Bluey’s Family Is Moving—And I'd Buy Their House in a Heartbeat
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The rumors are true: Bluey's house is for sale, and the Heelers presumably will be moving out. In the final scenes of last week's episode, "Ghostbasket," fans of the Australian children's cartoon got a glimpse of a for-sale sign in the family's front yard—a shocking turn of events, especially for parents who love the show as much as their kids do and understand all the tough changes it implies. After all, the Heelers, a young family of Blue Heeler dogs (thus their names) who live in Brisbane, Australia, have friendly neighbors with kids the same ages as their little girls, Bluey and Bingo. They live within easy walking distance of an excellent park and playground, not to mention a Chinese restaurant with great (albeit slow) takeout. Bluey goes to a wonderful school. And here's the thing that really got me going as a first-time homeowner who spent more than two years trying to buy one: Bluey's house is perfect.
In case you haven't seen the show, you should know that Bluey's house is essentially the dream house for a family—the kind that doesn't seem to exist in what Bluey would call "for real life." Just check out the incredibly realistic listing the show's creators made for the real Australian real estate site Domain, complete with a working phone number for the listing agent—which will also give you a sense of the sly humor that makes it so appealing to watch. It's set high atop a hill, with 360 degree views of Brisbane. The Victorian exterior features a wide porch and bay window with a turret. On the interior, though, it's not a warren of small rooms like most Victorians; by contrast, it's big and airy with a great room that's perfect for games of Keepy-Uppy and an open staircase that leads up to a loft, three bedrooms, and home offices for mom and dad. The updated kitchen is open too, with a peninsula for casual meals and bifold glass doors that open up onto a deck with a grill that's perfect for parties. There's what my husband would call a "kind old tree" in the backyard. The parents' bedroom is huge and—get this—has its own balcony. There's a big sunroom that the kids use as playroom. There are four nice bathrooms—and possibly more? The floor plan is imaginative, not strictly consistent.
The show's fan base—which, let's be honest, is made up of at least as many adults as children—love the house so much that it was recreated as an Airbnb rental, located in the exact neighborhood where the fictional Heelers live. It's filled with all the toys and snacks Bluey and Bingo love—and no emus named Shaun are allowed. One reviewer calls it "wackadoo" and "just surreal." The only other television home I can think of that merits this much obsession is the apartment on Friends.
So, what could the Heelers possibly be thinking? If asking prices and mortgage interest rates in Australia are anything like the ones here, they'll never be able to find another place this nice. A house in my New Jersey neighborhood with five bedrooms, four baths, a deck, and bifold doors like theirs just got listed for $1.34 million (and will likely sell for 30 to 40 percent over that). On the flip side, they're bound to make a killing.
The only logical explanation is the Heelers don't have an option. It might be because of a work change. Bandit, the dad, is an archeologist (in other words, he studies bones); Chilli, the mom, works in airport security (i.e., using her nose). Either job could theoretically ask them to relocate. Or it could be because they need to be closer to family. We know Chilli's dad lives in the countryside, and Bandit's mom has a condo by the ocean—both a decent road trip away from the Heeler's home base.
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If you, like so many others on the internet, are mourning Bluey's house before the extra-long special this weekend reveals what's actually going on, now's your chance to grab one of the toy versions. (You might want to be quick, in case it becomes a collectors' item.) As sweet and nostalgic as the show is, and despite the fact that it's a product of public television, I can't help but think that merchandising could be behind the sudden plot twist. After all, a new house for Bluey is an opportunity to sell a lot of new playhouses….
Should the big move actually happen, I'll genuinely feel sad to see the Heelers leave their home behind. That being said, I'd gladly snap it up if it hit the market in my neighborhood. Gems like it don't come along every day—and I'm sure you can tell the minute you step inside that it has been very loved.
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