Little known fact: Pascoe Vale takes its name from colourful early pioneer, businessman, newspaper founder and politician John Pascoe Fawkner. His cognomen - commonly minus the middle part - is littered around Melbourne, including the nearby suburb of Fawkner, but it was in 1839 that he purchased a 316-hectare property in the subdivision of the Coburg district that he called Pascoeville.
He didn't stay long in the area long, preferring to live closer to all the colonial action in his Smith Street, Collingwood, townhouse. Almost 150 years after his death, his predicament would be familiar to people tossing up the eternal inner-city lifestyle-versus-land debate.
Aspiring homeowners pushed further out by the gentrification of Brunswick and Ascot Vale are arriving in Pascoe Vale, just 10 kilometres north of the CBD, and liking what they see.
Large blocks are occupied by more affordable older-style houses from the inter-war and immediate post-war period. Its linear parks are popular recreation sites, one accompanying Westbreen Creek, while another clings to the Moonee Ponds Creek and takes bike riders on a safe ribbon of green all the way to the city through Brunswick, Parkville and Docklands.
Community life in the summer months centres upon the Pascoe Vale Outdoor Pool with its 33-metre-long heated main pool and a smaller learners' pool (diving board alert), while winter takes locals' attention to the Shore Reserve, home of the West Coburg Football Club.
9/2-4 Devon Road
$525,000-$575,000
2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1 car space
A modern unit close to Pascoe Vale and Oak Park train stations, it features its own side drive and single remote garage, plus open-plan living and two bedrooms with built-in robes.
Auction: 10.30am, October 7
Agent: Eview Group C+M Residential, Claudio Cuomo 0419 315 396
170 Boundary Road
$550,000-$590,000
3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 car spaces
It's close to all the amenity of Pascoe Vale, including shopping, transport and Hallam Reserve directly across the road, and this double-storey family-sized townhouse follows up with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a garage with internal access.
Auction: 11am, October 14
Agent: Brad Teal, Andrew Butler 0417 535 891