Gardiner

Reference

current

Published: March 2026

Last updated: 08 March 2026

The vision for Gardiner

The following vision for the Gardiner train and tram zone activity centre is built from the Statement of Advice prepared by a Community Reference Group (CRG) made up of local residents.

Gardiner’s recent improvements – including excellent train and tram access – will continue to shape its growth.

More well‑designed homes will help support a diverse and inclusive neighbourhood for both new and long‑term residents.

Concentrate growth near Gardiner Station with taller buildings that are design-led and strongly value the existing character.

Gardiner community member

What we understand about place and how we’ve addressed it

Community members in Gardiner value the centre’s role as a mixed‑use community hub.

The Community Reference Group highlighted the presence of the existing high density residential and mixed‑use buildings adjacent to the Gardiner Station.

They support an increase in density to contribute to greater activation of the spaces. For this reason, we have applied a Non‑Heritage Main Street Core Typology along Burke Road and a Limited Sensitivities Typology along Malvern and Glenarm Road.

We heard that the community is generally supportive of concentrating high density housing in clearly defined core precincts near Gardiner Station and along the Burke/Malvern Road Corridor.

Tooronga to Holmesglen core and catchment map

A graphical representation of the scale of density within activity centre areas. — Scale of density from core to the outer catchment

Core	Inner catchment	Outer catchment
Various heights between six and 16 storeys in most centres, with potential for taller heights in some places in the larger centres	Up to four storeys, and up to six storeys on blocks larger than 1000m2	Up to three storeys, and up to four storeys on blocks larger than 1000m2

Gardiner core and catchment explained

The outer catchment instead of inner catchment is applied in response to its scale and size as a ‘neighbourhood activity centre’ in Plan for Victoria.

The core is the central part of the train and tram zone activity centre, closest to public transport, jobs and services. This area is best suited to accommodate more homes.

The catchment is the surrounding area within approximately 10 minutes’ walk of the core (around 800 metres).

As you move away from the commercial and community core of the train and tram zone activity centre, we expect that the building heights will gradually decrease. This will allow a transition between the activity centre and the surrounding suburb.

In Gardiner, the innter cathcment responds to the train station and the 72 Tram (Melbourne University to Camberwell).

What we are doing for your community

In response to feedback, we've:

applied landscape setbacks to preserve the existing streetscape and ensure good tree canopy coverage adjacent to residential interfaces
applied active frontages to Malvern Road and Burke Road to enhance the character of the precinct
applied heights of 12 storeys on larger sites capable of supporting substantial development.

Refer to the following plans:

Plan 5: Gardiner typology, activation and setbacks
Plan 6: Gardiner building heights and sun protection

Plans

The built form outcomes and building heights for the activity centre core are set out on the following plans:

Plan 5 (above): Gardiner typology, activation and setbacks (Note: Typology refers to a building type that is suitable for a particular set of lot types and locations. Street activation requires new buildings to provide open and inviting shopfronts to encourage lively and safe streets. A setback is the minimum distance a building must be placed away from a property boundary, road, or natural feature.)

Plan 6 (above): Gardiner building heights and sun protection

The plans support the right types of homes being built in the places they fit best. These are some of the kinds of homes you might see more of in the future.