St Helena Place

St Helena Place, which launched in February, is a boutique residential community in Melbourne’s north east. Those who know the suburb of St Helena consider it a true hidden gem, characterised by green space, access to numerous excellent schools, transport and the established amenities of large surrounding suburbs.

But for many, St Helena will be an unfamiliar name – that’s the nature of hidden gems. In this article we take a closer look at the pocket-sized suburb and find out what makes it special.

St Helena Place is a project developed by Far East Organization and managed by Satterley Property Group. Released over four stages, the development features more than 240 lots with a wide range of elegant 2 to 3-bedroom townhomes to 3 to 4-bedroom luxury family homes in three internal colour schemes.

Satterley’s Senior Development Manager, Kat Klau, refers to the development as an “exclusive enclave” surrounded by Greensborough (with which it shares a postcode), North Eltham and Diamond Creek.

It’s not just an extension of the larger suburbs, however; St Helena has a personality and style all its own. The suburb today is a collection of mostly small cul-de-sacs and crescents, leafy neighbourhoods all within walking distance of parks, playgrounds and ovals.

On St Helena Place retaining its green character but provide something new and perhaps overdue in the area, Kat says, “It’s a beautiful site with lots of trees and open space. In a standard [residential] project, we’re required to dedicate five percent of the area to greens space. In the case of St Helena Place, we’re close to 20 percent. There are a thousand trees across what is a relatively small site and many of them have been retained in the masterplan.

“There are a lot of people in Greensborough and Eltham who are interested in St Helena, but until we launched St Helena Place, they have very little to choose from. Only about 30 properties go on the market in this part of the world each year. And these are mostly homes built thirty or forty years ago.”

In other words, St Helena is extremely tightly held – and it’s no wonder.

In addition to the outdoor spaces, there are literally dozens of education options within easy reach. Greenhills Primary School is a short walk away and St Helena Secondary College is very close (within cycling distance for older kids). Both schools’ zones will cover all of St Helena Place. There are also other state schools, Catholic schools, special schools and preschools just a short drive away. Melbourne Polytechnic’s Greensborough campus is very close, and the Bundoora campuses of La Trobe University and RMIT are only slightly further away.

Residents will be able to walk to the closest bus stop, and have access to five railway stations within five kilometres. St Helena Market Place is the closest supermarket, and Greensborough Plaza is a five-minute drive, offering well over 150 shops, restaurants, fresh food and a food court. A short drive takes you to Eltham Village.

The nearby Anthony Beale Reserve comprises two sport ovals, a playground and remnant bushland.

Watermarc in Greensborough is a multi-activity aquatic and fitness centre. Not far away is the Plenty River Gorge – a favourite for Melbourne kayakers and mountain bikers.

Kat says that St Helena Place is a distinctive community set within a unique suburb.

“It’s a very rare project. You won’t find anything like St Helena Place anywhere else.”