We came from the UK and stayed in the Lawson Grove flat for two months (January/February 2022) in order to visit friends and family. The flat immediately makes a good impression in a number of ways. Bronwen’s checkin instructions were concise and simple to follow. The flat is bright and airy with a large loungeroom and bedroom with a very comfortable bed and lots of storage space in wardrobes and chests of drawers. It has a large number of windows on two sides which not only make the flat sunny, they also allow it to cool off at the end of a long, hot Melbourne summer day. January 2022 was brutally hot but the flat cooled down really nicely on virtually all the evenings once the windows were opened. Remember to bring the mozzie repellent though because there are no flyscreens in any of the windows due to heritage restrictions.

The kitchen is small but functional, there are lovely touches included in the utensils such as olive oil, tea and coffee, washing up liquid, so we didn’t have to immediately rush out and buy everything. We did cook quite successfully on many occasions but it was hard to go past the famous Lawson Grove café for breakfast and lunch on many days. A real asset in this community, buzzing virtually every day, friendly staff, great coffee, scrumptious cakes, bagels and larger meals as required. A delightful place to while away the morning and middle of the day. In the evenings if you don’t feel like cooking there are hundreds of restaurants within a few miles in Toorak/South Yarra.

Even though Lawson Grove is very close to the city (you can walk to it in about 30-40 minutes) it has a real community, villagey feel. Our neighbours in the other flats made us very welcome and over two months we got to know them pretty well and found some new friends.

To walk off all those yummy cakes there are delightful and refreshing walks to be had in the nearby Botanical Gardens, surely a lap of the tan is a required daily ritual being so close (about 5 minutes walk away).

There is no dedicated parking but Bronwen supplies a parking permit if you have a car, we always found a spot, frequently in Lawson Grove itself, always within a maximum 5 minute walk.

Overall, the flat is comfortable, reasonably priced (especially for a longer stay), and convenient for central Melbourne and its millions of activities. There is a bit of road noise at night but hey, you’re right in the inner suburbs, so close to the city, it’s 100 yards from the Yarra river! Despite all that it retains a cosy, relaxed feeling.

We would certainly return there any other time we come back to Melbourne.