It's one of the worst roads in Melbourne, and it snakes through two of the city's most exclusive suburbs. The Boulevard is narrow, winding and more "pothole" than "bitumen" in some places, but the residents wouldn't have it any other way.

Councils have periodically sought to repair the road and each time the community has told them to leave it alone.

Ivanhoe residents want to keep the Boulevard in a state of disrepair. Credit:Eddie Jim

"We have fought many battles to preserve this area as it is, which is very rural," said Lorna Ebringer, who has lived on the Boulevard for more than 30 years.

Ms Ebringer and her neighbours fear that if the road is ever fixed, motorists will use it as a rat run and the street's bush charm will be tarred.