Ellerslie

By ROBYN WELSH

A pro-active business association and a cafe strip that is attracting lunchtime diners from the Central Park Business Centre combine to add an upbeat flavour to Ellerslie.

With its shopping centre on the Main Highway, Ellerslie is attracting the attention of young well-heeled home buyers who have been encouraged to move here on the recommendation of friends and family living in the area.

The appeal of the revitalised shopping area is strong with workers in the area who might otherwise have overlooked the suburb, which is two minutes' drive from the Southern Motorway.

Ellerslie's central location, only 10 minutes from the CBD, is a big factor in the drift of buyers moving from the Eastern Suburbs to the area, which includes sought-after Ellerslie Heights near Ladies Mile.

First-time home buyers can expect to pay between $270,000 and $280,000 for a three-bedroom home, while homes at the top end of the market reach between $500,000 to $600,000, with some exceptions beyond the $800,000 mark.

Homes generally sell quickly here: "from 24 hours to four weeks," according to one sales agent. Land is at a premium, too, with a recent tender of a three-unit property attracting the attention of more than a dozen developers.