Very interesting thread!! I'm really enjoying all the Melbourne threads coming up - it means something is happening (which I can see living here).
I live off the Werribee line, and Sydenham line. We live in Yarraville, but Geoff works in Hoppers Crossing, so I take the full Werribbee line often to meet him (and we have family in Werribee). We also have family that live around Sunshine, so we did at one time take that line to Sunshine, but have stopped. I hate getting off at Sunshine station. The last time we did, to meet family about 6 or 7pm for dinner, we took a cab home because there were so many dodgy characters hanging around the station, I really did not feel safe. I hate getting on/off at Footscray station when I have to walk "across" the station because I am always acousted by beggers - when you're on your platform it's fine, it's on the walkway, I hate it. I think Footscray is changing, and if we were buying right now, it would be my first choice over the other talked about suburbs in this thread, but we're almost priced out of there as well! I also like Sunshine, and we're looking into possibly investing - but I wouldn't want to live there, I don't feel safe. It's incredibly affordable, and there's change happening in the area - but it doesn't have the best name - "Scumshine" will take awhile to go away no matter what changes happen.
Also, if you're driving North-East on the Western Ring Road, there is a horrible smell around Sunshine (I think, maybe a different area, sorry if it is!) - Industrial area, but it's awful.
I have never smelled that going down to Werribee - not sure about what you're talking about. Altona - yes, has that smell every once in awhile. Maybe it travels?
I like Sunshine because it's Zone 1, has period housing - and is possibly changing. I still don't feel safe there. I like Hoppers because it's closer than Werribbe, I certainly feel safe at the Station, and has a fully developed town central. I like all of them, including Werribee because they are cheap. We'd prefer to stay inner city at the moment, but with the amount of price changes happening in inner Melbourne, maybe the outer west is just waiting for the wave to come through!
Just my thoughts on the area.
Not sure about getting rid of that stigma though.....I'm wondering from "older Melbournites" - how long has the stigma been around and has it ever changed during the previous booms??
Cheers,
Jen