proceed.[6]
These are practical areas to explore, rather than official neighbourhood boundaries, valuation areas or school zones.
Start here if the shopping and hospitality strip is a major reason for choosing the suburb. Look at the exact frontage and whether access comes from Smith Street or a side lane. A home above shops, one behind commercial premises and a residential building one block away will need different checks. Return when the street is active and inspect the sleeping rooms where possible. Confirm the legal address, because the Fitzroy side and Collingwood side share the same precinct identity.[1]
These streets help orient a search around the Collingwood Slope and its mixture of housing and industrial heritage. Compare the scale of individual buildings and how they meet neighbouring properties. In a conversion, large windows or high ceilings may not benefit every room equally; inspect the full plan. In a smaller house, examine the rear boundary and any later extension. The point of this grouping is to understand the built environment, not to assume all properties inside it are equivalent.[3]
The park gives this part of Collingwood a small public green space within a closely developed area. Explore the route from the property and the streets immediately around the park, then decide how it would fit your week. A nearby public lawn can be a useful complement to a compact home, but it is different from having private outdoor space. Check the apartment balcony or courtyard on its own merits, including sunlight, privacy and the room available for the things you want to do.[5]
Use Johnston Street to explore the connection from Smith Street towards the adjoining Abbotsford area. Council's plan covers both suburbs, so do not assume every destination mentioned in that plan is in Collingwood. Check the actual trip to your preferred station or service, including the crossings. For a property near the corridor, inspect adjoining sites and current uses. Read planning information as a set of specific proposals and controls, rather than a general promise about the future of an entire neighbourhood.[6]
Street position, dwelling type, land size, condition, access and nearby uses can explain differences that a suburb-wide median cannot.
Market snapshot: 30 September 2026. House and unit figures are shown separately. The recent-sales table lists each property’s recorded dwelling type.
A suburb-level reference point, not a value for an individual property.
A suburb-level reference point, not a value for an individual property.
The period covered by the price and rent medians is not available. Only the sales totals cover 12 months. Figures that are unavailable are marked “Not available”.
20 reviewed residential sales, dated 13 Aug 2026 to 3 Oct 2026. These are individual observations from a partial sample, not every sale in the suburb.
Swipe the table to see price and date →
| Property | Type | Recorded price | Sale date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 304/29 Bedford Street, Collingwood, VIC, 3066 | Apartment | $1,106,000 | 3 Oct 2026 |
| 10/93 Oxford Street, Collingwood, VIC, 3066 | Apartment | $1,258,000 | 19 Sep 2026 |
| 11/78 Oxford Street, Collingwood, VIC, 3066 | Apartment | $530,000 | 16 Sep 2026 |
| 16 Waterloo Road, Collingwood, VIC, 3066 | Townhouse | $1,050,000 | 15 Sep 2026 |
| 501B/3 Brewery Lane, Collingwood, VIC, 3066 | Apartment | $669,000 | 13 Sep 2026 |
| 107/9 Little Oxford Street, Collingwood, VIC, 3066 | Apartment | $730,000 | 8 Sep 2026 |
| Property | Type | Recorded price | Sale date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 303B/3 Brewery Lane, Collingwood, VIC, 3066 | Apartment | $655,000 | 8 Sep 2026 |
| 105/46 Cambridge Street, Collingwood, VIC, 3066 | Apartment | $535,000 | 7 Sep 2026 |
| 11/69 Little Oxford Street, Collingwood, VIC, 3066 | Apartment | $585,000 | 2 Sep 2026 |
| 501/75 Wellington Street, Collingwood, VIC, 3066 | Apartment | $450,000 | 31 Aug 2026 |
| 67 Hotham Street, Collingwood, VIC, 3066 | House | $930,000 | 31 Aug 2026 |
| 107/6 Mater Street, Collingwood, VIC, 3066 | Apartment | $545,000 | 21 Aug 2026 |
| 66 Budd Street, Collingwood, VIC, 3066 | House | $850,000 | 20 Aug 2026 |
| 510D/21 Robert Street, Collingwood, VIC, 3066 | Apartment | $565,000 | 17 Aug 2026 |
| 202/27 Oxford St, Collingwood, VIC, 3066 | Unit | $700,000 | 17 Aug 2026 |
| 73 Gold Street, Collingwood, VIC, 3066 | House | $1,750,000 | 15 Aug 2026 |
| 403/47 Peel Street, Collingwood, VIC, 3066 | Apartment | $525,000 | 14 Aug 2026 |
| 406/2 Hotham Street, Collingwood, VIC, 3066 | Apartment | $482,500 | 14 Aug 2026 |
| Lot C57 Hoddle St, Collingwood, VIC, 3066 | Unit | $575,000 | 14 Aug 2026 |
| 1C Ballarat Street, Collingwood, VIC, 3066 | House | $1,400,000 | 13 Aug 2026 |
Match dwelling type, size, condition, land, parking and location before using a sale as a comparison. This sales list was compiled on 7 October 2026 and can include sales after the market snapshot above.
Start with the house median, or enter the price of a property you are considering. Change the deposit, interest rate and term to see the difference.
Duty, conveyancing, inspections, loan fees and possible lenders mortgage insurance are additional. Rates, insurance, maintenance and shared-building costs continue after settlement.
This is a budgeting illustration. It does not assess income, living expenses, eligibility or how much a lender would approve. The lender’s valuation and loan terms can change the outcome.
