If you want to cook and keep your own hours, a studio at Cobden is straightforward: your kitchen and bathroom are inside your own space. At 2 Cobden Street, Queen Victoria Market is nearby and the building facilities are practical. It may suit you if independence matters more than extensive entertainment spaces.
The address is 2 Cobden Street, North Melbourne. UniLodge lists Queen Victoria Market across the road, with trams nearby for RMIT and the University of Melbourne. Its location information puts routes 19, 57 and 59 about 350 metres away. Check PTV for the exact campus building you will attend; the University of Melbourne has a large campus, so the university name alone does not tell you the whole commute. Queen Victoria Market is handy for fresh food, but trades on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday only.
The main option is a studio with a private bathroom and kitchenette. Published room information lists a fridge/freezer, electric cooktop, microwave and television. The building has quiet study tables, a Level 3 lounge with a TV and an outdoor terrace, plus a covered bike rack at the rear. There is no gym, pool, cinema or barbecue area in the building, and no on-site parking. If you train regularly, include the cost and trip to a nearby commercial gym in your budget.
Machines use a Tap n Go card. Ask how to top it up and when the laundry is busiest before your first big load.
Queen Victoria Market is close for a weekend grocery run, but remember it is closed on Mondays and Wednesdays. UniLodge's location page lists Hometown Asian Supermarket on Elizabeth Street. Further into the city, Melbourne Central has Coles, a chemist, banking and other everyday services. Take a walk along Elizabeth Street and around the market during your first few days before buying a cupboard full of ingredients. There is no reception desk in the building; the operator says reception services are handled from its Swanston Street office and visits must be booked. Confirm key collection and arrival times before travelling.
There are few detailed public resident reviews that clearly relate to Cobden. I have not treated a small booking-site rating or a forum post asking for reviews as evidence of the living experience. During a viewing, ask about quiet hours, maintenance of common spaces and the current state of the laundry.
Prices and lease terms are subject to the latest quotes at the top of this page. Once you know your arrival date, ask for that room’s price rather than treating one starting rate as the price for the whole building.
Having a studio makes cooking and setting your own routine easier, although you may need to be more proactive about meeting people. Join your university's orientation events and connect with classmates before settling into your own routine. Photograph the room and appliances at move-in. Before signing, check laundry costs, bill inclusions, the bond and cancellation terms. Cobden may suit you if you want to cook, have a private bathroom and do not rely on an on-site gym.
Ask a Yeeliving adviser to compare rooms, lease terms and your route to class. Yeeliving’s student accommodation service is free. Referral cashback is paid only to the referrer, after the referred friend signs a lease and moves in; details are as shown on your account page.