From Sandridge’s muddy shore to prime bayfront living

Port Melbourne has one of Melbourne’s richest histories.

Originally known as Sandridge, this area was once a muddy, windswept bay frontage that served as the main landing point for new arrivals during Victoria’s gold rush. Immigrants poured off ships at Station Pier and Princes Pier, then trudged along planks and up to Melbourne’s fledgling city streets to try their luck in the goldfields.

Over time, Sandridge was renamed Port Melbourne, becoming a major working port town with rail lines, cargo sheds and vast piers. It was gritty, functional, and deeply tied to shipping and industry.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, Port Melbourne underwent dramatic gentrification. Old wharf warehouses were converted into luxury apartments, new medium-density developments sprang up around Bay Street, and what was once a hard-working industrial suburb became one of Melbourne’s most desirable places to live. Today it’s a sought-after mix of heritage cottages, modern townhouses, converted warehouses and high-end waterfront apartment towers — all just a few kilometres from the CBD.

Why buying or selling in Port Melbourne needs more than a basic contract check

Because of its unique mix of old port infrastructure, reclaimed industrial land and tightly controlled coastal planning, Port Melbourne presents conveyancing risks that many standard practitioners don’t look for carefully enough.

We routinely check for issues such as:

• Heritage Overlays, which cover many streets of single-fronted Victorian cottages and early Federation terraces. These overlays heavily restrict external alterations and demolitions.

• Environmental considerations, with old industrial or port uses sometimes leaving lingering contamination risks. Certain sites require thorough checks of EPA databases and historical land use.

• Owners Corporation complexities, especially in the many newer developments and converted warehouse apartment blocks. Underfunded maintenance funds or pending special levies can be easily missed in rushed reviews.

• Drainage easements and older service lanes, typical of the original small lots laid out in the 1800s.

• Coastal planning controls, which limit height and density close to the foreshore, and also impose stricter requirements on building materials and stormwater management.

• VicTrack or Port of Melbourne land proximity, where titles might carry rights or restrictions tied to transport corridors or legacy port operations.

Why buyers and sellers in Port Melbourne trust us

Joanne and I have acted for clients buying and selling in Port Melbourne for over 25 years.

We’ve handled everything from classic cottages on Rouse Street needing careful heritage review, to multi-lot townhouse projects around Graham Street that had tricky easements, to waterfront apartments with Owners Corporations that didn’t adequately disclose future major works.

We know exactly how to check for:

• Overlays and restrictive covenants that might derail your renovation or redevelopment plans.

• Special Owners Corporation rules or underfunded sinking funds that could hit buyers with unexpected costs.

• Old service easements or drainage lines that block extensions or even new fencing.

These aren’t rare in Port Melbourne — they’re common, and it’s why a careful contract and Section 32 review makes all the difference.

Selling in Port Melbourne?

If you’re selling a property in Port Melbourne, we’ll prepare your Section 32 Vendor Statement properly.

That means:

• Running overlay and zoning checks so heritage or coastal restrictions are clearly disclosed.

• Verifying all Owners Corporation documents if you’re selling an apartment or townhouse, to ensure there are no surprises around fees or special levies.

• Confirming old drainage easements or rights of way, so buyers can’t use them to negotiate down or pull out later.

We also carefully review your contract conditions and structure your Section 27 early deposit release correctly — so buyers can’t unfairly withhold funds on technical technicalities.

Talk to conveyancers who understand Port Melbourne’s real property risks

Whether you’re buying a historic cottage, a converted warehouse apartment or a brand new waterfront unit, you need a conveyancer who knows exactly how Port Melbourne’s planning overlays, old industrial titles and complex Owners Corporation issues work.

We’ve been trusted by buyers and sellers across Port Melbourne and Melbourne’s bayside for over 25 years.

Let us guide you through your purchase or sale with local insight and professional care.

Victorian Property Settlements – Trusted for over 25 years by Port Melbourne buyers and sellers.
Visit: www.victorianpropertysettlements.com.au

Port Melbourne Snapshot

Population: 17,633 (2021 Census)

Median House Price: $1,560,000

Median Unit Price: $795,000

Median Weekly Rent (Houses): $850

Median Weekly Rent (Units): $620

Median Age: 39 years

Household Size: 2.2 people per household