Northcote: Only one side of this 'burb used to be desirable
Northcote’s Separation Street could win a competition for aptly named Melbourne thoroughfares. Cutting the `burb in two and running alongside the much-maligned Northcote Plaza Shopping Centre, it has long been a mental as well as physical divide for prospective buyers (spoiler alert: the south side is seen as more desirable).
Lately, however, the north-facing snobbery has dissipated says Nigel Harry of Jellis Craig Northcote. “People used to say pretty clearly, they were only interested in the city side. There was like a bit of a desirability void around the All Nations park and Northcote Plaza until you got up to Thornbury but that’s certainly not much of a thing anymore,” he says. “It’s been a sleeper pocket, but it’s really woken up now.”
It’s something he witnesses daily, with Jellis Craig setting up their own office in the newly revitalised section of High Street north of Separation, close to the popular Bicycle Thieves cafe. The All Nations Park has settled into its post-landfill life, with trees reaching maturity and kids and dogs gambolling on the lawns, while Northcote Plaza is going from drab to fab, if the plans are to be believed.
The redevelopment includes 6500 square metres of retail space, three levels of basement parking, a public laneway, four residential towers and an office building. There’s no official word, however, on the wild local rumour that it will deliver a third Coles supermarket.
Eat & drink
It’s at the bottom of the hill rather than enjoying views from the top, but that doesn’t stop newcomer Ruckers Hill wine bar serving a neat mix of independent wines and a French-ish food menu with enough great snacks (including the classic combo of a scallop with pancetta and cauliflower puree) to make it a great pitstop before or after a movie at the neighbouring Palace Westgarth. Hankering for Naples-style pizza? Primo nails a great margherita while rocking chic good looks.
See & do
High Street has emerged as a great place to shop for independent clothing labels, including the flagship boutique of Obus, the brightly coloured, edgy womenswear label beloved of inner-city fashionistas (the fab threads are ethically made to boot, which is very Northcote). A visit to the newly opened Northcote Theatre in a landmark Ruckers Hill building is a must. Catch a gig in the 1500-capacity, two-level band room and look out for the pending ground floor bar.
