14 Cassar Place, Carlton North VIC 3054

We moved into this home ten years ago with our two year old son.  We had both lived in the area for many years as tenants and were excited about purchasing a home in this neighbourhood.  We have really loved it here and we have agonized over the decision to move as it is such an ideal location and also very tightly held by existing residents.

The development overall is lovely and quiet.  Most of the properties are owner occupied and we have lovely neighbours that have become friends over the years.  The outlook over the school and to the city beyond has given us a sense of space that is hard to find in the inner city.  There are plenty of birds that inhabit the trees, including a family of Tawny Frogmouths, Wattlebirds and Parrots.  We also have some resident possums that are quite tame and are often seen on the fence we share with the school (no, not on the roof!), much to the delight of our children.  Princes Hill, being bordered by parkland on three sides has very little traffic and feels tucked away from the surrounding hustle and bustle.

When we first moved here we weren’t really thinking about education for our children, but it ended up being very convenient for us.  Our kids have attended the Maternal Health Centre, Kindergarten, and Primary school right next door and will be moving on to Princes Hill Secondary College two blocks away.  We can walk or ride to everything.  It saves hours of commuting time every week.  The neighbouring schools are all highly regarded and are becoming increasingly difficult to secure places in for those not living in the designated school zones.

Local shopping and eating options also seem to keep improving with each year that goes by.  Barkly Square, a short walk away, has all the basics and has recently been refurbished and improved.  There are literally hundreds of cafes, restaurants and pubs within a short distance of home.  It’s great not to have to fight for parking each time we go out as we can usually walk, ride or catch the tram.

Being so close to Princes Park and the connecting bike baths has been fantastic.  It’s a popular place and has a great vibe of activity.  The school grounds also provide a great play space out of school hours and are left open to the public to use.  We have also made use of the Railway House and Bocce Club across the road for the odd social gathering, as do many of the local residents.

We have two cars and have loved being able to park right outside the house.  Many of our friends in the area complain of not being able to park around their homes, particularly as the area now attracts more weekend visitors.  We also qualify for parking permits for three cars at present (including a visitor’s pass), so can park all day in the limited time spaces and permit zones in surrounding streets.

We have found this home to be really comfortable to live in.  It rarely gets cold and the heating and cooling means that we can always get the temperature right.  The bi-fold doors have really opened up our living area and allowed us a more versatile space for entertaining.  We have all enjoyed the large bedrooms which have given us all plenty of personal space.

We are certain that the next owners of this home will enjoy all the things it has to offer.