Two housemates with a 51-year age gap say they have "lots" in common - they do most things together and never argue. "

Ella Wilson, 22, moved in with 73-year-old retiree David Cox in Manly, Sydney, in September 2024, after backpacking around Australia.

She found his room through word-of-mouth - after a customer at the cafe she works in introduced the pair.

Despite their generational difference, Ella says David is the "best housemate she's ever had" - and the pair cook together, go running together, and eat ice cream together. "

David has even said Ella reminds him of his own eldest daughter, now 45, and jokingly calls her a "stand-in daughter". "

Ella, a travel content creator, originally from Canterbury, Kent, said: "David and I get along like a house on fire - we never argue. "

"I've lived in rented rooms before - I always felt like I was just living in someone else's house. "

"It's a completely different ball game here. "

"I feel completely at home - not like I'm treading on eggshells. "

"The only time David and I ever disagree, is when he tries to give me cookies when he knows I'm eating healthily."

David, a retiree, said: "To be honest, I thought it'd be hell - but I'm surprised at how easy it's been. "

"We take turns in cooking - we have an unwritten rule that one person cooks for us one night, then the other, the following night."

Ella left college aged 18 in 2020 to go travelling - as she didn't feel she was made for the "UK life."

After backpacking around Spain and Hawaii, she made her way to Australia in January 2024 - initially hoping to travel for a week.

But after her week of booked accommodation ran out, she decided to stay in the country and sofa-surf.

"I was living in hostels and staying on people's sofas the whole way," she said. "

"I thought, around August, that I'd need to settle for a bit and actually find some work. "

"I got myself a cafe job - but I still needed somewhere to live."

"Me being me, and with a cafe being a social place, I started asking around."

During a shift, Ella met a customer who said she knew someone who had a room available.

The customer worked as a carer in a women's refuge - looking after people affected by domestic violence.

Her friend, David, was a retiree with a spare room, who told his friend to offer it to women under her care who needed it.

"I got a phone call to meet this young lady," David said. "

"I was thinking she was a woman in trouble - not a 22-year-old tourist living in Australia!"

"I'm a 73-year-old retired bloke - I didn't think she'd be interested at all in looking at the place."

"But as it turns out, she accepted."

"I've got children - aged 45, 43 and 37 - but none of them live near me. "

"Ella reminded me of my oldest daughter - they're both very good soccer players. "

"They're both always active, and they love healthy food." "

Ella added: "I was in a place where I just wanted to get my head down, get fit and work. "

"I knew I'd be a bit lonely, at this time."

"David came to my cafe - we had a quick chat, spoke about things we had in common - like football and running. "

"We got on, and his house was in a really lovely spot."

On September 9 2024, Ella moved into David's house.

Despite living in his spare room, Ella says the retiree has made her feel as if the house is half hers.

They share everything - often working out, or going out for ice cream together.

"I didn't expect this to last," David said. "

"I thought Ella would want to be here a couple of days, then leave."

Ella said: "David has made me feel really comfortable here - he's absolutely the best housemate I've ever had. "

"We're never under each other's feet - we like going places and doing things together."

"I started out as a backpacker - but I have a friend for life in David."