Update: Vacant Shops Under Railway Bridge

Vacant, boarded-up shops at 664 and 666 Glenferrie Road.

In 2018, The Glenferrie Times reported on the vacancies of shops owned by VicTrack underneath the Glenferrie Station railway bridge. VicTrack explained at the time that they were working on a strategic plan for their Glenferrie commercial outlets, including refurbishment works. At that point, 664 Glenferrie Road had been vacant for months while 666 Glenferrie Road had been vacant for two years.

Up to three and five years later respectively, these shops still remain vacant today. Previously occupied by Mario’s Coffee and Urban Man, the vacant shops underneath the railway bridge - an area already in need of a face-lift - reduces the commercial, amenity, and aesthetic value of Glenferrie. In late 2020, some members of the local homeless community had taken up residency in the shops’ alcove entryways before they were boarded up in January. According to VicTrack, this was done to increase the security of the site while refurbishment works are still taking place.

Hawthorn MP John Kennedy stated he is making enquiries into the issue in response to community concerns about the restoration of these centrally located Glenferrie shopfronts, so that they may welcome new traders as soon as possible.