Seaford
On Port Phillip Bay at the start of the Mornington Peninsula, Seaford lies north of the city of Frankston and 36km southeast of Melbourne CBD. It was once the site of the Karrum Karrum Swamp, and the traditional owners are the Boon Wurrung (Bunurong) people of the Kulin nation. Following European settlement in the early 1900s, the swamp was drained for farming, with the Seaford and Edithvale Wetlands today a reminder of the once vast Karrum Karrum.
The suburb was named following a meeting of residents in 1913 including a councillor originally from the town of Sleaford, Lincolnshire in England. Residents decided the name should reference the “sea’ and thus the name Seaford was born. The suburb grew in the 1950s and 1960s due to its proximity to Frankston and the beach. In fact, Seaford has more than 5km of beaches, with the main beach and its pier located a short walk from the train station. The suburb also offers residents and visitors other natural attractions such as Kananook Creek Reserve and Seaford Foreshore Reserve which runs alongside the coastline from Keast Park to Mile Bridge.
Housing in the suburb ranges from traditional Federation and Victorian residences to Californian bungalows, modern freestanding homes, townhouses and apartments. Seaford is widely regarded as among the best Melbourne suburbs to invest in property, with the Kananook Estate south of Seaford Road one of its most desirable residential areas.
Seaford has a good selection of shops, cafes, restaurants and supermarkets, and is just a 10-minute drive to excellent sporting and recreation facilities in Frankston. There are major shopping centres and cinemas, also in Frankston, and at nearby Karingal. It’s close to the Eastlink, Nepean and Frankston Highways for a rapid commute or drive to the city, and well-serviced by bus and rail including train stations in Seaforth and Kananook.
The suburb is popular with tourists, well regarded for its sense of community and attracts families drawn to its beachside lifestyle and easy access to both Frankston city and Melbourne CBD.