If you've searched "porter housing" or "Porter House student accommodation," you're almost certainly looking for 42 Porter Street in Prahran, Melbourne, run by Student Housing Australia (SHA). There's no separately branded "Porter House" tower in the Melbourne student market — this seven-level building at that address is the one turning up across listing platforms, and this review pulls together what's independently verifiable about it, cross-checked across two listing platforms rather than taken from a single source.
It's a solid pick if you want your own one-bedroom apartment within walking distance of Chapel Street and Melbourne Polytechnic's Prahran campus, and you're commuting to Swinburne rather than living on top of it. It's a weaker fit if you specifically want a shared PBSA-style studio or ensuite room, since the building is built around one-bedroom units, not shared floors.
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What kind of building is this, actually?
42 Porter Street is a seven-level, partially furnished apartment building in Prahran, Victoria (postcode 3181), with levels 1 through 5 reserved for students. It isn't a traditional purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) tower with hundreds of ensuite rooms on a shared floor — it's closer to a managed apartment building where each resident gets their own one-bedroom unit. That distinction matters more than most reviews mention: if you're coming from a share-house mindset and expect a communal kitchen down the hall, this isn't that.
Room types
Two configurations show up across current listings:
- Standard one-bedroom with balcony — furnished with a bed, mattress, wardrobe, study desk and chair, plus a private bathroom and a kitchenette with fridge and microwave.
- Large one-bedroom with balcony (Style 2) — the same setup with more floor space.
Both are self-contained: you're not sharing a bathroom or kitchen with a roommate.
How much does it cost?
Here's the honest answer: neither of the two independent listing platforms we checked publishes a current weekly rate for this property. Anyone telling you a specific dollar figure right now is either quoting a stale number or guessing. If price is your deciding factor, contact Student Housing Australia directly or check a live comparison platform for the current intake — and treat any number you see elsewhere with the same skepticism.
Is it close to campus?
Depends which campus:
- Melbourne Polytechnic's Prahran campus — about a 3-minute walk. This is the closest fit for the building's location.
- Swinburne University of Technology — under 30 minutes by bus. Commutable, not walkable.
- Prahran train station — 2 minutes on foot.
- Nearest tram stop — about 3 minutes.
- Nearest bus stop — about 7 minutes.
If your course is at RMIT or the University of Melbourne, budget 25–40 minutes each way via tram or train and factor that into whether the location still makes sense for you.
What's included
Across both platforms, the recurring amenity list is: furnished units, in-building laundry, bicycle storage, elevator access, an outdoor courtyard, on-site parking, secure door entry, and gas included in the unit setup. There's also a common area for residents. Neither source lists a gym, so if that matters to you, you'll be looking at Swinburne's or a nearby commercial gym membership separately.
Who this suits — and who it doesn't
Good fit if: you want a private one-bedroom apartment rather than a shared floor, you're studying at Melbourne Polytechnic's Prahran campus or don't mind a bus commute to Swinburne, and you like being near Chapel Street's shops and restaurants.
Not a great fit if: you specifically want the shared, social layout of a big PBSA tower with a gym and study lounges on-site, or your course is based at a campus more than a short tram ride away — the commute adds up over a semester. If that's you, Yugo University Square vs. Scape Franklin and Scape Queensberry compares three shared-room buildings closer to University of Melbourne and RMIT.
The trade-off nobody puts in the listing copy
Every source describing this building leads with its Chapel Street location — and that's real, it's a genuinely lively strip. What gets left out: Chapel Street is also one of the pricier, higher-traffic parts of inner Melbourne, and a building built around private one-bedroom apartments rather than shared rooms typically costs more per week than a shared-room PBSA elsewhere in the city, even before you know the actual number. If budget is tight, it's worth comparing this against a shared-room option near your actual campus before deciding location is worth the premium.
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FAQ
Is "Porter House" and "42 Porter Street" the same building?
Yes — "Porter House" appears to be a colloquial search term for 42 Porter Street, Prahran. There's no separate, distinctly branded "Porter House" property in the current Melbourne student housing market.
Can I book a shared room here?
No — the property is built around self-contained one-bedroom apartments, not shared floors or ensuite-in-a-shared-flat setups.
How do I check current availability and price?
Contact Student Housing Australia directly, or check a live student housing comparison platform, since neither of the sources used for this review publishes a current rate.
More Melbourne student housing guides
- Yugo University Square, Carlton vs. Scape Franklin and Scape Queensberry — three shared-room buildings near University of Melbourne and RMIT, compared on price and distance
- Living Near Victoria University's St Albans Campus — a budget-friendlier western Melbourne option if inner-city rent is the deciding factor