Heritage Home Backyard Bliss!

Anyone fortunate enough to know JEN and DUNCAN BOND will attest that they’re a couple making the most of every single Singapore second. With a gracious black-and-white colonial house as their base, they work hard, play hard and lead an active life with their tribe of three kids in tow. We stopped by for a visit and a chat with Jen.

- GEORGINA HOCKLEY

Tell us a bit about yourself and your beautiful family.

Like many adventure-seeking Australians, at 27 I applied for a working-holiday visa to the UK. Taking leave without pay from corporate finance work in Melbourne, I left for London with a backpack, suitcase and one-way ticket…

While I’d intended to travel for a few months, I somehow landed in the middle of Rio Tinto’s divestment programme shortly after I arrived – in hindsight it was fortunate given the global financial crisis was just around the corner. Twenty months later, I was being lured to Singapore by my then boyfriend (now husband) Duncan who works in shipping. Thankfully, with Rio Tinto’s growing presence in Singapore I was lucky to be transferred here with the company.

As Singapore has such a large shipping community, 13 years later we’re still here enjoying the incredible life that the Little Red Dot has to offer. And in that time three little people have joined us on this wild ride!

Being here for 13 years, you must have lived in a few places! What are some of your top non-negotiables with property?

As sport-loving Aussies, non-negotiables include a pool and access by foot to a running corridor or park. Equally high on the list of essentials are a good location, space and natural light.

When we first arrived in Singapore as a professional couple, condo living was attractive to optimise facilities and location. As our little brood grew in size and energy, our priority shifted to obtaining noise-dissipating space, a backyard for flying balls, and room to simply “be” as a family. As busy working parents, it’s nice to come home to a place where we can relax.

Did you always have your eye on a colonial home, or was it a happy coincidence that you ended up in one?