ROSEWOOD DOWNS
A Hidden Pocket of Dandenong North
At a glance
1795
homes
89%
owner occupied
980k
median house price (4 bed)
28km
from Melb CBD
A neighbourhood community living close to nature
Rosewood Downs is a well-established residential neighbourhood of around 1,800 homes in Melbourne’s south-east, nestled between Mulgrave, Rowville and Dandenong North.
Defined by quiet courts, leafy streets and easy access to parkland, Rosewood Downs has become one of the most tightly held residential pockets in the area.
Residents enjoy proximity to green spaces including Tirhatuan Park, as well as convenient access to local amenities such as Waverley Gardens Shopping Centre and major transport routes including the Monash Freeway.
While not an officially recognised suburb, residents have long referred to this area as Rosewood Downs Estate — a name that reflects both its history and the strong sense of community that has developed here over generations.
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Rosewood Downs sits within the broader suburb of Dandenong North and is generally understood to be the area bounded by:
Stud Road (east)
Gladstone Road (west)
Police Road (north)
The Monash Freeway corridor (south)
Different residents draw the boundaries slightly differently depending on when their part of the estate was developed, but the identity of the area is widely shared.
The neighbourhood sits behind Mulgrave Hospital and is known for its family homes, established streets, and quieter atmosphere compared to surrounding areas.
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Locals often say Rosewood Downs has a distinctly different vibe to the rest of Dandenong.
It’s more comparable in character to neighbouring suburbs like Mulgrave, with:
Low-density residential streets
Long-term residents and family households
A strong community network
A reputation for being quieter and more stable
Crime data comparisons (such as those from Red Suburbs, which uses police statistics) show that Dandenong North and Mulgrave sit much closer together in safety rankings than either does to central Dandenong — reinforcing what residents have long felt about the area.
Over the years, there have even been community discussions about formally renaming the pocket Rosewood Downs while keeping the same postcode — a reflection of the pride locals feel in the neighbourhood.
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Before it became a residential estate, Rosewood Downs was farmland.
The area grew where two farming properties met — commonly remembered as the Rosewood and Rosmoyne/Rosemine farms. The early homesteads once stood along Surrey Road with some historic properties dating back more than a century.
The land was subdivided for housing in the late 1960s, transforming the area into the suburban estate seen today. Early homes from this period still define the character of many streets.
A few remnants of the past remain, including original farmhouses on Surrey Road and Janmarra Court, which are estimated to be around 120 years old.
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As the estate developed, the name Rosewood Downs became firmly embedded in local identity.
Rosewood Downs Primary School was named after the subdivision.
Community groups and noticeboards often include the name alongside Dandenong North.
Residents commonly introduce the area as “Rosewood Downs” rather than simply Dandenong North.
Stories from long-time locals reflect the neighbourhood’s growth through the 1970s and beyond — from large family homes built during the early subdivision years to multi-generational households that helped shape the community culture.
Less than 30km from Melbourne and moments from the Monash Freeway, Eastlink, parks, schools and major shopping.
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The Rosewood Downs Boundary
Connected to everything — yet tucked away from the noise.
A tightly held pocket between Mulgrave and Rowville, Rosewood Downs offers tree-lined streets, generous blocks and a true community feel — all less than 30km from Melbourne and moments from the Monash Freeway, Eastlink, parks, schools and major shopping.
Rosewood Downs
Property Profile
With almost 1800 homes this tightly-held residential community is larger than some of Melbourne’s smaller suburbs.
Rosewood Downs Property Profile.At around 60 hectares, the Rosewood Downs Estate is twice the size of Ripponlea and is home to over 1700 homes
❋ A neighbour larger than some suburbs Spanning 60 hectares and 1700 homes, the Rosewood Downs Estate is larger than Ripponlea (35h), Gardenvale (26h), Princess Hill (44h).
❋ A tightly held communityWith 89% of properties owner occupied, this is one of the most tightly held pockets known for its parks, schools and family homes.
❋ A million dollar locationIn recent years, the Rosewood Downs Estate has become a million dollar suburb with many sales sky rocketing with limited supply.
