Preston
vic 3072

Preston is bordered to the east by the Darebin Creek, a small tributary to the Yarra River and consists largely of flat terrain, ideal initially for farming, but later for industrial and residential development.

The original abundance of land resulted in low density urban development of Preston's former farmland, however population pressures and Preston's locality with respect to the Melbourne CBD has led to a growing tendency to medium to high-density urban redevelopment.

As part of the City of Darebin, Preston has an active and eclectic artists and DIY community which is contemporary, experimental and culturally diverse. Writers, musicians and visual artists flock to the locality for performance, collaboration and acceptance.

In Preston there are plenty of sporting options - Preston Lions Football Club, Preston Cricket Club, West Preston Lakeside Football Club and Ruthven Reserve in East Preston has been upgraded, with arguably the best social and training amenities of any local sporting venue in the area. There are also few large grounds around the Northland Shopping Centre, adjacent to Wood Street. Grounds are maintained very well, and people play cricket in summer and footy during other times.

Preston is home to many schools. The primary schools include Preston West Primary, Preston Primary, Preston South Primary, Preston North East Primary, Sacred Heart Primary, Bell Primary and St. Raphael's Primary. The high schools are Parade College Preston Campus, as well as there being a St. John's Greek Orthodox College and East Preston Islamic College which both offer primary and secondary education, and the Melbourne Polytechnic Preston Campus offering TAFE courses and training. There is also The Northern College of the Arts and Technology which caters for Year 10, VCE, VCAL and post-secondary students seeking a specialised education.