Melbourne has often been ranked one of the world’s most livable cities, but some pockets hit different for residents’ sense of smell.
Melbourne’s smelliest suburbs have been revealed, with new data showing the city’s most pungent postcodes are also some of its more affordable property markets.
Every suburb on the list of the Environmental Protection Agency’s highest levels of stench complaints has a median house price below $1m, and while some areas have recorded modest growth, others are seeing buyers turn away due to the overpowering odours.
The EPA data shows Cranbourne was Victoria’s most complained-about suburb for odour in the past two years, with 884 reports lodged over landfill stench.
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The suburb’s typical house costs $660,000, having risen just 1.5 per cent in the past year.
Neighbouring Botanic Ridge was the second most affected, with 463 complaints and a median house price of $907,500, which has increased by 4.3 per cent in the same time.
But neighbouring Cranbourne South, which didn’t make the list of odour complaint suburbs, recorded stronger price growth of 11.2 per cent, reaching a median of $828,500.
It’s worth noting that not all parts of a given suburb have an odour problem, and weather conditions can vary the presence or intensity of certain smells, while some suburbs such as those famed for the scent of cafe culture can come with far more pleasant aromas.
But for some residents of the smelliest suburbs, the persistent odour has prompted them to sell up and leave — even losing money on what they paid for their home.
Families like the Lenko’s are packing up and leaving as overpowering odours make everyday life unbearable. Picture: Mark Stewart
Former Cranbourne resident Harpreet Singh said the smell became unbearable soon after his family moved in.
“We had to keep our windows shut all the time because the stench of decomposing waste was so strong,” Mr Singh said.
“It would seep through the air vents at night, making it impossible to sleep.”
After two years of complaints and little improvement, Mr Singh relocated to Wyndham Vale, where he said the fresh air has been a welcome change.
“Moving was the best decision we made,” he said.
Landfill stench lingers over Melbourne’s suburbs, with residents struggling to escape the foul air.
Mr Singh said he would advise anyone buying a home to check what the EPA website said about the area before signing a contract.
The Lenko family (pictured above) also left the same area a few years ago, only to find the same smell can be smelt in their new suburb nearby.
Monash Business School professor Harmen Oppewal said scent was directly linked to memory and emotion, meaning buyers could develop a strong attachment — or aversion — to a place based on its smell.
“Scent bypasses conscious thought and triggers immediate emotional responses,” Prof Oppewal said.
Botanic Ridge home owners are among the most likely to raise odour reports with the EPA.
“It’s closely tied to memory, which is why a familiar smell can create a sense of comfort, while an unpleasant one can cause an instant aversion.”
He added that scent should be considered as much as noise, traffic, and access to natural light.
“A smell can create an emotional connection to a place, but it can also become a constant frustration,” he said.
“Just as some people struggle to live near a busy road, certain odours can be hard to ignore.”
Auctioneer Andy Reid said smell is the silent deal-breaker buyers often overlook.
Apollo Auctions Victoria head Andy Reid said scent could have a powerful impact on buyer perception, whether positive or negative.
“For some people, the smell of coffee or fresh bread creates a feeling of comfort and familiarity,” Mr Reid said.
“But for others, the scent of fast food or industry can be a deal-breaker.”
The EPA this week said they had increased efforts to tackle odour pollution and were cracking down on businesses failing to contain industrial smells.
EPA’s sniffer drones take to the skies, tracking down Melbourne’s worst odour offenders. Photo: EPA Victoria.
EPA Victoria principal odour scientist Chris Bydder said historic planning decisions had placed housing estates too close to odour-producing industries, but new regulations were giving the authority more power to act.
In the past two years, the EPA has issued fines, taken legal action, and shut down businesses over repeated odour violations.
Sniffer drones are also now being used to detect air quality breaches in real time.
For buyers, experts recommend inspecting a property at different times to ensure they are comfortable with the neighbourhood’s scent at all times.
Cranbourne homes are affordable, but some buyers risk being trapped in a landfill-scented nightmare.
Apollo Auctions Victoria head Andy Reid said buyers needed to evaluate a suburb’s scent at different times of the day.
“A suburb might seem fine in the morning, but if there’s an industrial or landfill odour at night, it could be a problem,” Mr Reid said.
Developers and real estate agents are also using scent to their advantage, staging homes with fragrances such as fresh linen, vanilla, and baked goods to create a more inviting atmosphere.
Brooklyn residents battle industrial odours as house prices struggle to rise through the fumes.
Mr Reid said entire suburbs could even market their signature scents.
“Whether it’s the salty sea air of the Mornington Peninsula, the aroma of freshly roasted coffee in Carlton, or the unmistakeable scent of industry in Melbourne’s west, smell is playing a bigger role in shaping property demand than ever before,” he said.
Melbourne’s cafe culture is built on the scent of freshly brewed coffee — but not all neighbourhood aromas are this inviting.
Abbotsford’s brewery aroma divides locals — comforting for some, overpowering for others. Picture: Jason Edwards.
Abbotsford resident Amy Lee said the area’s brewery aroma had influenced her decision to buy there.
“It’s rich, malty, and warm — it reminds me of my grandfather, who used to home-brew beer,” Ms Lee said.
“Every time I walked through Abbotsford, that scent made the place feel like home.”
VICTORIA’S SMELLIEST SUBURBS
| Suburb | Number of Reports | Median House Price ($) | Median Unit Price ($) |
| Cranbourne | 884 | $650,000 | $450,000 Botanic |
| Ridge | 463 | $800,000 | N/A |
| Brooklyn | 444 | $700,000 | $500,000 |
| Narre Warren South | 355 | $680,000 | $470,000 |
| Reservoir | 354 | $750,000 | $520,000 |
| Wangaratta | 352 | $400,000 | $300,000 |
| Warrnambool | 228 | $450000 | $350,000 |
| Lynbrook | 182 | $720,000 | N/A |
| Pakenham | 187 | $600,000 | $400,000 |
| Hampton Park | 175 | $630,000 | $420,000 |
Source: EPA data (2023-2025), PropTrack
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