Journal Student Living

I lived here for my first year of uni and very much enjoyed it. The management truly care about you and not just your money, unlike so many other places. They plan events for the guests to get to know each other, my favourite being the free dinner nights. Like any other place they of course have some issues. Most residents are a bit stuck up, their parents pay their rent which makes them ungrateful for the roof over their head.
The rooms themselves are quite good, lots of storage and full size fridge/freezer (something i couldnt find in any other student accommodation). Being this close to the cbd prices are always outrageous, making journals quite appealing.
All in all I would highly recommend journal as a first apartment, it comfortably introduces you to adult/uni life.

My extended stay at the "Journal" studio apartment was unfortunately marked by a series of negative experiences. While the location and facilities could have been promising, the customer service, especially after 10 pm, left much to be desired. The nighttime reception staff displayed a supremely rude attitude, significantly impacting the quality of my stay. This lack of courtesy and professionalism from the night team contributed notably to my overall negative perception of the place.

The situation worsened with the daytime reception staff, whose denigrating and unfriendly attitude created an uncomfortable environment. We experienced disdainful looks and indifferent responses, especially when seeking information as newcomers to the country. The staff's inability to explain details in a friendly and understanding manner added to erasing the initially positive image we had of the place.

To make matters worse, the general maintenance service also fell short. Instances occurred where maintenance personnel entered our apartment without consent, creating a sense of privacy invasion. Additionally, the air conditioning never functioned properly despite multiple complaints, and unfortunately, no effective measures were taken to address the issue.

My dissatisfaction extended to the laundry service, where I lost money on several occasions due to washing machines breaking down, with no reimbursement. Despite being bound to the place by a contract, in hindsight, the numerous challenges outweighed any benefits. I highly recommend exploring other lodging options, as most of the experiences at this location were unsatisfactory. In my opinion, if you have the opportunity to choose another place, do so; the "Journal" is not a recommended choice.

I have a one year lease in this housing. Exceptional service the staff is excellent. Especially Mr. Mujtaba Sabi, Mr. Syed and Ms. Katie are the highlights of my stay here. All are very understanding and kind and have the best demeanor I have seen.

The manager discriminates based upon her assumption about what social class do I belong. Classism. Room is tiny and overpriced.

If you want to feel like you’re on a school camp being surveyed by cameras and treated like a teenager at every waking moment, while simultaneously paying $400 for a shoebox then go ahead. But i’d suggest finding a share house and actually experiencing what it’s like to live with others and in Melbourne. Oh and not to mention that 99% of the people who live there are rude and privileged. Also a heads up make sure you live like a mouse and somehow don’t chip paint off walls that are painted cheaply on purpose and chip from you moving your bags in, otherwise you’ll be charged hundreds of dollars.

The best thing about Journal was the location so i could get out of there and actually experience the place i chose to move to, because trust me the social events are like going on a family trip with your parents.

I've been at Journal for 2 weeks now and I wouldn't have wanted to stay anywhere else, it's central location is perfect to walk wherever you need to be as well as having plenty of events every week where you can socialise.

Have lived here since the start of the year and have nothing but positives to say! Great location to everything including University. Very clean facilities and reception are always so helpful. Would definitely recommend living here if you are studying in Melbourne.

Very welcoming for new students through all the events that you hold every day of the week. The community and staff members are very friendly. The rooms are very homey.

If you wanna do refund from the reception, remember tell them don't over key above $1000, it's have a limit to refund back by using a credit card. Lucky a sweet little Russian help me find out the issue why u can't get the refund. Thank you.

Edit:
After speaking with senior management, I've changed it from a 2-star to a 4-star. The management recognizes the issues and is addressing them. They've got a few things to improve on, but if you're looking for a place to meet people, I'd seriously consider this place.

Ridiculous that you can't sign in more than one person after 11pm. Everyone is already an adult but it feels like you are restricted and following rules that aren't justified.

I just want to say thank you to the Reception team who helped me transport my luggage to my room when I checked in. Everyone here has been very welcoming and helpful which makes my transition to life at Melbourne much easier.
My room overlooks the garden area in the building which is also super nice and quiet.

Do not book here. It looks pretty but is actually cheaply made and not comfortable, the chairs are constantly breaking! The blocked the aircon without warning us at exam period, it's been 8 months and the app doesn't work like promised, it is not a smart tv like it is advertised and they always have issues with Wi-Fi. Lots of rooms the roof suddenly cracked. Management is greedy and rude, the reception are nice but obviously are not trained and are just told to not say anything. If you have a problem all they care about is money. One girl needed to leave because she couldn't afford it anymore and the manager told her that it's not that much money and she should just pay it. You can find much cheaper and much better

Visited the place a few days ago, the place was very clean, one of my family members stayed there and the room was very comfortable.

Amazing place to live in. Truly enjoyed my stay over in Journal. The space made communicating with the community so much easier

Lived here for 5 months and loved the communal areas and the community of students. A perfect place for study abroad students looking to meet friends.

Best student accommodation in Melbourne! Starting with the facilities, this building has everything, new gym, beautiful library, two floors study area, one terrace and a rooftop terrace with the view of the city. In addition, this student accommodation really cares about your social life! Every week there are plenty of events within and outside the building just for knowing your neighbors and having fun with them. Lastly and most importantly, the room is very convenient. I highly recommend this building and I am sure you will feel like home from the first day!

Friendly staff, open spaces, and dedicated study areas make Journal a great place to live. As an international exchange student, the Journal team helped me transition to living in Melbourne, and made the move-in experience very smooth. A lot of events are put on making it easy to connect with other residents and find a support network

Journal is and will be my ONLY student accommodation. It has everything you need internally and externally. From beautiful student lounges (with a pool & table tennis table, Nintendo switch, and even a cinema), conducive study spaces (with a printer), laundry facilities, a fully equipped gym, to countless activities such as yoga, cooking classes, sightseeing trips and many more, Journal has everything you need. Moreover, situated in close proximity to school and the city makes everything super convenient. Friendly staff, and a community are also ever present in Journal, making your stay away from home less of a lonely one. Definitely a 5-star student accommodation.

The Visitor policy is an absolute mess. Highly recommend another place if you don't like living under strict rules and regulations.