Home is where the heart is. It’s also the place where you build a sense of belonging and community and where you create a wealth of family memories. So how do you find that happy place?
Trevor Dunn and wife, Linda were enjoying a Sunday afternoon drive when they discovered Port Coogee.
At the time, the couple were living in a riverside suburb of Perth, but they were instantly drawn to the coastal community taking shape 5km from the beating heart of Fremantle.
Trevor and Linda Dunn were instantly drawn to the coastal community of Port Coogee. Picture: Supplied.
Developed by Frasers Property, the Port Coogee community lies on the shores of the Indian Ocean and includes a world-class marina, beaches, parks, playgrounds, and a village centre with shops and cafes. Like the Dunns, many of the residents who have settled there can’t imagine ever leaving.
“I was blown away by the location and the quality of the development,” recalls Trevor.
“Although we didn’t make any plans then, I remember saying ‘wouldn’t it be nice to live in this neck of the woods?’ Within a couple of weeks, we went on holiday with friends in Bali and I found myself designing a house for a block in Port Coogee.”
Within months, Trevor and Linda began building the home that has connected them to a new lifestyle, new friendships and a new sense of peace and wellbeing.
So, what are the signs that you’ve found your forever neighbourhood?
1. It’s the kind of place you talked about living in for years
“When I met my wife 20 years ago, during our very first conversation, we talked about life and out of the blue I asked Linda where she dreamed about living,” says Trevor.
“She wanted to live next to the beach and when we drove through this place, the memory of that conversation came back and I knew we’d like living here. We overlook the ocean and are 50 steps from the water.”
The marina is another drawcard for when Trevor, a project director, eventually retires and splashes out on a boat!
Port Coogee is located right on the water. Picture: Supplied
2. Your neighbours put your bins out when you go away
Whether you travel interstate or overseas, it’s good to know that the people in your street are looking out for you by collecting your post and emptying your bins.
“It’s important to trust the community you live in,” says Trevor.
“When we go away, people pick up the paper, or put out the bins. They keep an eye on the house and that’s a nice feeling.”
3. The barista knows just how you like your coffee
When you are rushing to work and need a caffeine hit, you can rely on your favourite coffee spot to make a perfect chai latte.
And on a lazy Sunday morning, the local café knows exactly how you like your eggs poached.
It’s the personal touches that make a place like Port Coogee a true community.
Port Coogee’s cafe is a popular spot for locals to meet. Picture: Supplied.
4. You feel part of a community
During the building process, Trevor and Linda, visited their block to see their home taking shape. Along the way, they met the neighbours who are now part of their lives.
“People who live nearby told us about First Friday – where neighbours bring food and a drink and get together on a Friday afternoon. Frasers Property also had a meet the neighbour function one evening which was nice and they organise functions like dinner at dusk when we get together with friends,” says Trevor.
Throughout the building process Trevor and Linda met neighbours who then became their friends. Picture: Supplied
5. You’re proud to show your friends where you live
Frasers Property have been creating communities for 95 years – all with a theme of ‘live proud’. This ethos underpins neighbourhoods like Port Coogee and makes them places that people are proud to share and call home.
Some family members even follow in their footsteps.
“My stepson has recently bought a block of land that is a Fraser’s development in Baldivis. They’re a young couple with a one-year-old nipper,” says Trevor.
“While we might change houses a few times in the future, this place is it for us.”
This article was originally published on
8 Oct 2019 at 9:09am
but has been regularly updated to keep the information current.