Box Hill is the main ‘hub’ in the City of Whitehorse, combining shops, fresh food market, major office, education and medical facilities, civic functions, community service agencies, and entertainment and recreational opportunities for the regional and local populations. Box Hill has the busiest suburban transport interchange and provides great access by bringing together train, tram and bus services. Within walking distance of public transport is the Box Hill Institute, and the Box Hill and Epworth Hospitals, which offer health and related services, and employment and study opportunities for a wide catchment of people.

Box Hill’s retail offer includes Centro Box Hill North and the Centro Box Hill South shopping centres which also  has the well-known Box Hill fresh food market. The majority of the shops, other than in the Centro centres, are located on the streets immediately surrounding these centres, such as Whitehorse Road  and  Station Street and along the pedestrian mall in the heart of Box Hill.

Box Hill is known for its cultural diversity with its strong specialisation in Asian cuisine and retail. Due to this specialisation, it provides a regional profile for the centre thus making it a unique destination within the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. The principal restaurant and café area is clustered around Station Street, Carrington Road and Whitehorse Road. The majority of these restaurants and cafes are of Asian influence with, Korean, Japanese, Indonesian, Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai restaurants featuring prominently. The Centro centres also provide many casual eating opportunities.