By Taylah Eastwell
It’s an exciting time for Lilydale and surrounds, with Melbourne’s newest suburb, Kinley, developing right on our doorsteps.
Situated between Hull Road and Maroondah Highway, the old farm land surrounding Cave Hill Quarry is expected to be filled with 3,200 houses and an estimated 8,000 residents by 2041.
It is estimated approximately 15% of the land will be dedicated to public open spaces, including around 17-acres of regional active open space reserves that will offer new sporting ovals, playing courts and other facilities for the wider region.
The 9-million-cubic-metre hole left by the quarry will be filled in gradually over a period of 12 years to transform it into a walkable, transit-oriented community with a new village centre at its core.
Developed by Intrapac Property, the “jewel” in Kinley’s crown is set to be a central urban precinct which includes alfresco dining, seating, gardens and a civic plaza that provides a central outdoor meeting and event space.
The project will also see the adaptive reuse of the site’s heritage-listed silos and kilns, which will be reimagined as the Heritage Quarter, with the potential to be a creative industries hub and food & beverage destination.
Two late 1800’s farm buildings on the site, once a dairy and a bacon curing house, are also to be reimagined and potentially used for hospitality or community uses.
Intrapac Property COO, Max Shifman.said the company is finding that purchasers are seeing Kinley as “great value”.
“Access to a modern development, with a range of amenities and open space, the location within an established residential area, and the associated cost savings that come with lower stamp duty for new homes and land all contribute,” Mr Shifman said.
The booming Melbourne housing market was reflected when Kinley announced its third release of housing lots in late March 2021. Using a first-in-first-served online booking system, 35 appointments were made in minutes and the 33 lots available are said to have sold out that same weekend.
Kinley sales records indicate a broad demographic of homebuyers will soon form part of the local community, including couples, young families, and downsizers, with the majority of purchasers being drawn from our surrounding areas.
A new train station for Kinley, which will be situated between the existing Mooroolbark and Lilydale lines, is yet to be confirmed.
