Parkville at a glance.
- Postcode: 3052 (Uni of Melbourne also uses 3010) | LGA: City of Melbourne & City of Merri-bek | Distance to CBD: ~3 km north
- Character: Heritage terraces (esp. South Parkville), biomedical & university precinct, vast parklands (Royal Park)
Livability.
- Green space, city speed: Live beside Royal Park yet be in the CBD, hospitals or campus within minutes.
- Education & employment gravity: University of Melbourne, the Parkville biomedical precinct and major hospitals drive year-round demand.
- Leafy heritage streets: South Parkville’s intact Victorian avenues and boulevards are among inner Melbourne’s most coveted.
Property & streetscape.
Expect a mix of double- and single-fronted Victorian terraces, period cottages and mansion rows around Royal Parade, Park Drive and Gatehouse Street, plus apartments and student housing near campus and the hospitals. West of the park you’ll find the Parkville Gardens community (the former 2006 Commonwealth Games Athletes’ Village), with townhomes and modern apartments in a park-side setting.
Lifestyle & amenities.
- Royal Park (≈170 ha): Melbourne’s largest inner-city park—bushland walks, ovals, golf, and extensive bike paths.
- Melbourne Zoo: A family staple inside Royal Park.
- State Netball & Hockey Centre (Melbourne Sports Centres – Parkville): Major indoor courts and hockey facilities after a recent redevelopment.
- Culture & history: The Burke & Wills expedition departed Royal Park in 1860—marked by a memorial cairn.
Getting around.
- Metro (new): Parkville Station on Grattan St connects directly to hospitals and campus (Metro Tunnel opening in 2025).
- Trams: Route 19 along Royal Parade; Routes 58 & 59 along Flemington Rd serving the hospital precinct and Zoo.
- Train (Upfield line): Royal Park and Flemington Bridge stations on the suburb’s western/southern edges.
- Bike: Parkville is criss-crossed by protected lanes and shared paths through Royal Park.
Schools & zoning.
The University High School (Years 7–12) in Parkville is a major drawcard; primary options include nearby inner-north schools. Always verify the current zone via the Victorian Find My School tool.
Neighbouring pockets.
- South Parkville: Between Gatehouse St, Royal Parade and Flemington Rd—an almost intact triangle of late-Victorian houses, famed for iron-lace balconies and plane-tree boulevards around Park Drive.
- North Parkville: Around Royal Parade & The Avenue—grand terraces, institutional holdings and mid-late 20th-century apartments close to campus.
- West Parkville: Across (and within) Royal Park—more varied street pattern and the Parkville Gardens redevelopment, plus Zoo and sports precincts.
Additional resources.
- Why we love Parkville — City of Melbourne
- Royal Park — City of Melbourne
- Melbourne Zoo — official site
- Metro Tunnel: Parkville Station — overview
- Royal Melbourne Hospital — getting here
- Royal Children’s Hospital — getting here
- State Netball & Hockey Centre (Melbourne Sports Centres – Parkville)
- Parkville Gardens — Development Victoria
- The University High School — official site | Find My School (zones)
- Parkville — Wikipedia