Backyard bars are summer's big trend – realestate.com.au – realestate.com.au

Fiona Killman, Real Estate Reporter
First published 25 Sep 2023, 5:00am
Pod O’Sullivan’s outdoor kitchen is one of two in the world with Guinness beer on tap, according to the Guinness Factory in Ireland. Picture: David Swift
Sydneysiders are finding new ways to keep cool ahead of what’s expected to be a sweltering summer with unique backyard drinking holes.
The spike in temperature has seen a sudden and earlier than predicted surge in outdoor entertaining as pool covers are lifted, outdoor kitchens dusted off and bars stocked.
The home bar has been evolving over the years and becoming an increasingly popular feature when it comes to selling a home.
A home in Sydney’s northwest has an incredibly unique aspect to its outdoor kitchen.
Gladesville Irishman Padraig ‘Pod’ O’Sullivan and his wife Carole Field added a Guinness and Pale Ale beer tap during their major renovation works in 2018 in honour of Mr O’Sullivan’s late father, who spent “many hours at the bar” with a love for Guinness.
Pod O’Sullivan and Carole Field at their Gladesville home which is on the market. The Guinness tap was empty at the time this photo was taken, with a Pale Ale in Pod’s hand. Picture: David Swift
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When the couple’s son-in-law visited the Guinness Factory in Dublin, he told the staff about the Sydney backyard beer tap.
“They didn’t believe him,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
“As far as they are aware, we are one of two in the world with a Guinness tap in an outdoor kitchen.”
He said another reason for Guinness taps being unusual was that Guinness was hard to maintain with many people not bothering with the upkeep.
“It’s not hard for us, we drink it pretty quickly in our house,” he laughed.
Mr O’Sullivan said when the beer tap was installed their home became very popular for entertaining. Picture: David Swift
“We do a lot of entertaining. When we installed it, we suddenly became very cool with our teenage kids and their friends. Everyone wanted to have their 18th birthday party in our backyard.”
Mr O’Sullivan and Mrs Field are moving on from their home of 12 years at 56 The Strand, Gladesville, with three out of their five children having moved out.
They are going to rent in Sydney while they build a new home on the south coast.
Agent Michael Gallina from Belle Property Hunters Hill said the Gladesville home was something different for the area, not only for the beer tap but the quality of the home which won awards for its renovation works.
The couple won a bronze medal in the Master Builder Awards for the outdoor kitchen renovation.
“People love the beer tap, they walk straight to it and no doubt wish we could be serving drinks at open homes,” he said.
“It’s been a major attraction. You don’t see a lot of beer on tap in homes. We’ve had a few Irish families come just to see the tap as well.”
Mr Gallina said many buyers were attracted to outdoor kitchens due to Australia’s love for entertaining with bars making more of a comeback.
Over in St Ives Chase, a home which sold for $3.5m this week came with a rare swim up bar.
The St Ives Chase home has a swim up bar.
The Balinese style home is definitely an entertainers’ haven.
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The home at 222A Warrimoo Ave was described as an “entertainers’ utopia”, inspired by the owners’ travels throughout South-East Asia.
The two swimming pools are separated by a bridge and have a “resort style” swim up bar.
Meanwhile, south of Sydney, a home listed in Gymea has a full-sized bar to rival any pub or hotel.
The bar is a defining feature of the modern home, at 90 North West Arm Rd, and also comes with a stacking window servery to the timber deck ideal for socialising.
This bar is not in the backyard but has a window servery to outside.
In Western Sydney, a home for sale in Denham Court has a completely different take on a home bar.
The home on Cubitt Drive has a dine-in 1950s style milk bar complete with jukebox, restaurant-style tables and a counter with a cash register.
It is also stocked with a Streets ice cream fridge, Chupa Chup lollipop stand and every kind of soft drink imaginable.
This Western Sydney home has its own milk bar.
A collector’s dream!
Listing agent Joe Safi from LJ Hooker Camden / Bringelly said the milk bar “takes you back in time”.
“It’s separate from the rest of the house so it’s set up like a chill-out spot, a little retreat away from home,” he said.
On yet another level is a home for sale in Kurmond NSW which houses Crusty’s Hot Rods and Collectables.
It’s the ultimate in terms of a home bar and man cave, with a collection of one-off hot rods to a 1950s American diner along with retro artefacts and memorabilia.
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Crusty’s – a property at 579 Bells Line Of Rd Kurmond NSW – is for sale and includes a collection of one-off vehicles, a retro diner and memorabilia.
The property has its very own 1950s diner.
The creator is Paul Bennett, a recognised name in the business of high end hot rods, who described himself as “very ambitions” planning every detail from the diner’s salt and pepper shakers to the chrome-edged red and white booths in the diner.
“I wanted to create an exciting, desirable man cave or functional centre,” he said.
Ironbark Real Estate’s Maurice Mantovani said the property was without doubt the rarest he had marketed let alone seen in his life.
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