2 weeks Ago By Hannah Hammoud
Welcome to the most ripped stretch of street in Melbourne, with more Lululemon and chiselled torsos than anywhere else. As you stroll down this 200-metre strip of wellness, you’ll first encounter Upstate Balaclava Pilates. Within 70 metres you pass by Balaclava Fitness and Anytime Fitness.
Next door is the newly opened bouldering gym, Up Climbing. A little further is the Laya Wellness yoga studio, before finally the Hustle Wellness Club wraps up the offerings at the end of William Street, Balaclava. A Fitness First is just about to open on the street, and if all else fails, Zap Fitness is just around the corner on Carlisle Street.
Dale Barnett has recently opened his bouldering gym, Up Climbing, in the William Street ‘fitness district’ in Balaclava. Credit: Joe Armao Fitzroys division director James Lockwood says the changing appetites of people living in Balaclava and surrounding suburbs, and their relatively stable economic situation, have helped shape William Street into a magnet for health and wellness. “These businesses love demographics where you’ve got young families, young couples, and an older generation that is quite affluent.
So that is one of the reasons they look at these areas because they know that there’s the right demographic,” he said. Loading In Melbourne, the cost of living crisis has meant that retail insolvencies are on the rise. Earlier this year, Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) data revealed the number of insolvencies recorded in Victoria increased to 2372 in 2023 – up 29 per cent on the previous year.
But while consumers are looking for ways to cut spending, health and wellness is one thing they’re willing to splash cash on. Lockwood said it all comes down to the “feel-good factor”. “All the different options cater to different groups .
.. People will spend money on things that make them feel good,” he said.
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