Correction (2 October 2026): an earlier version of this page was produced by a template. It listed twelve named venues, with street addresses, price ranges, seat counts and “insider tips”, that we could not stand behind, gave every one of them the postcode 3164 (Bentleigh’s postcode is 3204), and quoted a distance and train and driving times with no source. It has been rewritten from scratch. Every place below was checked against its own current information and a second, independent source on 2 October 2026.
Bentleigh is a residential suburb in Melbourne’s south-east, in the City of Glen Eira, built along Centre Road with a Frankston line station at its shopping strip and a second station, Patterson, at its southern edge. This profile sticks to what can be checked from a desk: the council’s pages, Metro Trains and Transport Victoria, the 2021 Census, Victorian Places and each place’s own website.
Fast facts: postcode 3204; council: City of Glen Eira; 13 km south-east of Melbourne, per Victorian Places; population 17,921 at the 2021 Census.
Origin of the name: Victorian Places says the area “was known as East Brighton before being named Bentleigh in 1908 after the Victorian Premier, Sir Thomas Bent.” Wikipedia adds that the change brought the suburb’s name in line with the name of the local railway station.
Getting around
The shape of it: Victorian Places says Bentleigh lies along the axes of Henry Dendy’s Special Survey of 1841, with Centre Road as “a convenient centre line through the survey”, and describes a grid street layout. Bentleigh’s shopping centre runs along Centre Road, and Tucker Road is the boundary with Bentleigh East. Patterson station and a neighbourhood shopping area sit at the southern edge of the suburb.
Trains. Bentleigh Station is on Metro’s Frankston line, at Centre Rd / Nicholson St, and Metro lists it in both myki Zone 1 and Zone 2. The station is in a trench: Victoria’s Big Build says the Centre Road level crossing “was removed by lowering the rail line into a trench”, and that the North Road, McKinnon Road and Centre Road crossings were removed and the new stations opened in 2016. Metro’s facilities list for Bentleigh includes customer service staff, a lift, accessible toilets, parking and accessible parking. Patterson Station, at Patterson Rd / North Ave, is listed in Zone 2, with parking but no lift and no toilets. Metro’s planned works page lists any rail-replacement buses, so read it before you travel.
Buses. Transport Victoria’s departures board for the Bentleigh Station/Centre Rd stop lists route 703, towards Blackburn Station and towards Middle Brighton Station; its route page is titled “703 Middle Brighton - Blackburn via Bentleigh & Clayton & Monash University”. Route 701, “Oakleigh - Bentleigh via Mackie Road & Brady Road”, comes in along Patterson Road and Jasper Road, with stops at Bentleigh Reserve and Bentleigh Library, and ends at Bent St/Centre Rd.
For: a station on Centre Road that Big Build calls fully accessible, with staff, a lift and parking listed by Metro. Against: Patterson has no lift and no toilets, and let the timetable, not this page, tell you how long the trip to the city takes.
Who lives here
At the 2021 Census, Bentleigh had 17,921 residents and a median age of 39. The median weekly household income was $2,263 and the median weekly rent was $480. Half of the suburb’s families (50.5 per cent) were couples with children.
Housing is mostly houses, but not only houses. At the 2021 Census, 59.7 per cent of occupied private dwellings were separate houses, 19.9 per cent were semi-detached, row or terrace houses and townhouses, and 19.6 per cent were flats or apartments. 28.5 per cent of dwellings were rented.
For: a mix of houses, townhouses and apartments, rather than one housing type. Against: these are 2021 figures, five years old, and rents have moved since; check current listings before you budget.
Parks and places
Bentleigh Hodgson Reserve (Higgins Road). The council describes three playgrounds, outdoor fitness equipment and open space with walking paths, plus a 3D snakes and ladders life-size board game on the upper level. It is home to Bayside Companion Dog Training School, and the open sportsground area is off-leash.
Halley Park (Jasper Road). The council places it “just around the corner from Patterson train station” and lists a playground with a flying fox, a picnic shelter with barbecues, outdoor fitness equipment and a small basketball court. The open grass at the western end, closest to Ethel Street, is off-leash.
Victory Park (Patterson Road). Two sports grounds for cricket and soccer, a small playground, a bookable picnic shelter and cricket nets. The council names West Bentleigh Cricket Club, Victory Tennis Club and Bentleigh United Cobras Football Club as based there.
Allnutt Park (Wheatley Road, McKinnon). In neighbouring McKinnon, the council lists an all-abilities playground, two picnic shelters with barbecues, a half basketball court and a golf birdie cage; the northern end is off-leash.
Bentleigh Library and Youth Hub (161 Jasper Road). Glen Eira’s library service lists free wi-fi and computers, study areas, a Changing Places facility, Russian and Chinese books, BabyTime and StoryTime, and youth worker support in the same building. Its hours are Monday to Thursday 10am to 9pm, Friday 10am to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm and Sunday 12pm to 5pm, and it closes on public holidays. It reopened on Monday 3 August 2026 after maintenance works.
