The brick and tile house was built in the 1930s. It has leadlight windows, ornate ceilings, tuck-pointing and has recently been renovated including a large modern kitchen and dining room and under-roof outdoor entertainment area. It is fully equipped and there is reverse cycle air-conditioning.

Perth is a small city which offers the amenities of much larger ones including art galleries, museums, theatres, state ballet and opera companies, arts festivals, restaurants and a casino. The coast is fringed with kilometres of white sandy beaches and there is coral reef a few kilometres across the Indian Ocean on car-free Rottnest Island. There are vinyards nearby and walks and cycle paths along the Swan River and in the hills, including the Bibbulman and Mundabiddy trails undulating hundreds of kilometres through pristine forests and along deserted beaches. The house will be available from mid December 2010. I am a single 58 year old teacher with adult children in Melbourne and Broome, family in Cambridge, England, and friends in Maryland, Vancouver, Malaysia and elsewhere. I have travelled extensively and look forward to doing more.

I am flexible about when people come to stay as I can live in the detached studio. Perth is hot and dry from December to March, mild and sunny in mid autumn and spring, and usually wet in winter (June to August).

When away I have a fully insured 2004 Subaru Forester automatic all wheel drive car available (and a bike and kayak).