Oakleigh's homes
Built up early
Victorian Places says the Oakleigh area was substantially built up by the 1920s. After World War II the western side was built up while the east was still developing on unmade roads.
A mix of houses and flats
At the 2021 Census, 61.9% of homes were separate houses, 12.3% semi-detached or townhouses and 25.7% flats or apartments. 30.0% had two bedrooms and 7.9% one.
A third rented
34.5% of Oakleigh homes were rented in 2021, 31.4% owned outright and 31.3% owned with a mortgage.
Some heritage
The original civic centre has been kept, and the Anglican church near the old Broadway still has its heritage-listed 1854 building. An Oakleigh heritage study was done in 1991.
The jobs most likely in Oakleigh
A split for a flat. In a one or two-bedroom flat, a reverse cycle split in the living area can do the heating and the cooling. Get the owners corporation's say on the outdoor unit spot before anyone quotes.
Heating an older house. If yours still relies on gas room heaters, keep them serviced. Energy Safe Victoria says open-flued heaters can spill carbon monoxide more easily than other types, so a regular service with a carbon monoxide check matters. See gas heater service in Melbourne.
Rentals. From 13 October 2026, gas and electrical safety checks every two years apply to every Victorian rental. From 1 March 2027, a main living area heater that fails for good must be replaced with an efficient electric one.
What we'd do
Our take for Oakleigh
In a flat, one well-placed split is usually the answer. In an older house with gas room heaters, get them serviced and checked for carbon monoxide before winter, and think about a reverse cycle split in the living room as another way to heat it. Landlords, book the two-yearly safety checks now if they're not already in the diary.
Sending an Oakleigh job
Give us the job and your postcode. Licence-checked installers near Oakleigh who handle that kind of work can see it, and only the one who takes it gets your contact details. If nobody near Oakleigh takes it within 48 hours, the job may be seen by installers elsewhere in Victoria.
