FORGET the car. From this enviable address you can walk to work, (the hospital is three minutes away), walk to the tennis courts, the aquatic centre, Queen Elizabeth oval, the arts precinct, cafes and shops. 

However there is a four-car garage with concrete floor, power, lights and a workshop if you prefer to drive.

The rough-cast and weatherboard home, on an elevated allotment, is a lovely example of the much-admired California bungalow-style.

Freshly painted, the interior has many original features still in place such as leadlight windows, polished floorboards, and panel doors. 

A stunning jacaranda tree provides shade at the front, there are leafy green pockets of garden and fruit trees along the north side.

The main bedroom features decorative fleur-de-lis pattern cornicing and leadlight bay windows. In the lounge room the elegantly draped bay windows are repeated, this time starring with a handsome mirrored mahogany fireplace with a gas log fire. 

Built-in wardrobes are in two of the bedrooms, with all three sharing a bright two-piece bathroom with a shower over the bath.

The kitchen, with room for a dresser, has an as-new Belling upright gas stove, dishwasher and breakfast bar and opens to a large dining and second living area with warm cork tiles, reverse-cycle split-system and a stain-glass clerestory window. 

From here, french doors open to lovely choices for relaxing and entertaining: a large undercover alfresco area on one level overlooks a sunny Mediterranean-style courtyard with a central fountain, the other. You can enjoy tree-top views from both the front verandah and patio. 

There's a wall of cupboards in the laundry and a separate toilet off it. Ceiling fans, external awnings and security lights are some of the extras.

And by the way. The street name has nothing to do with the weather, it's named after a police officer - a Mr Drought. 

Suburb: Bendigo

Address: 41 Drought Street

Price: $450,000 - $475,000 

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 1

Carparks:  4

Agent: Luke Goggin Real Estate phone Kelvin Dows on 0417 314 149 or 5442 1422