Eltham has retained much of its bushland character despite having a reasonable population of 17,500 people in a 13.2km2 area. A suburb of the Shire of Nillumbik, Eltham is located 20km north east of the city and a road travel time via the Eastern Freeway of approximately 45 minutes. The main surrounding suburbs are Montmorency, Lower Plenty, Eltham North, Research, Warrandyte and Templestowe. Being a designated ‘Green Wedge’ area, Eltham has to date been relatively undeveloped although there is evidence that some of the larger blocks are now being sub-divided for more intensive housing. This will add pressure on the treed environment for which Eltham is note although the tree-lined streets and leafy reserves will be unaffected. Median houses $500,000 above regional average. Units $370,000 mainly houses.
Residents are predominantly Australian-born consisting of older school-age families. Professional occupations are the most recurrent roles.
Train services run from Eltham to the city although journey times can be affected by sections of single track. Eltham is a manned, premium station.
Eltham was once a favourite rain excursion for Melbourne residents who journeyed by rail on weekends to enjoy the flowering wattle and swimming in the Yarra River. The stringybark forests and vistas area also attracted artists and led to the creation of the collection of mud-brick medieval-style buildings in Hillcrest Avenue, known as Monsalvat. Regular exhibitions are held at Monsalvat which remains a continuing venture with resident artists, writers and filmmakers some of whom have gone on and gained international recognition.
Eltham has an excellent shopping centre in Main Street between Luck and Dudley Streets.
Schools in the area are Eltham High, Eltham Primary, Eltham North Primary, Eltham East Primary, Ladies Catholic Secondary College, Our Lady Help of Christians Primary. Schools in nearby Eltham North, include St. Helena Secondary College, Holy Trinity Primary and Glen Katherine Primary.
With all the open space and parklands in the suburb, sports such as basketball, cricket, soccer, football, tennis and athletics have blossomed.