[4] Ravenswood was begun in 1891 for financier Robert William Kennedy on four acres of land rising from the north side of Lower Heidelberg Road.

Although only a small area, Ivanhoe East has its own church, newsagent, fruit store, butcher, milk bar, supermarket, bakery and community bank.

Over that 16-year period between May 1994 and May 2010 median house prices within Ivanhoe East have increased from A$250,000 to A$1.25 million,[7] representing an annual average growth rate of approximately 10.6%.

[3] In a separate article The Age notes that[8] "there is no shortage of trees and parkland in Ivanhoe with large blocks, waterways and hilly vistas as trademarks of the area.

Well regarded residential streets within the Ivanhoe East area include; The Boulevard and surrounding tree-lined streets such as Wallis Avenue, Otterington Grove, Hardy Terrace; Keam and Streeton on the Yarra River side, as well as properties within the Beauview Estate Heritage Overlay Precinct such as York, King and Beauview Parade.