Unlike some Melbourne suburbs, Mitcham largely avoids becoming a thoroughfare for through-traffic due to its strategic positioning and established road network as of December 2025.
Mitcham’s layout is a key factor. Major arterial roads like EastLink provide direct access to the CBD and eastern suburbs, meaning drivers are less likely to cut through local streets. While roads like Canterbury Road and Mitcham Road are busy, they function primarily as collector roads serving local destinations. The presence of Mitcham Private Hospital and amenities around Antonio Park also generate localised traffic, but don’t contribute to widespread through-traffic. Furthermore, the railway lines – particularly those servicing Mitcham and Heatherdale Stations – encourage public transport use for commutes to the city (currently a 35-40 minute journey to Flinders Street), reducing reliance on cars. The established residential streets, particularly around Antonio Park Primary and Mullauna Secondary College, are generally quieter, designed for local access rather than high volumes of traffic. The proximity to Box Hill and Eastland shopping centre also draws traffic to those centres instead of through Mitcham’s residential areas.
This combination of infrastructure and local activity helps maintain a relatively peaceful environment within Mitcham’s residential zones in 2026.