quicko: the council

i.e., the local government.

Again, a very common, everyday sort of word in Australia.

quicko: body corporate

Another very common Australian term when discussing housing -- this is the company (for lack of a better word) that owns the building with all the units -- some lived in by their owners, and others rented out.  The body corporate is the entity that is responsible for keeping all the common stuff taken care of (locks, new stairs in the hallways, etc.) and often implements strict rules of its own, even for those who actually own their own unit (i.e., no pets).  More or less seen as the bad guy -- or probably more of a necessary evil.

quicko: a unit

An Australian term for "a place that I live that isn't a house."  This could be an apartment or a condo (i.e., rented or lived in by the owner) and is a very common term.

quicko: susan's observations, day 3

Today Susan noticed that there are lots of houses and apartments with glass/clear balconies.  Although she sees they have their place, overall she is not a huge fan.

quicko: not so hot

Australians, I was told after spending the whole night snugly curled up next to a friend's heater, do not leave their heaters running throughout the night.  It seems they are all environmentally conscious and turn it off.  Which is all well and good if you want to freeze to death on your friend's couch.  Thank goodness I'm not Australian.

quicko: the projects

An Americanism.  As is ghetto in the sense that Americans use it.  Here it's more along the lines of "commission housing" or "council housing."