Welcome To Boom Town: How Sea-Changers Found New Life In Geelong
For Danny and Jessica Abbas COVID was a catalyst when they moved to Armstrong, one of the new estates at Mount Duneed, in August. The couple had formerly loved city life in an apartment in Essendon.
But Melbourne lost its lustre after they weathered the worst of lockdown in a caravan while saving for a house. And Danny, an accountant, can work from home.
“Once that option opened up and we found this estate it just seemed like the perfect match and we didn’t think too long,” Danny says. “It looks like we are just part of a statistic, but we love it down here.”
They were cool with the “cookie-cutter build” of their home, Jessica says, because her father is a builder and could help them add their own touches.
Jessica, a visual merchandiser, has loved decorating it in neutral shades, with pot plants, gauzy curtains, a decorative fireplace and a framed TV on the wall that displays artwork when not switched on.
The couple have already made friends at church in Ocean Grove. They are a 12-minute drive from the beach. Jessica, who is pregnant, is looking forward to spending time with other mothers at the estate’s leisure centre, Club Armstrong. Danny uses the gym at the club.
“People are way more friendly here than in Melbourne,” Jessica says. Early in her pregnancy, and craving fries from McDonalds, Jessica was amazed when the guy taking her order at the drive-through window chatted to her for five minutes.
“I just came home and I went ‘Damn, people here are so nice’. Everyone’s pace here is chill, it’s great. It’s so different to Melbourne’s pace.”
Originally Published in The Age 06/03/22