The Boring Bits

Between the kitchen, at the front, and the bedrooms, at the rear, a passage runs down the house centre. On the left or South side are the three boring rooms.

Our "dated" bathroom

Closest to the bedrooms is the main bathroom. At best it could be quaintly described as "dated". If money was bountiful, it would be the first to get the "The Block" treatment.

Back up immediately behind the kitchen are two 'service' rooms. The first is more or less a rear entry hall or utility room. It can accomodate storage cupboards or materials best stored near the back door, such as dirty boots and fishing gear.

This room has an open doorway into the laundry. A gain this is rather "dated" but all you need is a sink, a bench and room for the washer. The bonus to this room is the second shower and toilet. Both have their own door/screen for privacy, so in effect the house has two bathrooms.

A nice big garage

The final room of note is the double garage below. It lies below the house due to the slope of the block. It is larger than double garage size allowing for shelving and other storage. Best of all as the house is raised, a door at the ree allows access into the foundation are that are high enough to stand belos allowing for storage of surfboards and other paraphenalia.

The Bedrooms

There are three bedrooms at the end of the house at the end of a passageway which runs centrally from the kitchen/dining rooms.

All three rooms are reasonable size, but the two larger rooms are right at the rear of the house.

Bedroom 1 The "Guest" room

Bedroom 1 is at the SW or rear/left corner and had a sea view at our first insection. Unfortunately contruction just around the corner has blocked this view. Fortunately the front views cannot be broken by rogue construction unless the council permits building on the bitumen. It will easily hold a queen bed and a single/bunk bed with room for robes.Bedroom 2 the "KIDS" Room

Bedroom 2 on the NW or rear/right is the largest of the three. It boasts 2 windows that keeps it bright in winter sun. There are no built in robes but it is large enough to accomodate three single bed and/or bunks and a wardrobe. Unfortunately this means it will be the kids room.Bedroom 3 "Our" room

Bedroom three is the smallest but is the only one to boast built in robe. At a pinch one should be able to fit both queen and single/bunk but we are inclined to keep it for ourselves and only add a mattress on the floor at a pinch.

When fully furnished as we would like, the house could sleep a dozen in bed and still have a bed/settee in the lounge available. At this rate we could make a lot of money charging all relatives/friends looking to stay over............ You weren't looking for a freebie were you?

The Lounge Room

View from lounge room towards kitchen/dining area

Located just inside the. main entrance to the right of an open doorway.

Looking into lounge room from dining area

At over 4.5m long it provides plenty of space to TV, a couple of couches and the odd bean bag or two...........well it is a holiday house.

Kitchen and Living room

The living/dining area is reasnably generous with plenty of space for dining table and we are contemplating a billiard table. Our little drawings suggest one should fit, but we wont know how practical it is till we have it in place.







The kitchen is basic yet functional. Appliances are westinghouse stove/oven and an asko dishwasher. Flooring is lino and although not to taste will stay as hard floors throughout will make cleaning easy.

Imagine washing dishes looking at the sea

The beach is seen from the kitchen window, so one can decide on a surf whilst making the morning coffee. I'd even suggest it is as close to the beach as Liz's parents on Beach Road Mentone, but the road we cross are nowhere as busy or dangerous. There won't be cars parked blocking our driveaway either as summer "crowds" are not as bad as in Melbourne.

Room for a billiard table?

About the House

Front view (beach to left)

The house is located on the western side of Port Fairy. In an area that is a little away from the main holiday crowds concentrated on the four caravan parks. This section is a mixture of permanent abodes and holiday houses.

Take a quick look at google earth for 13 Powling Street and you can appreciate why web consider it a great location. Close to a safe family friendly beach about 300m walk and still close enough to town to warrant a sub 10 minute walk to the shops or a very pleasant ride.

We only intend to furnish lightly because it is to be a holiday house. A place for relaxation, so equipment will modest and on the simple side.

The picture above is hard to see, but provides a little idea of layout. Front of house is to the left.

Front deck to the beach.
You can see waves behind last telegraph pole.

Front faces east on a modest block. The beach is to the south (left of the front-on photograph at the top of this post). It can be seen from the kitchen and front deck and will never be lost as we look down the street and building restrictions prevent building too close to the road.

View from rear towards front (east)

The blocks slopes up front to back. The house is a 50's wood house relocated or raised into current position allowing a double garage below.

Looking up to main entrance on NE corner

House level begins with a front deck/balcony wrapping around to the entrance. Entry is on the northern side into living/dining/kitchen open plan area.

Front balcony

A passage running centrally e-w has a 'rear-entry' storage area first on the left open to the laundry that features a second toilet and shower. Next on the left is the bathroom, decidely dated, but functional. At the rear of the house are the three bedrooms.

Where it all began

We've been thinking about a home for about a year, perhaps more.

The choice location was pretty easy; somewhere near the sea, offering interest and activities for all of us, but not as commercial or crowded as Lorne or Torquay in the summer. Pretty quickly Port Fairy featured in discussions. It has much to offer, nice atmosphere, good cafes and restaurants. Plenty of activities from fishing to riding, to swimming, to regular sports facilities such as thise found with a reasonable council sports centre.

Initially we contemplated combining resources with a few friends, but after a few inspections and talks to the bank manager, we decided that the financial risk was not to far out of reach if the right place could be found.

It all appeared to be going slowly, places appeared good on web page searches, but didn't quite fit.

After a brief visit to inspect two houses that didn't fit, a private drive around time revealed a house with a for sale sign out front that hadn't been noticed before. A visit to the agent's office revealed it ws new and not fully listed. Still we were intrigued.

The inspection wasn't ideal in failing light with no electricity to see all the flaws, but there was enough there to pique interest.

It was listed a little higher than our budget, but not too far to make an offer. A little offer/counter offer followed before an agreed price was reached.

This is where we stand. not quite over the line. Contracts signed awaiting the final formal approval. We maybe counting chickens still, but remain confident final approval is a formality.

Ohhhhhh we owe real money

Now we've done it.

A decade ago, when contemplating the idea of a holiday a house wasn't in the equation. Now older and with a young child memories of funtime visiting one particular place as a holiday destination come flooding back. All thise times with family and special friends playing, exploring and just plain chilling out remain great and treasured memories.

Perhaps these romantic memories of yester year influenced our decision to purchase a neat little place in Port Fairy as a special place our daughter can develop her own special memories.

We look forward to long summer holidays, family times and sharing with friends.