66 Elizabeth Street, Coburg North VIC 3058

We have really enjoyed living at 66 Elizabeth St for 12 years. Previous to us, there was only one other family of five (seven if you include the Nannas who lived in the bungalow!) who lived here. We love how the house has retained its original charm. We often have friends who say how cosy and familiar our house is, and being a double brick house, any tradie that comes over will end up always saying how this little gem will outlive anything built in Coburg Hill Estate.

We particularly love the original 60s light fittings and the blinds. We decided to keep many of the original elements to keep its sense of charm and being truly loved — including the original oven. It is an absolute joy to cook with and adds something special to the kitchen’s way of embracing visitors when entertaining.

The backyard gives us endless joy. We decided to replace the garden with entirely edible produce. There isn’t a meal we have without something from the garden. The large tree next to the bungalow provides shade through to the early afternoon, then to the house itself for the remainder of the afternoon, which allows us to enjoy the private backyard all day.

As far as additions to the house, we have done a lot — when I say we, I mean professional trades people!

Inside, we have had the house totally rewired for safety including adding power on the outside of the house and additional lighting. We removed all the carpets and had the original hardwood floorboards sanded and stained —which we love, we had added very large wardrobes in the bedrooms and upgraded the bathroom, and we have recently repainted inside and outside.

Outside, we have upgraded the outdoor blinds, which provide shade in the Summer afternoons, we have added a water tank that holds enough water for the whole garden, we have had all the asbestos safely removed from the eaves and we’ve had the roof professionally sealed and replaced all gutters and broken tiles on the roof in the past two years.

There is a wonderful sense of community with the neighbours, and we all truly look out for one another. Since we have moved in, the Coburg Hill Estate has been built on the site of the old Kodak factory. We have watched the trees and community grow and the Supermarket hub erected 500 metres up the road which is so convenient. We walk up most mornings to grab a coffee. Lots of cafes and restaurants in the area means we are spoiled for choice, along with a top-notch pharmacy and dentist.

We often find ourselves exploring by foot or by bike along the Merri Creek Trail or Pentridge Precinct and into the neighbouring suburbs – the options are endless. We have enjoyed living here so much that we intend to stay in the same area.