Victoria Property Spotlight
Melton property and home loan guide
Melton is the administrative centre of the City of Melton, about 37 km west of Melbourne's CBD on the Western Highway. The suburb itself is established and fairly stable, with 7,953 people in the 2021 Census, while new estates are growing fast around it. Houses make up 83.3% of homes and 34.4% are rented. Time Home Loans is based in Brisbane and works with Melton buyers by phone and video. Here townhouses, investment purchases and new builds nearby shape most loan questions.
Information last updated 3 November 2026
Market snapshot
| Houses | Units | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share of homes | 83.3% separate houses, 16.5% terraces and townhouses | 0.1% flats and apartments | ABS Census 2021 (Melton (Vic.)) |
In the 2021 Census, 62.1% of Melton homes were owned outright or with a mortgage and 34.4% were rented. The median weekly rent across all homes was $300 (ABS). Rents by bedroom aren't shown for this area. Sale prices will be added once licensed figures are available.
Figures are a guide only and change over time. Past movements in values and rents don't predict future results.
Living in Melton
Squatters set up sheep runs in the area in the 1830s and a small settlement grew from gold rush traffic heading to Ballarat. The post office opened on 1 March 1856. Melton was incorporated as a district on 16 September 1862 and became a shire on 24 May 1871.
The Melton Views Estate, the first of the larger housing estates, was developed in 1964 and Melton was named a satellite city of Melbourne in 1974. The City of Melton gained city status in 2012. It is forecast to grow by more than 250,000 people by 2051, mostly in suburbs around Melton itself.
Transport
- Melton station is in neighbouring Melton South, with trains to Southern Cross. Longer nine-carriage V/Line trains are planned for the line from 2027.
- The Melton Bus Interchange on Palmerston Street is the main local bus hub.
- The Western Highway is the main road to Melbourne and the Melton Highway links to the Calder Highway.
- In the 2021 Census 1.4% of working residents took the train to work.
- Plan trips on the PTV journey planner.
Schools
Melton Primary School and St Dominic's Catholic Primary School are in the suburb, with more primary schools in Melton West, Melton South, Kurunjang and Toolern Vale. Secondary options nearby include Melton Secondary College, Kurunjang Secondary College, Staughton College, Saint Francis Catholic College and Melton Christian College.
Government school zones change, so check findmyschool.vic.gov.au for any address before you buy.
Shopping and dining
High Street is the main activity centre, surrounded by the Melton Town Centre. Woodgrove Shopping Centre and Central Walk Shopping Centre are the larger shopping centres.
Parks and recreation
- Melton Botanic Garden.
- Melton Valley Golf Club on Melton Valley Drive.
- Mount Cottrell, an old volcano, lies to the south-east and Mount Kororoit to the north-east.
- The Djerriwarrh Festival is held each November.
Lifestyle
Melton suits people who want a house with a yard at a distance from the city, with a town centre of its own. The median age was 40 in 2021. The Department of Transport lists Melton among Greater Melbourne's most car-dependent communities, so most households drive. The library and learning hub on High Street has a theatre and recording studio.
Melton
Did you know?
Click Go the Shears
The bush ballad "Click Go the Shears" was first published in 1891 in a local newspaper, credited to "C.C. of Eynesbury".
Source: Wikipedia: City of Melton
A satellite city
Melton was named a satellite city of Melbourne in 1974. The Melton Views Estate had opened ten years earlier in 1964 as the first of the larger housing estates.
Source: Wikipedia: Melton, Victoria
A green library
The Melton Library and Learning Hub was the first library in Australia to receive a 5 Star Green Star rating. It also has a theatre and recording studio.
Source: Wikipedia: Melton, Victoria
A post office from 1856
Melton's post office opened on 1 March 1856, when the settlement served traffic heading to the Ballarat goldfields.
Source: Wikipedia: Melton, Victoria
Property types
Melton's housing is mostly established houses with a solid share of townhouses and units.
- Houses make up 83.3% of homes.
- Townhouses, villa units and semi-detached homes make up 16.5%.
- Flats and apartments are rare at 0.1%.
- Size: 21.1% of homes have four or more bedrooms and 1.7% have one.
Check VicPlan for flood, bushfire and other overlays before you buy.
