John suggested Point Cook after a work colleague mentioned his recently built Point Cook house and how the area was booming. Mum can vouch that I was scouting around looking at blocks, not necessarily with the intention of buying, but just to get some knowledge about it all in case an opportunity arose. I wanted to know what you could get and for how much.

I'd pretty much already picked out "...the house I would build if I ever was to build one..." and scouting for the land in newly built areas also afforded me a chance to find my "dream" home already built and see if I really did like it in real life as much as I did the display home model.

I'd already been to South Morang in the very north of the city, Bundoora a little closer to the city, and Sydenham out west, nor-west. A range of prices, more often than not expensive blocks, or very small blocks with the back of the house butting up against a fence border. Disheartening to say the least.

Then - Point Cook.

We had already decided by this time that we would investigate our builder and the promises of our dream home with minimal payments. "Let's just find out" was the idea behind that, and on our meeting with the builder, all seemed possible so we made a further appointment at a regional office in Point Cook.

We were heartened immensely when the staff member at the local office told us of the development John's colleague had also pointed us to, Innisfail. Bigger blocks and so early in the development that the land prices were at entry level stage. My earlier months of scouting around paid off as I knew the pricing of the blocks was very, very good for the market at that time. The lots also included fencing, and irrigation for front garden including provision of a lawn. Sounded good to us too. At his suggestion, we went and "picked out" a block, Lot 132 CJ Dennis Place, and the rest is history.

Below is part of the Stage 3 plan for our street. The X marks Lot 132, the lot we bought.