Shane Murrell and his birds live by the rhythm of the sea, the wind and the tides. He floats in and out on his kite surfer off Meola Reef, on his paddleboard off Pt Chevalier Beach or on his surfboard at the West Coast beaches, depending on what his flag and tide clock tell him.
Off their front deck overlooking Coyle Park, the friendly magpies (two adults, two babies) share a pine tree with the parakeets that toddle up the little wooden planks Shane nailed so his children could climb up to their swing. Over to the right, Shane points out the pine tree that is home to the shags that turn up here in October.
This is co-habitation heaven, and is home to four of Shane and Melanie's blended family of five children. This bungalow, once the residence of the Coyle Park caretaker, was built around 1910-20 when beachgoers travelled here by tram for a weekend outing at the beachside park.
Previous owners who bought this property from the council have raised it and renovated it, re-orientating its two-storey form with three bedrooms and living on each level to better connect with the park. Downstairs, the three bedrooms and self-contained open-plan living with combined kitchen and dining have given their family flexibility and independence.
