Bend Of Islands Property Market
& Suburb Profile

Its origins are deeply tied to the 1970s environmental movement, specifically the successful community campaign to stop the proposed Yarra Brae Dam, which would have flooded the area. Today, the suburb is governed by the state’s only "Special Use Zone 2 – Environmental Living," a planning classification that mandates a lifestyle of "residential conservation." Under these strict regulations, residents are prohibited from keeping domestic pets like dogs or cats and are barred from introducing non-indigenous plants. Fencing is largely forbidden to allow the free movement of native fauna - including wombats, phascogales, and powerful owls - across private property boundaries.

The property market in the Bend of Islands is extremely niche and characterized by a limited supply of approximately 130 allotments. These properties are often defined by their mudbrick construction and architectural integration into the sloping, bush-heavy landscape.

Demographically, the Bend of Islands is home to a small, highly educated, and tight-knit population of approximately 270 residents. The community is predominantly composed of professional couples and families.

The local culture is intensely collaborative, centered around the Bend of Islands Conservation Association (BICA) and the volunteer fire brigade, whose "Red Truck, Green Heart" motto encapsulates the suburb's dual focus on safety and ecology. There are no commercial shops, restaurants, or schools within the postcode; residents rely on nearby Kangaroo Ground and Eltham for all essential services. This isolation is a deliberate choice, ensuring that the "Benders" - as locals call themselves - can maintain a habitat that prioritises the health of the 500 native plant species and 150 bird species that call this unique bend in the Yarra River home.