For: a reserve with a dog-training school, a park near Patterson station and a library open until 9pm Monday to Thursday. Against: Victorian Places says the reserves and sports ovals of Bentleigh and Bentleigh East are “not over-generous in number”.
Shopping and eating
Wikipedia calls the Centre Road strip the biggest in the area, at over 250 retail businesses, and the traders' directory, Shop Bentleigh, lists dining, delis, bakeries and bars in Bentleigh. These five were checked against their own websites and a second source on 2 October 2026. They are a starting point, not a ranking.
Bentleigh Sunday Market — Bent Street, Bentleigh VIC 3204
A trash-and-treasure market in the Bentleigh railway station car park on Bent Street, “opposite Coles supermarket”, run as a fundraiser by the Rotary Club of Bentleigh Moorabbin Central. It operates every Sunday from 7am to 12 noon, except Christmas and New Year’s Day, and its own site says it has over 140 stalls, from plants and antiques to tools, clothing, books and crafts. Entry is by donation. Selling? A casual car boot site is $30 and a mini stall is $15, both including GST. Stallholders cannot sell food or drinks, apart from sealed, non-perishable packaged goods such as jams and honey.
For: it runs every Sunday morning, and entry is by donation. Against: the market’s own FAQ calls the car park around Coles “very busy and rather frantic” and points drivers to the Vickery Street and Horsley Street car parks instead.
Noisette Bentleigh — 412 Centre Road, Bentleigh VIC 3204
The Bentleigh branch of a French bakery that also trades in Port Melbourne and Kew. By its own description it is on Centre Road near the train station and sells “modern French savouries, pastries, breads, coffee and cakes”, with room for larger groups. It lists opening hours of 7am to 5pm, seven days. Its page prints no prices, so none are given here.
For: a bakery and cafe open from 7am every day, near the station. Against: it is a day-time stop; it closes at 5pm.
Lena’s Continental Deli — 284 Centre Rd, Bentleigh VIC 3204
A continental deli for smallgoods, cheeses and olives; its own site says you will find it inside Extra Fresh Providore at 284 Centre Rd. It lists trading hours of 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday, 7am to 3pm Saturday and 7am to 2pm Sunday. Wikipedia singles out continental delis as part of the strip’s fresh-food focus, and Shop Bentleigh lists others, including Milo’s Deli and Kazachok Eastern European Deli.
For: cheese, olives and smallgoods seven days a week. Against: it sits inside a providore rather than on its own shopfront, and it closes at 2pm on Sundays.
The Bentleigh Social — Level 1, 401 Centre Road, Bentleigh VIC 3204
A bar and restaurant upstairs in a warehouse conversion, with access from the rear of the building. Its own site says it spans 600 square metres with 16 beer taps and runs weekly events, including Trivia Tuesdays. Its menu, a file titled September 2026, lists a chicken parmagiana (house-made schnitzel, napoli, ham and mozzarella, with chips and salad) at $29, and arancini (mushroom, pea and cheese, three to a serve, with aioli) at $16. The parma is the Melbourne pub classic: a crumbed chicken schnitzel topped with tomato sauce, ham and melted cheese. The same menu prints a 5% surcharge on Sundays and 15% on public holidays.
For: a published menu with prices, and 16 taps on the strip. Against: it is on the first floor and entered from the rear of the building, and Sunday and public-holiday surcharges apply.
Bentleigh RSL — 538 Centre Rd, Bentleigh VIC 3204
The RSL club on Centre Road, with a bistro called FRONT + CENTRE. Its dining page lists lunch from 11.30am to 2.30pm and dinner from 5.30pm to 9pm, seven days, and says it was among the first RSL venues in Australia accredited by Coeliac Australia. Two weekly specials are priced for members: Monday Steak Night at $22.50 and a Wednesday parma at $22.50, both at lunch and dinner. On Tuesday nights, kids eat free before 7pm with an adult main or parma (specials excluded). There is an on-site playground, and the club recommends booking.
For: lunch and dinner every day, a playground and gluten-free accreditation. Against: the $22.50 specials are priced for members, so check what you will pay if you are not one.
Schools and services
Schools. Two primary schools give a Bentleigh street address on their own websites: Bentleigh West Primary School (23 Brewer Road) and St Paul’s Primary School (122 Jasper Road). Victorian Places dates Bentleigh West primary school to 1927. Check zones and enrolment directly with each school.
Council. Bentleigh is in the City of Glen Eira, not Bayside. Victorian Places records that Glen Eira was formed on 15 December 1994 by joining Caulfield city with part of Moorabbin city, including McKinnon, Bentleigh and Bentleigh East. The council’s office is on the corner of Glen Eira and Hawthorn Roads, Caulfield, and its phone number is 03 9524 3333. Households can book up to three free hard rubbish collections a financial year, plus three bulk cardboard and three bundled branch collections.
