Melbourne’s most underrated side
The best cafés, wine bars, restaurants and local gems are only half the story. Meet the people behind them, discover somewhere new, and fall a little more in love with Melbourne's west.
There's so much happening in Melbourne’s west
Across the west, there are neighbourhood wine bars you’ll want to become a regular at; where the staff remember your name and what you like to drink. There are family-run businesses that have become local institutions and shaped their streets over decades. There are passionate people putting care, time, and a very real part of themselves into places that bring the community together.
I started Over the West Gate because I wanted to shine a light on all those places and the people behind them. To create something that makes it easier to support local businesses, understand the people behind them, and find a new favourite spot close to home.
Hi, I'm Georgia
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Hi, I'm Georgia ~
I moved to the inner west at the beginning of the year, and the more time I spent here, the more I realised just how much was happening that I hadn't heard anyone talking about.
Every weekend, I'd stumble across another great restaurant, neighbourhood wine bar or local business that made me think, how did I not know this place existed?
There are so many people in the west building incredible things, and I genuinely think more people should know about them. I wanted to create a place that celebrates those people, shares their stories, and makes it easier for all of us to discover more of what's already here in our own backyard.
I hope you discover a few places that become favourites of your own.
What you’ll find here
Whether you're looking for somewhere new to try this weekend, want to get to know the people building great things in the west, or you're simply looking for another reason to spend a little more time close to home, you're in the right place.
I've organised everything into a few collections to make it easy to explore, and I hope along the way you discover a few places that become favourites of your own.
Spend some time with the people behind the west’s favourite places, and hear the stories that shape what you experience when you walk through the door.
Meet the people
From your next Friday night dinner to your new favourite coffee spot, these are the places you'll wonder how you didn't find sooner.
Find your next local
Whether you've got the whole weekend free or just a Sunday morning, you'll find plenty of reasons to get out and explore.
Make weekend plans
Built by people who care
One of my favourite things about the west is the people behind it.
There are owners, chefs, bakers, baristas, winemakers and so many others pouring everything they have into building places they genuinely love. Not just because it's their business, but because they care about creating somewhere their community can be proud of.
That's what Over the West Gate is all about. Celebrating those people, supporting local, and helping more of us discover the places that make living in the west so special.
The people behind the counter
Anyone can tell you where to get a good meal or a great coffee.
What I'm really interested in is everything that happened before the doors opened, and why a place exists in the first place.
Behind every venue, there's so much more than what you see when you walk through the door. There are years of experience, risks that were taken, big decisions, plenty of late nights, and all the little things that most of us would never even think about.
Once you get to know the people behind a place, you stop seeing it as just another restaurant or café and start appreciating everything that went into creating it.
This month’s local
📍Hudsons Road Wine & Beer, Spotswood
2/88 Hudsons Rd, Spotswood VIC 3015
Some places just have a way of making you feel at home, and Hudsons Road is one of them.
What started as a neighbourhood wine bar has grown into one of Spotswood's favourite places to catch up with friends, discover a fun new twist on a classic cocktail, or stay for "just one more" after work.
But what makes it special isn't just what's on the shelves or in your glass. It's the people behind it, the community they've built, and the way they've created somewhere locals genuinely want to keep coming back to.
It's exactly the kind of place Over the West Gate was created to celebrate.
Westside notes
For those who want to be in the know.
If you love finding great local spots, hearing the stories behind the people building them, and discovering more reasons to spend your weekends in the west, this is for you.
Every now and then, I'll send you new venue stories, local recommendations, upcoming events and plenty of ideas for your next coffee, dinner, wine or weekend plan. My hope is that every email helps you discover somewhere new, support a local business, or find a place that slowly becomes your local too.
I'd love to have you along.