What lenders look at in Melton
Melton is an established house and townhouse market with new estates growing around it. Here's what tends to come up with lenders.
Townhouses and villa units
Townhouses and semi-detached homes make up 16.5% of Melton homes. One LMI provider's public guidelines need at least 30 m2 of living area for units, not counting balconies and car spaces. Read the owners corporation records before you sign.
House and land in nearby estates
Much of the City of Melton's growth is in new estates. Construction loans pay out in stages and need a fixed-price building contract and approved plans. Land settlement and build timing both matter.
Investment purchases
In 2021, 34.4% of Melton homes were rented. Lenders assess rental income at a discount and look at your other debts. Some apply different policy to investment loans.
Bushfire and climate overlays
Council has noted bushfire risk and extreme weather on the urban fringe. Blocks under a Bushfire Management Overlay can cost more to build on and insure. Check VicPlan for the address.
Postcode 3337
Melton's postcode isn't on one LMI provider's lists of excluded or single-industry postcodes.
Lender and LMI policies differ between lenders and change often. This is a general guide based on public lender and LMI information checked 3 November 2026. We can check current policy for the property you're looking at before you apply.
Buying in Melton
In Melton the property type and the purpose of the purchase shape most loans. Townhouses and villa units need owners corporation checks and many buyers here are investors. If you're also looking at a house and land package nearby, the construction loan process is different again.
First home buyers
Melton's townhouses and villa units give first home buyers a way into an established suburb. Check the floor area, the title and the owners corporation records early.
Get pre-approval first. Victorian duty concessions and grants follow state rules, including some for new homes. See our first home buyer page for current schemes and our guarantor guide if family may help.
Upgraders
Many Melton buyers are moving into a bigger house, either an established home or a new build in a nearby estate. If you're buying before you sell, ask about bridging finance early. For a new build, talk to us before you sign with a builder.
Deposit and costs
On top of your deposit, allow for:
- stamp duty (transfer duty) under Victoria rules, with concessions for some first home buyers (see the State Revenue Office Victoria)
- conveyancing and legal fees
- building and pest inspections
- strata or body corporate searches for units and townhouses
- lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) if you borrow more than 80% of the property's value
Our calculators give you a starting figure. Stamp duty rules differ between states, so check the Victoria rules for your purchase.
Investing in Melton
In 2021, 34.4% of Melton homes were rented and the median weekly rent was $300. Owners corporation fees, land tax and vacancy all affect the numbers. See our investing page for how investment loans work.
Lender considerations
Lenders look at your income, the property type and whether you'll live in it or rent it out. Townhouses, villa units and new builds each come with their own checks. Time Home Loans works with Melton buyers from Brisbane by phone and video.
Thinking about buying in Melton?
Talk it through with a Brisbane broker before you sign a contract. We can check the property you're looking at against lender policy.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of homes are in Melton?
Mostly houses. In the 2021 Census 83.3% of homes were separate houses and 16.5% were townhouses, villa units or semi-detached.
Is there a train station in Melton?
Melton station is in neighbouring Melton South, with trains to Southern Cross.
Is Melton the same as the City of Melton?
No. Melton is one suburb in the City of Melton. The council area also covers fast-growing suburbs such as Aintree, Caroline Springs and Cobblebank.
How do I check school zones in Melton?
Use findmyschool.vic.gov.au. Zones are set by address and can change.
Can a Brisbane mortgage broker help me buy in Melton?
Yes. Time Home Loans is based in Brisbane and works with clients across Australia by phone and video. We don't have an office in Melton. Lender policy is national, so the same lenders and products are available. Stamp duty, first home buyer concessions and grants follow Victorian rules. In most cases there's no broker fee to pay. Time Home Loans is paid by commission from the lender.
What costs should I budget for on top of the deposit?
Victorian land transfer duty (often called stamp duty), conveyancing, building and pest inspections and lenders mortgage insurance if you borrow more than 80% of the value. The calculators on our site give you a starting figure.
Nearby suburbs
General information only. This page provides general information and doesn't take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether it's appropriate for you and seek advice before making a decision. Market figures are a guide only and change over time. Past movements in values and rents don't predict future results.
Time Home Loans Pty Ltd ACN 161 695 012, Credit Representative 529395 is authorised under Australian Credit Licence 384324.