EBENEZER HOWARD is relatively unknown today, but it was his vision of utopian garden suburbs where people lived in harmony with nature that is the basis for today’s Coolbinia.
And if you think that’s a big call, check out the council webpage.
Publication of Howard’s Garden Cities of Tomorrow in 1898 sparked the garden city movement in the UK, a model that soon spread to the newly established Commonwealth of Australia, where it became the source document of the Great Australian Dream: Big blocks, room for a vegie patch, grass for kids to play, and trees.
Coolbinia is Aboriginal for mistletoe: The indigenous orange-flowering Christmas trees are few and far between today, but the suburb remains a jealously guarded green oasis with soaring leafy European trees, in line with the thinking in the 1940/50s.
Coolbinians are passionate about keeping it that way and have fought and won a couple of pushes by greedy state governments to permit subdivisions and high-rise development, real estate agent Paul Collins says.
“Coolbinia is protected by a single dwelling covenant. It’s a garden suburb, dominated by parks.”
There’s one just a minute’s walk from this four-bedroom Meenaar Crescent home.
If Howard was here today he’d thoroughly approve of this modern, family home sitting on a generous 892sqm.
The vegie patch has been replaced by a pool but there’s still a huge swathe of grass for the kids and trees, including a stand of magnolias across the rear fence, creating a sweet-scented privacy screen for the solar-heated, salt-water pool.
Open-plan living was unheard of in Howard’s day, and there’s every chance he’d be kicking himself for not thinking of it.
This home has acres of it in a cavernous living/dining/kitchen.
The vendors built the home intending to stay so there’s a meticulous attention to detail, including video intercom, inbuilt sound system, high ceilings, and ducted air conditioning.
It was Melbourne Cup day when the Voice rocked up and the huge kitchen was a hub of activity, including mouth-watering Vietnamese prawn rolls being prepared on the vast, granite island bench.
There’s no shortage of storage either with soft closing drawers and a walk-in-pantry.
Whether it was an indoor or outdoor affair there’s space aplenty for guests in the vast living room, with a gas fireplace to keep things cosy when required.
Floor-to-ceiling sliding doors/windows open onto a cathedral ceilinged patio, extending the entertainment options off the living area.
A north-facing orientation means plenty of shade in the summer, and warming sun’s rays in winter.
The main bedroom is at the front of the home, a commodious space with walk-in robe and cute arched double plantation shutters onto a spacious ensuite, with separate shower and bath, and toilet.
The kids’ bedrooms are at the rear of the house, all double, and two with walk-in robes.
Along with a plentitude of parks and ovals, the local primary school is a few minutes’ walk down the street, while the high school and Edith Cowan Uni are just down the road.
And there’s no shortage of shops or cafes a short drive away.
by JENNY D’ANGER
38 Meenaar Crescent, Coolbinia
$1.85 million
Paul Collins
0418 958 173
Lloyd Collins Property Consultants
Perth Voice Interactive 
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