Martin's apartment is boasts an exquisite view, is spacious and orderly. The building itself is well maintained and is perfectly situated for plentiful tram routes across great swathes of the city. Most importantly, as he is so often away, Martin appoints his brother to take care of guests: he is extremely polite, flexible and helpful to a tee.

However, the apartment itself, for all its lustre is impersonal, verging on clinical. I was given just two towels (summer in Melbourne might involve trips to the beach, dips in the pool and certainly more than one shower a day). for example. Moreover the furnishing felt like a mid-range hotel; I didn't feel either at home or as though I was in someone else's even. Instead it felt every bit a commercial property.

There is to an unfortunate problem of situation: that section of seemingly endless St Kilda Road is something of a grey zone; neither one thing nor another and does not possess the amenities, still less luxuries one associates with near by areas such as Toorak and South Yarra.

For all that, the view across the King's Domain is sumptuous and endlessly watchable, the apartment is peaceful and the transport links make it perfect for visitors to Melbourne who intend to be busy.