Purchase price $1,315,000 · rate 6.00% · term 30 years. This table follows the price, rate and term entered above.
Swipe to compare the loan and repayment →
| Deposit | Cash needed | Loan amount | Monthly repayment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5% deposit | $65,750 | $1,249,250 | $7,490 |
| 10% deposit | $131,500 | $1,183,500 | $7,096 |
| 20% deposit | $263,000 | $1,052,000 | $6,307 |
Cash needed here means the deposit only. Fees, duty and any lenders mortgage insurance are excluded. A smaller deposit scenario does not establish loan or scheme eligibility.
Compare the price points across your shortlist. Each suburb has a different mix of homes and streets, so compare similar properties as well as suburb medians.
Swipe to compare every column →
| Suburb | House median | Unit median | House sales · 12mo | Unit sales · 12mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collingwood · this guide | $1,315,000 | $625,000 | 56 | 214 |
| Fitzroy | $1,510,000 | $810,000 | 96 | 134 |
| Richmond | $1,350,000 | Not available | 319 | 472 |
| Carlton | Not available | $330,000 | 71 | 391 |
| Melbourne CBD | Not available | Not available | 16 | 1,211 |
Market snapshot: 30 September 2026. These comparisons use each suburb’s own snapshot figures. The period covered by the price medians is not available. “Not available” does not mean zero.
A useful location is one that suits your routine. Start with these local anchors, then check the journey from the exact front door.
Shared Fitzroy–Collingwood shopping and nightlife strip with tram route 86.
Official local information ↗Pocket park with lawn, seating and a drinking fountain at 12 Peel Street.
Official local information ↗A local planning corridor connecting Smith Street through Collingwood and Abbotsford towards the river.
Official local information ↗Local college on Cromwell Street with primary and secondary learning pathways. Confirm which campus serves the relevant year level.
Nearby primary school in Fitzroy, with listed addresses on George and Napier streets. Check admission arrangements and the crossing route from Collingwood.
Collingwood's western side relates strongly to the Smith Street tram corridor, while the Johnston Street area introduces a different set of east–west journeys. That makes the exact property entrance more useful than a general promise of inner-city convenience. Council's local precinct information provides context, and Transport Victoria's current planner should supply the service and connection details for your destination. If a rail station is part of the appeal, map its actual entrance and walking route; a familiar station name is not a substitute for checking where it sits relative to the home. Test the school run separately, including crossings of the larger streets and the correct campus entrance. For a converted building, also look at bicycle storage, stairs and shared access before assuming an easy cycling routine. Finally, repeat the walk when surrounding shops and venues are active, so the assessment reflects the conditions in which you would normally travel.[1][6][10][11][12]
Enter the exact Collingwood address and select the intended enrolment year.
Use these questions during inspections and when reviewing the property documents.
Ask for the documentation relevant to the home's approved use and substantial work. Have an appropriate inspector assess the structure and condition, especially where the appearance depends on retained older fabric. Check whether mezzanines, enclosed rooms or altered windows form part of the approved layout. An appealing industrial aesthetic is not a substitute for understanding the building.[7]
Stand where you would cook, work and sleep, and check whether the room shapes support those uses. Look for storage rather than only open floor area. Consider how sound would travel through an open plan or between levels. A large-looking space can still offer limited privacy when two people need to do different things.[2]
Walk from the street to the dwelling and inspect stairs, lifts, shared corridors, bins and bicycle storage. Ask how repairs and access are coordinated among occupiers. In an adapted building, entrances and services may deserve particularly close attention. Have your adviser clarify the legal arrangements rather than inferring private rights from the way a space is currently used.[7]
Visit outside the scheduled inspection to observe nearby hospitality, deliveries and traffic. Inspect the bedroom's position relative to those uses and to building services. A small change in floor, orientation or entrance can alter the experience considerably. Use what you observe about the property, without extending it into unsupported conclusions about an entire street or suburb.[1]
Have relevant title and site-history questions reviewed, and check current planning information for adjoining land. If parking is essential, inspect the actual bay or garage and verify its arrangement. Use council's eligibility check if you expect to rely on a street permit. Treat convenient-looking access and a legal right to use it as separate matters.[8][9][6]
Have your conveyancer or solicitor review the contract and Section 32, and arrange the inspections that suit the property. Check planning controls, title, easements, hazards, insurance and any owners corporation obligations before committing.
Use the market snapshot, recent sales and deposit and repayment calculations together to explore your budget. The snapshot is dated 30 September 2026, and the sales list was compiled on 7 October 2026. The list is a partial sample, with houses, units, apartments and townhouses identified separately.
The period covered by the price and rent medians is not available; only the sales totals cover 12 months. Sales are included only where the suburb and residential property type are clear. Some figures are unavailable and may be revised. Use these figures as a starting point for comparison, not a property valuation.
Deposit = purchase price × deposit percentage. Loan = purchase price − deposit. Monthly repayment uses the standard principal-and-interest formula at the entered annual rate divided by 12, over the entered term in months. The rate is assumed constant. Calculations exclude fees, duty, lenders mortgage insurance, offsets and extra repayments. A zero interest rate divides principal equally across the entered months.
Local commentary reviewed 8 October 2026. Sources support the place history and local features discussed above. Property checks are practical questions to investigate at the specific address.
David Warburton combines banking experience with mortgage broking and a broad lender panel. The goal is to separate what the suburb data says from what the valuation, contract and lender policy say about the exact property.
