Hi everyone
We're been given notice to move out of our awesome (and very low priced) rental in Brighton east.
I work in the CBD and the current commute is a 12 minute walk to North Brighton and then train.
We're looking to move somewhere a bit bigger and although we'll buy in around 18 months when the economy has fallen away, we'd like to live somewhere that we could buy to suss it out. We can't afford to buy in Brighton....
So we're thinking of Parkdale. Reasonable train line and possible to live close to both beach and station. Mentone was another option but the train is actually worse there (despite being closer) because of the way the Frankston line works.
What is Parkdale like as a place? Anyone live there?
Any other ideas or suggestions...
Cheers
Stu
G'day Stu,
I live in Mordialloc and commute to the city every day as well.
Mordi is a little more of a town than Parkdale with more stores.
If you catch the train, Mordi is a larger station where all express trains stop. The express train should have you walking into your office in around 45 min.
Trains (to be fair, the people on trains) piss me off so I ride a motorbike to CBD every day. It's around 30 mins on the bike.
Lots of schools and day cares if you have kids.
We're waiting for the housing prices to fall and that was our primary reason for moving from Elwood to Mordi. Our location is great, 5 min walk to train, little more to shops and a little more to beach!
Our boundry is Chelsea, I think that'll about as far out of town as I'd like.
I hope this helps!
Parkdale is the next stop after Mordi but dosen't have the express trains stopping all the time (as far as I know)
I agree with the distance from the beach, we're only 10 min walk to the beach but it's too far to walk your kit unless you make one of those bute trailer thingys you hitch to your pushie. wouldn't rig the sail for obvious reasons. 
Let us know how you go.
GP I lived on Beach road in Mordi for 2 years and only carried my rigged kit across the road once. Trust me it isn't much fun playing chicken holding your board and rig. Good luck with the search and I look forward to the house warming invite.....
I live in Aspendale- highly recommended for very close proximity to train station, Mordialloc and best beach in Kingston. Aspendale is very quiet, safe and green- superb for young families.
Parkdale is a great place too but much busier. I work in Mentone, children go to school in Mentone and Parkdale- commuting from Aspendale is still very comfortable. You can score a good house for approx. $650K.
Good luck!
Parkdale has a very cool little shopping strip with quite a few decent restaurants and cafes. Thai, indian, chinese, italian.
Parkdale has a nice little beachside, ti-tree sort of vibe, even though now it is quite affluent.
I lived in Warragul Rd 300m from the beach and carried my gear down strapped together and supported in a sling from my shoulder (just a couple of tie-downs). It was easier than dicking around with a trolley. I didn't do it all that often. It takes a while to nip down the 200m to the beach, choose the rig, nip back, pack it all up, walk down. etc. It's easier to chuck the gear in the car and drive.
I previously lived in Sandringham opposite the lifesaving club (maybe 150m walk). It was practical there to leave my gear rigged and walk across the Beach Road. There was a park to rest in on the way and we had big sliding gates that I could open with one hand so it was easy.
Proximity to beach didn't help me, compared to the rest of the time spent packing & setting up,etc a few KM on the road isnt much difference.
Personally from Brighton I'd move inland more than down the coast (Bentleigh, Highett, CHeltenham ? I get to see enough beach sailing !) dont know about the cost compared to Parkdale.
Also I reckon for summer evenings your turnaround from work to the beach would be quicker.
I can park at work but if i worked in CBD I'd park up in maybe St Kilda, tram in and out and then take car to the beach
i suppose that the closer to st kilda/elwood the wind is more consistent, than down south toward frankston? Probably not the major reason to sort out where u want to live.
In terms of walking to the beach or driving, I'm not sure whether it would make that much difference given the time it takes to get the van above 10kmh! ... especially if it remains bogged in the sand at Sandy!
I'm in Mordialloc. It's probably better than Parkdale if you are interested in any of the following:
+ pubs/cafes/bars/food in general/food and wine festival - the area is getting better all the time as the local population density increases.
+ playgrounds for whipper snappers
+ pier/harbour/SUP hire/boat hire/surf shop
+ a staffed railway station with bike lockers, more seats on the train than parkdale (surprisingly important consideration if you like to sit down on the train!)
+ recreational bike paths and flat terrain for day to day bike travel
+ a few ?formula boards racing out of the yacht club
+ poms (every third house just about)
+ generally lively streets and civic spaces where many choose to walk rather than drive
Parkdale has a much more sedate/quiet/suburban feel, a good library, more trees (which I'd really like in Mordialloc) and higher ground (if you are concerned about sea level rise). It is also a bit closer to a couple of (average) private schools and arguably has better primary schools than Mordialloc. It has a strong windsurfer one design fleet at the yacht club and used to be a popular spot in sea breezes. I prefer Mordialloc because the waves pitch a little higher over the reef and extended sandbars (south of the pier). Having said that I tend to drive up and down the coast from Bonbeach to Green Point as required to make the most of the wind direction.
I'm not sure if there is a price difference between Mordialloc and Parkdale, but I'd guess they would be of equivalent value though Mordialloc probably has more appeal for many.
I'm pretty sure all trains are stopping all stations from Cheltenham onwards to Frankston, so no difference except Mentone is a couple of min's closer and your abit less likely to score a seat on the morning express service.
I see lots of guys sailing at Parkdale but I havent seen anyone sail at Mordy, too many boats and the pier is right there. I sail at Aspendale and it's a nice beach (nicer than Parkdale and Mordy IMO).
I just wish the council didnt rip up all grassy areas which were good for rigging up.
I've lived in either Beaumaris, Mentone, Mordialloc or Aspendale every year since i was 10. all are great areas and the benefits of one over the other can be debated for hours... if you really have to move, do what i did 3 weeks ago... move to INVERLOCH!!! You wont regret it, just may have to organise something with your job.
