I ended up extending my stay at Richard's place a fair bit longer than I had initially anticipated, thanks to the realities of Melbourne's 4 months lock down. I was very fortunate to have such a tranquil and lovely space to spend all those hours working from home from the living room during the lockdown.
Firstly, the balcony and garden are pretty much as described - it is very important to note that there is essentially no maintenance required ... the plant have a very comprehensive self irrigation system in place, so I did not need to water them at all in the time I spent in the flat.
The space itself is infused with a very personal style which was a lovely change from the hermetically white shaded apartments usually leased in this area. Everything was clean and the little touches, such as the extensive CD and DVD collections were much appreciated. The bed was comfortable and all amenities worked well during my stay. There was minimal ambient noise during the night - so I had no issues with sleeping or privacy, or neighbours.
I was lucky enough to be able to enjoy a bit of Melbourne towards the end of my stay as we came out of lockdown, so I can verify that you are within walking distance of trams, art galleries and of course, the Southbank restaurants and the city. I would highly recommend a walk or run on the Tan - the track that circumnavigates the Botanical Gardens.
I made good use of the Broad Bean cafe and organic food store right around the corner but there were supermarkets in proximity.
I would definately recommend this space which is one of the nicest I've been in so far and was a little oasis in a very, very strange and troubled time in our lives.
Finally, Richard and Colin were always very contactable and communicated promptly, clearly and were extremely generous with their recommendations and hospitality. Thank you both for hosting me - you space is part of my personal history!