Let's call this patch of land in Burnie Street, Lyons, Barclay County, where neighbours never run out of milk and always have someone handy to mind the children and walk the dogs.
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The Barclay neighbourhood was created when the family bought four separate homes in nine years on blocks at least 724 square metres or more, adjoining one another. It is quite a spread of land. Now it's all going under the hammer.
Financial planner Steven Barclay began buying in 2009 with the aim of consolidating and developing the blocks when planning laws changed to intensify development around Woden Town Centre. He was prepared to wait too.
But three events have caused him to strike now and sell, hopefully to a town house developer – entry into the market of Mr Fluffy buyers; low interest rates; and the unexpected arrival two years ago of twins, Ellie and Asher. As well, after seeing an auction in Curtin last week when a four-bedroom home at 46 Munro Street in neighbouring Curtin sold under the hammer for $1.42 million, Mr Barclay reckons Lyons' turn is the next.
He bought 59 Burnie Street in 2006, making an offer, only to see it taken off the market. "Six months later a new agent took over and they were more realistic on the price, we paid $391,000. They were looking for something with a four in front of it, I was looking to pay $380,000," Mr Barclay said. Buyer and seller met in the middle. He and his wife, Michelle, have lived there ever since.
Eighteen months later a friend who owned 63 Burnie Street decided to sell and move to Queensland. "I convinced my father he should buy that, we negotiated a private purchase on that one." Geoff Barclay paid $440,000 for the three-bedroom home on a 755 square metre block and has lived there ever since.
The financial planner then attempted to negotiate with the person in the middle, going around the agent. "In the end he [the vendor] realised I was very keen to buy it and the agent convinced him with someone as keen as me to buy it, if they put it on the market, they may find someone equally as keen on the other side and we may end up paying more," Mr Barclay said.
That's exactly what happened. A rival bidder forced him to $444,000 to secure 61 Burnie Street. That is where his father-in-law Henry Skorupa lives as a tenant.
The final property, 65 Burnie Street, was a private sale. "The people living next door were looking to move out, my father approached the owner and we purchased that, with my brother." They paid $535,000.
Michelle Barclay loves her neighbours. "My father comes over every day. If we ever run out of milk we go house to house, looking," she said.
"That's our big concern, selling and regretting it afterwards," Mr Barclay said.
His sister Alison Barclay works from home, can see her nieces every day, often babysits and doesn't need a car because she can borrow one.
The family neighbourhood should disappear after Ray White Belconnen agent Ben Faulks auctions all four homes on July 2. Mr Faulks says the combined listing offers 3008 square metres, and reckons up to 10 dwellings could be built on the site.
Mr Barclay says advice from architects and others is people are in the market now looking for town houses in Lyons, and RZ2 planning laws would enable a development with basement car parking and two-storey dwellings.
