One of my favourite Canberra houses has been listed for sale over the past couple of weeks. Here it is: 2 Macquarie Street, Barton. It's an old house and this photo suggests it's not particularly beautiful. But it is a house I've long had a soft-spot for and often contemplated living in.Once upon a time, about 20 years ago, friends of mine rented this house. This was in the days before it had been renovated. I remember it being quite a dark house but, even then, it was a dark house with good bones. If you visit the real estate agent's website (which is where the photos come from) you'll see what I mean. Fantastic floorboards. Original doors and windows. A fireplace. A window seat in one of the bedrooms. It was also a great party house - and my friends threw lots of great parties, and gatherings that became great parties. The house seemed to bend graciously to accommodate people squashed into its hallway and sitting rooms. A friendly house.
I hadn't thought much about this house until I noticed the 'for sale' sign when I was walking back to work from a dental appointment in Manuka. I couldn't resist peering through the gate to discover that the old garage has been turned into a glorious studio. The agent was there showing someone through and I had to struggle against knocking on the front door and begging to be allowed to visit. Thank goodness for websites - back at work I was able to take a virtual peek. But by then I had dreamt the house into being my dream house. It is across the road from an excellent public school. A couple of blocks from a great park. A short easy walk to the cafes of both Manuka and Kingston. I could walk to work. Mr M could walk to school. J could walk to the weekend markets. We would save so much money by not having to drive to all the places we now drive to. Whatever the price, the house was, obviously, a bargain and perfect for us.
Of course, there were disadvantages. The house doesn't have a garage. J and I would only argue over possession of the studio (see below), despite the house also having a study that opens onto a courtyard. Oh, and, oops, yes, the price tag was over $1 million.
So we haven't bought 2 Macquarie Street. Someone else has (although I've noticed it is under offer for less than $1 million). And it will, I'm sure, be many years before it is on the market again. But I've had a lovely time recalling what it was like to visit friends and sit in their living room talking and eating and drinking. And dreaming of what might have been if I'd had a spare million.