If you move here, know:
- The postcode is 3204; Bentleigh East is a separate suburb with its own postcode, 3165, and Tucker Road is the line between them.
- Bentleigh station is on Centre Road, the main shopping strip, and the Sunday market uses the station car park on Bent Street; the second station, Patterson, is at the southern edge.
- The council is Glen Eira, and hard rubbish is booked online or by phone, up to three free collections a year.
Quick answers
What is the postcode for Bentleigh VIC?
- Australia Post lists Bentleigh, VIC, under 3204, and Bentleigh East under 3165.
What council is Bentleigh in? Is it in Bayside?
Glen Eira, not Bayside. Victorian Places says the City of Glen Eira was formed in 1994 from Caulfield city and part of Moorabbin city, including McKinnon, Bentleigh and Bentleigh East.
What line is Bentleigh station on?
The Frankston line. Metro lists Bentleigh Station at Centre Rd / Nicholson St, Bentleigh, in myki Zone 1 and Zone 2.
Is there parking at Bentleigh station?
Metro’s facilities list for Bentleigh Station includes parking and accessible parking, as well as a lift, accessible toilets and customer service staff.
What is the population of Bentleigh?
17,921 at the 2021 Census, with a median age of 39.
When is the Bentleigh Sunday Market on?
Every Sunday from 7am to 12 noon, except Christmas and New Year’s Day, in the Bentleigh railway station car park on Bent Street.
What are the Bentleigh Library opening hours?
Glen Eira’s library service lists Monday to Thursday 10am to 9pm, Friday 10am to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm and Sunday 12pm to 5pm, closed on public holidays.
What does the name Bentleigh come from?
The area was known as East Brighton until 1908, when it was named Bentleigh after the Victorian Premier, Sir Thomas Bent, according to Victorian Places.
How do I book hard rubbish in Bentleigh?
Through Glen Eira City Council, online or on 03 9524 3333. Households can book up to three free hard rubbish collections per financial year.
What suburbs are next to Bentleigh?
Wikipedia lists Bentleigh East, Brighton East, Moorabbin and McKinnon as neighbouring suburbs.
How we checked
On 2 October 2026 we read each source’s own page with raw curl or Jina Reader and copied every fact, figure and price exactly as printed. Census figures are from the ABS 2021 Census QuickStats for Bentleigh (SAL20214). Parks, hard rubbish and the council’s address are from Glen Eira City Council’s own pages; the library’s details are from Glen Eira’s library service. The train line, zones, station locations and facilities are from Metro Trains; the trench and the 2016 station opening are from Victoria’s Big Build; bus routes are from Transport Victoria’s route pages and its departures board for the Bentleigh Station/Centre Rd stop. History, the name, the distance and the council’s formation are from Victorian Places; the neighbouring suburbs, the station-name detail and the size of the Centre Road strip are from Wikipedia. Each market, shop and restaurant was confirmed on its own website and at a second source on a different domain: the market’s own site and Markets Guide, Noisette’s, Lena’s and The Bentleigh Social’s sites with the Shop Bentleigh traders’ directory, and the Bentleigh RSL’s site with AGFG. Prices are from each venue’s own pages: The Bentleigh Social’s September 2026 menu, the Bentleigh RSL’s dining page and the market’s FAQ. We left out places we could not confirm on a current page of their own. The photos are illustrative, from Unsplash: they show the kind of place, not Bentleigh itself.
Seen something out of date? Email [email protected] with the page link and what has changed, and we will check it again.
Sources
- Population, age, income, rent, families and dwellings: ABS 2021 Census QuickStats, Bentleigh
- Postcode: Australia Post
- History, name, distance, street grid and open space: Victorian Places, Bentleigh and Bentleigh East; council formation: Victorian Places, Glen Eira City
- Neighbouring suburbs and the Centre Road strip: Wikipedia, Bentleigh, Victoria
- Trains: Metro Trains, Frankston line, Bentleigh Station and Patterson Station; the trench: Victoria’s Big Build, Centre Road, Bentleigh
- Buses: Transport Victoria, route 703, route 701 and the Bentleigh Station/Centre Rd stop
- Parks: Glen Eira City Council pages for Bentleigh Hodgson Reserve, Halley Park, Victory Park and Allnutt Park
- Library: Bentleigh Library and Youth Hub and its reopening notice
- Council: Glen Eira City Council and hard rubbish
- Bentleigh Sunday Market: bentleighmarket.org and its FAQs; also Markets Guide
- Noisette Bentleigh: noisette.com.au/bentleigh; also Shop Bentleigh
- Lena’s Continental Deli: lenasdeli.com.au; also Shop Bentleigh
- The Bentleigh Social: thebentleighsocial.com.au and its menu; also Shop Bentleigh
- Bentleigh RSL: bentleighrsl.com.au and its dining page; also AGFG
- Delis on the strip: Shop Bentleigh, delis
- Schools: Bentleigh West Primary School, St Paul’s Primary School
