THE GOOD LIFE
Worlds apart but both offering a LAID-BACK yet REFINED LIFESTYLE, these locations in two of Singaporeans’ favourite foreign property markets will have you thinking – BUSINESS OR PLEASURE? By Yanni Tan and Gary Jones.
Hotspots of Primrose Hill in London and the Margaret River Region in Australia伦敦珀斯房市看点
PRIMROSE HILL, LONDON
This picturesque district at the northern edge of London’s sprawling Regent’s Park is one of the most desirable residential neighbourhoods in the British capital. With its urban-village vibe, plentiful green escapes, relatively sparse traffic and a multitude of boutiques, delis, restaurants and cafes that spill onto pavements come summer, this self-contained enclave has long attracted celebrity homebuyers.
In fact, you may have already been charmed by the Primrose Hill’s pastel-coloured townhouses in Chalcot Crescent, which was used as the Browns’ family home in the movie Paddington. Poet Sylvia Plath was also one famous resident there.
What’s more, the many character-filled pubs and attractions of Camden, including the popular Camden Market, are right on Primrose Hill’s well-scrubbed doorstep. Easy access to the bright lights, cinemas and theatres of the West End are a pull. And at the summit of this grassy hill are panoramic views of London. There is also the biannual Primrose Hill Festival that features street food, cool pop-ups and indie labels.
In the 1990s, Primrose Hill was a celebrated stamping ground of the privileged “It” girls and boys of Britpop, the Young British Artist movement and a vibrant home-grown film industry then churning out global hits such as Trainspotting and The Full Monty. Actors Jude Law, Sienna Miller, Ewan Mcgregor and Daniel Craig, musicians Liam and Noel Gallagher, as well as model Kate Moss have all at one time or another been members of the Primrose Hill Set.
Tales of the gang’s antics fell out of the tabloids and the paparazzi no longer prowl Primrose Hill, which has returned to the gentility exemplified by its beautifully restored Regency, Victorian and Edwardian townhouses, with their high ceilings and characteristic tall windows.
Playwright Alan Bennett and celebrity chef Jamie Oliver call family-friendly Primrose Hill home today. The area is also popular with professional American and French homebuyers, thanks to the proximity of the American School and the Collège Français Bilingue de Londres in neighbouring St John’s Wood and Kentish Town respectively.
Smaller townhouses in Primrose Hill start from about £3.5 million (S$6.2 million), rising to a basic £5 million or more for a five-bedroom home. Regency-style detached homes easily command £10 million and beyond.
YALLINGUP & DUNSBOROUGH, MARGARET RIVER REGION
While Australia’s Margaret River Region is famous for its wines, what’s probably lesser known is its status as a world-class holiday haven. Named 2019’s number one Asia-pacific destination by Lonely Planet, it is located in the state of Western Australia and a scenic three-hour drive south of Perth. A premier domestic tourist region, this relaxed corner of Down Under features a unique combination of attractions, which includes pristine beaches, karri (eucalyptus) forests, premium wineries, craft beer breweries, fine restaurants, handicraft shops and farmers’ markets.
The Margaret River Region is also blessed with a Mediterranean maritime climate, which draws visitors around the year with four seasons that are mild and pleasant. It is little wonder that international tourists enchanted by the region have been snapping up properties there.
The Busselton Margaret River Airport completed recent runway and terminal upgrades, with a new direct domestic Jetstar route from Melbourne on the cards. Now having the capacity to support wide-body aircraft including the Airbus A330 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the airport is touted as an alternate international airport to Perth with the future potential to accept flights from global gateways such as Singapore.
Those dreaming of an idyllic life there should look to two townships: Yallingup and Dunsborough. Named in the local aboriginal dialect as “place of caves”, Yallingup boasts a splendid location atop a ridge, surrounded by the Leeuwin-naturaliste National Park with a bird’s-eye view westwards over the stunning Yallingup Beach.
The tranquil, crystal-clear lagoon of Yallingup Beach is excellent for sea sports, while its rugged cliffs, the 135km Cape to Cape hiking trail and Ngilgi Cave make for fine exploration. Smiths Beach and Injidup are also awesome spots to watch the surf. So inspiring is Yallingup’s landscape that it has become a hub for artisans, with more galleries and studios than anywhere else in the Margaret River Region. Living up to its popularity, Australian Traveller magazine has named Yallingup number one in its 100 Best Towns in Australia 2019 issue.
Located on the turquoise banks of Geographe Bay and the Ngari Capes Marine Park, the township of Dunsborough is perfect for families and nature lovers. Its calm and sandy shores are conveniently linked to town. It also flaunts a vibrant cafe culture and indie boutique scene, as well as bustling nightlife. For the active set, Dunsborough offers various watersports, whale watching (check out Naturaliste Charters at whales-australia.com.au), trail hiking and golfing at its two golf courses. Attractions include the working Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, Sugarloaf Rock, the starting point of the Cape to Cape trail, and interesting wineries and farms.