❋ Size and space Properties in this pocket sit on generous blocks and are located close to schools and parkland, all less than 30km from the city
Property sold over the past 12 months
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15 Dorset Road - $1,170,000
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63 Somerset Drive - 1,020,000
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98 Outlook Drive - 1,310,000
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The Northgrid Project
The place where walkers give you a good morning and a wave
Tirhatuan Park
A nationally recognised wetlands nature reserve right on your doorstep.
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Tirhatuan Park is a beautiful open space park located in Dandenong North. This park forms part of the Dandenong Creek vegetation corridor, providing important habitat for our native flora and fauna. The Dandenong Creek bike and walking trail meanders through the relaxing natural surrounds of the 20 hectare park, which includes two lakes, a wetland, boardwalks and beautiful bushland.
Tirhatuan Park is home to the endangered Plains Grassy Wetland Ecological Vegetation Class which provides habitat for many species of frogs, insects and birds, including the endangered Latham’s Snipe (Gallinagi hardwickii) which visits the park from Japan each year.
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The Dandenong Creek bike and walking trail meanders through the relaxing natural surrounds of the 20 hectare park, which includes two lakes, a wetland, boardwalks and beautiful bushland.
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Tirhatuan Park offers many activities for visitors including:
Walk along the extensive path network
Go for a ride along the Dandenong Creek bike trail
See Ian Harrison's artwork 'Spreading the Message' - Walk south along the Dandenong Creek Trail towards Stud Road (approximately 350 metres from the car park)
Fly a kite
Have a barbeque
Enjoy the fantastic district playground
Take your dog to the dog off-leash area (must remain on a lead everywhere else). Now includes an separate offleash area for small breed dogs only as well as a large communal area
Enjoy the public art display, Waterkite
Environmental events are held regularly in the park, including tree planting days, frog watch and the Discover Dandenong Creek Festival
Key features at Tirhatuan Park
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The Jetty
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Nature Walk
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Fenced Dog Park
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Pirate Playground
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Indigenous Artwork
Schools & Childcare
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Rosewood Downs Primary School is a dynamic and inclusive government school serving a diverse community of approximately 275 students across 13 classes.
Rosewood Downs prides itself on being a community School.
We currently have 275 students and will endeavor to stay small. There is no well-being program that can match a school that truly knows our students.
Every adult in this school knows every child and can support them with any challenges they may face.
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Located onsite at Rosewood Downs Primary School.
We offer an inclusive and creative kinder program, led by educators who are focused on nurturing your child’s strengths, interests and social connections.
At Rosewood Downs Uniting Kindergarten, your child will enjoy fun learning adventures through creative indoor activities and outdoor experiences filled with STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Maths), sustainability, inclusion and diversity.
Our goal is to create a preschool environment in our local Dandenong North area that nurtures happy, healthy children and inspires a lifelong love of learning.
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Rosswood Preschool is a community based, not for profit early learning centre, providing 3 year old pre-kinder and 4 year Old Preschool.
Outlook Drive Shopping Centre
A community shopping precinct looking after the locals
The second largest Anytime Fitness in Victoria providing a 24/7 gym within walking distance for the Rosewood Downs community
Frequently Asked Questions
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Rosewood Downs sits within the broader suburb of Dandenong North and is generally understood to be the area bounded by:
Stud Road (east)
Gladstone Road (west)
Police Road (north)
The Monash Freeway corridor (south)
Different residents draw the boundaries slightly differently depending on when their part of the estate was developed, but the identity of the area is widely shared.
The neighbourhood sits behind Mulgrave Hospital and is known for its family homes, established streets, and quieter atmosphere compared to surrounding areas.
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Established in the early 70s and seen as an upmarket area with some calling it “snobs hill.”
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The name recognise two of the original homesteads, the Rosemine Estate and Rosswood Estate which were early farm estates in North Dandenong.
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While not an officially recognised suburb, residents have long referred to this area as Rosewood Downs Estate — a name that reflects both its history and the strong sense of community that has developed here over generations.
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According to Red Suburbs (a website with a crime map based on police data), Dandenong North and Mulgrave are close in ranking when it comes to crime and differs greatly to “Dandenong”.
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The median price for homes in Rosewood Downs Estate is close to $1m, however the hardest part in convincing locals to sell with nearly 90% owner occupied rate and maybe locals living here for decades.