Caulfield to Bentleigh and Elsternwick

More homes and more opportunities.

Planning for thriving communities

Elsternwick Station is on the Sandringham line, where eight trains per hour run during peak times. Caulfield, Glen Huntly, Ormond and Bentleigh stations are on the Frankston train line, where level crossing removals have been completed.

These suburbs are loved for their attractive, family friendly shopping strips, tree-lined streets, diverse housing and access to quality retail, hospitality and healthcare services.

Located along prime shopping strips, these stations also provide easy connections to the CBD and beyond, linking students to their schools, professionals to their workplaces, and residents to their families and friends.

Each area sits within an already established’ suburban area, with parks, shops, schools, and healthcare services are all within easy reach. These qualities make the neighbourhoods convenient and highly liveable.

Planning for more homes in these areas is about creating opportunities for downsizers, young people, and families to stay in the communities they love.

What we heard

Council and community feedback focused on protecting heritage areas such as parts of the Gascoigne Estate, ensuring appropriate building heights that are sensitive to the local area, supporting infrastructure capacity for growth, and preserving green open spaces and sunlight access.

What we're proposing

  • Protecting local heritage by applying an outer catchment (instead of inner catchment) to part of the Gascoigne Estate in Caulfield. In the core, we propose planning controls that recognise the presence of existing heritage buildings in areas such as Centre Road in Bentleigh.
  • Reducing inner catchment boundaries in Ormond and Bentleigh to reflect lower accessibility and walkability in these areas. We’re also proposing to exclude Ripponlea Estate from the Elsternwick catchment area, recognising its value on the Victorian Heritage Register.
  • Investing in local infrastructure to support growth, including opportunities for local infrastructure improvements such as potential streetscape upgrades along Glen Huntly and North roads.
  • Protecting existing open space and increasing tree canopy cover by applying solar protection to key open spaces such as Booran Reserve. This will ensure that key parks and open spaces continue to receive sunlight.

Caulfield to Bentleigh train and tram zone activity centres factsheet

Learn more about the proposed building heights, core and catchment boundaries and potential opportunities to improve the Caulfield to Bentleigh train and tram zone activity centres.

Download factsheet

Elsternwick tram zone activity centre factsheet

Learn more about the proposed building heights, core and catchment boundaries and potential opportunities to improve the Elsternwick train and tram zone activity centre.

Download factsheet

Proposed height and boundary maps

The maps below shows the proposed core and catchment boundaries of the Caulfield to Bentleigh and Elsternwick train and tram zone activity centres. It also highlights key transport connections, open spaces and heritage overlays.

- Caulfield to Bentleigh catchment map

- Elsternwick catchment map

How your feedback has helped shape our planning

We heard from the Caulfield, Glen Huntly, Ormond, Bentleigh and Elsternwick communities through two rounds of consultation and a Community Reference Group (CRG) made up of local residents - your feedback has helped to shape our planning.

Find out more by clicking the accordions below.

You can also view the Phase 1 consultation summary reports for these centres:

Download phase 1 consultation summary report for Caulfield to Bentleigh to Elsternwick

We'll publish the Phase 2 consulation summary report soon.

  • The community told us how much they value Caulfield’s heritage. Existing heritage overlays and local heritage policies will remain in place, ensuring the ongoing protection of places such as the beloved Gascoigne Estate.
  • There was also a preference for accommodating heights of up to 20 storeys in the core near Caulfield Station, the racetrack and the plaza. That’s why we’re proposing to focus heights along Dandenong Road.
  • We also heard the importance of supporting vibrant pedestrian areas and further enhancing the amenity of streets and public spaces. This is why we propose to apply a mix of landscape setbacks, pedestrian links and active frontages.

  • We heard from the community how much they value parks and open spaces such as Booran Reserve. That’s why we’re proposing to apply high protection to open spaces. This will ensure future development maintains sufficient sun access, allowing the community to continue to enjoy these highly valued spaces.
  • We also heard the importance of concentrating density along Glen Huntly Road, at key intersections and close to the train station. That’s why we’re proposing to focus greater heights in these locations.

  • The community raised the importance of revitalising North Road by encouraging more attractive businesses and concentrating density. That’s why we’re proposing heights of 10 to 12 storeys to accommodate more people in this well‑serviced area.
  • We also propose to apply primary active frontages and landscape setbacks to parts of North Road. Primary active frontages are ground floors of buildings that use features such as large windows, cafes and shop to create lively and safe environments.

  • The community told us how much they value Centre Road for pedestrian activity and outdoor dining. That’s why we’re proposing moderate sun access protection for this street, as well as parts of Daley Street, Vickery Street and Nicholson Street. These proposed controls will help ensure these streets remain sunny places where people like to spend time.
  • Protecting sun access to parks is a high priority for the community. That’s why we’re proposing sun access protection to Bentleigh Reserve. This will help to reduce future overshadowing impacts.

  • Glen Eira City Council consulted with the community on the Elsternwick Structure Plan 2023, which was developed to manage growth in the activity centre core. The plan was previously exhibited and generally aligns with the Victorian Government’s planning policy for activity centres and built form outcomes.
  • We heard from the community how much they value existing heritage areas and local character. This is why we’re not proposing to apply any catchment to the cherished Rippon Lea Estate, a Victorian Heritage Register site.
  • We’re also proposing to apply outer catchment instead of inner catchment to some Heritage Overlay areas in Elsternwick, helping to protect its established local character.
  • We heard the importance of an appropriate height transition between inner and outer catchment areas, specifically suggested maximum heights of up to three storeys, and four to six storeys respectively to the residential parts of Elsternwick. That’s why we’re proposing inner catchment to the areas near Glen Huntly Road and the train station and tram line.
  • Outer catchment is proposed beyond the inner catchment area to reflect the residential nature of these areas, to soften the transition between core to catchment.

Infrastructure investment

The quality of the places we live in affects all aspects of our lives – how we live and work, connect with others and get around.

There has already been significant investment in the Caulfield to Bentleigh and Elsternwick areas. We know that there will be greater demand for services and infrastructure like public transport and open spaces as more people move in, with improvements needed to support the growing population.

Our proposed infrastructure contributions plans intend to require developers to pay a standardised contribution of $11,350 for each new home, or equivalent charge for an office or similar building they deliver, which will be used to invest in improvements to infrastructure and facilities for the local community.

Opportunities to improve Caulfield to Bentleigh and Elsternwick

The maps below show some of the opportunities to make this community an even better place to live, work and get around in the long-term, as well as the benefits for you.

- Caulfield infrastructure improvement opportunities

NOTE: This map indicates potential opportunities for future infrastructure delivery and does not present specific projects.

- Elsternwick infrastructure improvement opportunities

NOTE: This map indicates potential opportunities for future infrastructure delivery and does not present specific projects.

Traditional Owners

The Caulfield to Bentleigh and Elsternwick activity centres are located on the lands of the Bunurong People and Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung People, and we acknowledge them as Traditional Owners.

We pay our respects to Elders past and present, whose knowledge and wisdom have ensured the continuation of spiritual and cultural practices.

Learn more

About the program

We’re planning for more homes across Melbourne so more Victorians can access homes in the places they want to live.

How we're planning

Train and tram zone activity centre plans encourage more homes to be built in the places they fit best.

Stage 2: Expansion program

Learn about the 23 train and tram zone activity centres and consultation program for Stage 2 of the Train and Tram Zone Activity Centres Program.