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Imagine moving your family to a completely new city, rolling up your sleeves, and transforming a tired heritage home into something truly special—all in just SIX weeks! (That’s less time than it takes most people to decide on a couch!) But that’s exactly what Kate Hawkins and her husband did when they left New South Wales and landed in Geelong.
For Kate, this wasn’t just about flipping a house, but also about flipping the script on her family’s life. Their move wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision but a deliberate choice to chase a lifestyle that allowed them to combine creativity, ambition, and a new adventure. And while their renovation timeline was short, the story is full of life lessons about determination, working as a team, and taking risks.
You might recall last week, we shared another incredible DevelopHer journey – J’s project that was of a large scale and took years to come to life (with an *epic* financial reward), but there are some similarities we see between both projects and DevelopHers. You might be thinking, “well they’re completely different, how can you draw any comparisons?!” Whether fast or slow, large-scale or small, there’s a shared quality that defines both of these incredible women — grit, resilience, and a willingness to take risks in pursuit of something extraordinary.
So if you’re looking for a dose of inspiration, this is how you too can build out the life you dream of by having the confidence to put yourself out there and take a leap of faith – regardless of project size and budget!
Kate’s Six-Week Transformation
Kate’s Geelong project started innocently enough—a family holiday with some casual real estate browsing (we’ve all been there right?), and a spark of possibility when they found a heritage gem on Grey Street. The house had potential but needed a lot of work. Its layout was outdated, its charm buried under years of wear and tear, and its backyard was best seen by, oddly enough, standing in the hallway laundry.
But where others might have walked away for fear of too much effort, Kate leaned in. She and her husband got to work, knocking out a six-week renovation that transformed the home from a cramped three-bedroom, one-bathroom layout to a modern, light-filled four-bedroom, two-bathroom family home.
The showstopper? A bright, open-plan kitchen, living, and dining area that now flows seamlessly into the backyard. High ceilings were revealed, light flooded in, and every original detail—from delicate cornices to intricate ceiling roses—was lovingly restored. It wasn’t about erasing the property’s history but honouring it while making it functional for modern living. Even the garden hedges were pulled back to reveal a gorgeous façade full of quirks. It’s about balance, and Kate nailed it.
What makes Kate’s story so incredible isn’t just the speed of the project—though knocking out a renovation in six weeks is undeniably impressive! It’s the care and vision she poured into every decision. The property wasn’t just given a fresh coat of paint and a quick gloss-over; it was reimagined entirely and Kate tackled the key design problem and created a beautiful open plan home.
She and her husband worked as a team, combining their strengths, supporting each other through the chaos, and keeping their eyes on what they were building—not just a house, but a life.
Different Timelines, Same Determination
At first glance, Kate and J’s projects couldn’t look more different. One is a six-week sprint, the other a years-long marathon. One involved a modest heritage home, while the other resulted in an architectural mansion. But beneath the surface, Kate and J share something much more significant than these differences.
Both women took huge personal and financial risks, moving their families into unfamiliar territory in pursuit of their goals. Both stepped outside of their comfort zones, learned on the fly, and embraced the sharp, steep learning curves that come with property development. They juggled the unpredictable—renovation budgets, timelines, tradespeople—and managed to keep their vision alive even when the finish line felt impossibly far away.
We can’t ignore the personal toll that projects like these take. Whether it’s living in a cramped rental with two kids and two dogs or pulling late-night brainstorming sessions with your partner, Kate and J prove that the path isn’t always glamorous. But both women also show the incredible reward when you stick it out—when you trust your gut, lean into your support network, and allow yourself to imagine something better.
Takeaway Lessons
There’s a lot to be learned from both journeys. For Kate, it’s about trusting in the process and finding joy in the fast-paced, hands-on work of creating something beautiful. Her project was as much an opportunity to bond with her husband over a shared passion as it was a lesson in how to adapt, listen, and find your team in a new environment.
For J, it was about playing the long game, understanding the value of patience, and recognizing the huge rewards that come with bold, high-stakes moves. J’s story reminds us that success isn’t instantaneous and that the best things are often the hardest to achieve.
Most importantly, both Kate and J highlight the power of resilience and ambition—the heart of any good development story. Whether you’re working with a six-week timeline or a multi-year budget, whether you’re on a shoestring or targeting the luxury market, the magic lies in the effort, the passion, and the willingness to risk it all.
And like true DevelopHers, they’re already plotting their next moves! Kate is already itching to find another heritage gem to transform and J has just purchased her next project, and we’re here cheering them both on!
Take a listen to Kate’s full story in full on the podcast here and you can read J’s story here.
