Morning light through the courtyard.
Helen's up first. Robe. Kettle. Daily quiz.
She shouts the answers, calls the paper wrong, Googles herself right.
Gary wanders in, dropping toast crumbs across the hybrid floors.
Helen glares. "Miele kitchen" she reminds him.
Stone benches smoother than Gary's head.
Soft-close cupboards that respond better than their adult children.
They weren't house-hunting.
They were "in town". Dentist. David Jones. Lunch somewhere that still has waiters.
They don't do QR codes. Not since The Grill'd Incident of '21.
Then boom. City pad.
Bought it clean out from under two first-home buyers and a nurse named Sophie.
Helen whispered, "We could always rent it out".. knowing full well they won't.
Ground floor. No stairs. Two bedrooms.
One for sleeping. One for the "good linen."
They still call their Blairgowrie house "the main residence".
This one's for "when we're in town."
Translation: avoiding tourists and pretending to be urban.
Tram to Victoria Street for lunch.
Free seniors' pass flashed like royalty.
Gary orders fow instead of pho and insists "that's how locals say it".
Stop at Victoria Gardens for "a quick browse"
Ends in an Adairs bag and twenty minutes of quiet resentment.
Back home. Courtyard wine hour.
Helen pours Butterball like it's cardio.
Gary reads headlines aloud until someone agrees with him.
Chardonnay-fuelled character assassination follows shortly after.
Thursday raffle night at The Beehive.
Helen's got her eyes on the meat tray; Gary's got his on the regulars.
They're fresh off the Peninsula, but you'd never know.. they clap like they built the place.
They check the time. 8:45. Practically midnight.
Home by nine. Lights dimmed. Air-con set to "Antarctica."
Helen in the ensuite muttering about mirror lighting.
Gary brushing his teeth like it's a tax deduction.
The Lexus rests below.
Its first underground experience since the Chadstone car park of 2013.
They slide into bed. Mortgage-free and mildly tipsy.
Helen scrolls travel deals. Gary snores through Europe.
They turn off the lamps. Satisfied. Smug.
Who said the Australian dream was dead?
Finer Details
Owners Corporation Fees: $6,351 per annum (approx.)
Council Rates: $1,200 per annum (approx.)
Water Rates: $792 per annum (approx.)
Rental Appraisal: $700-$750 per week (approx.)
Internal Size: 80sqm (approx.)
External Size: 22sqm (approx.)
Year Built: 2019
Title: Strata
No. In Building: 1 of 10
Owner Occupied vs Rented: 85/15
Deposit & Settlement: 10% Deposit, 30-60 Days Settlement
Nearby Amenities
Primary School Zone: Hawthorn West Primary School
Secondary School Zone: Richmond High School, Melbourne Girls College
Closest Supermarket: Leo's Fine Food & Wine Supermarket (1km) & Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre (1.3km)
Closest Train Station: Hawthorn Station (1.5km)
Closest Tram: No. 109 (40m) & 48 (80m)
Closest Park: Foley Reserve (350m)
*All information has been sourced from the vendor and third-party platforms. While deemed reliable, accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Buyers are encouraged to make their own enquiries to verify all details.
