You can thank the Victorian Gold Rush of the 1850s for Sydney Road becoming Melbourne’s longest continuous shopping strip. As the main arterial connecting the city to the northern reaches of the state, it didn’t take long for businesses to pop up during that time so miners could grab supplies for the trek to Ballarat. Later, the 1920s boom in clothing and textiles arrived on Sydney Road, and is still evident today in the fabric shops, tailors and wedding dress boutiques dotting the strip.

Brunswick and Coburg are some of the city’s best-served areas as far as public transport goes: the Upfield train line includes three stops in Brunswick, and four in and around Coburg. The grid formation of much of the streets here also make it ideal for trams, with trolleys running through Sydney Road, Lygon and Nicholson streets to the east, and Moreland Road to the west. A number of bike paths can also be found around the neighbourhood, with on-road lanes prevalent and off-road trails nearby.

With its mix of renovated Victorian homes, California bungalows and modern apartment developments, Brunswick and Coburg have maintained steady growth over the past five years. In Brunswick the median price ranges from $540,000 for apartments to $1.1 million for houses, and in Coburg it ranges from $527,000 for apartments to $1.075 million for houses. Check out NAB’s Property Report to learn more, then use its handy Home Loan Calculator to find out how much you can borrow. Or, book an appointment here.

Sydney Road is Melbourne’s not-so-secret home of Middle Eastern bakeries. With so many dotting the stretch between Victoria and Bell Streets, it’s hard to know where to begin. The grand dame of them all is the decades-old, family-owned A1 Bakery, which has amassed a cult following for its freshly baked flatbreads and excellent baklava. Also, no trip to the ‘hood is complete without a visit to one of the many Greek, Italian and Middle Eastern grocery stores, where you can pick up imported ingredients to make a feast of your own.