Melbourne - Reccie

[LukeSkywalker]

Back from a couple of weeks in Melbourne. The basic details as I saw them are ....

a. Costs

Some things are more expensive than the UK (especially at the poor exchange rates), some things are cheaper. Overall I'd say that Melbourne has similar living costs to the UK. As with everywhere the locals (my sister included) seemed to knwo where to go to get cheaper things in some areas. Clothes are pretty expensive in my experience. Tailored mens shirts were $179 in CBD Melbourne, where my regular Charles Tywitts are only £50. Overall - about the same costs though.

b. Housing

Housing in Melbourne seems to me to be seriously expensive in nice suburbs. We ended up buying a nice 3 bed flat in St Kilda Rd for $620k. To me this is cheap compared to buying a flat in a similar position in London (backing onto a park etc). BUT houses in "suburbs" like Brighton are I think very overpriced. I also don't understand how people actually afford them with salary levels being what they are. Overall - I think the market in these types of houses will correct at some point soon.

c. Salary Levels

Don't seem to me to be a lot different. I'll be on a good salary and the job is very challenging. Even if it doesn't work out, it means I'll have a better couple of lines on my CV. The idea of salary packaging is quite daunting, but being able to get a couple of cars on lease without a down payment or any commitment is superb. I'll see how it goes when I really understand it - for which you need professional advice I believe.

d. Schools

Went to some private schools - and they seemed every bit as good as UK private schools. I don't know about the state sector (apart from my wife teaching in it) but the private schools were clean with very articulate staff and superb facilities. Fees are abou tthe same as the UK - $20k for the year. But in the UK fees are rising really quickly now due to the recession.

e. Recession

Doesn't seem to have had much affect on what used ot be called white collar jobs. Reminds me a bit of the last recession in the UK. Tradies suffering a little bit but I didn't see too many signs of it in the CBD. My nephew is a sparky and he has as much work as he wants. The UK recession if far from over, and in my opinion will be a lot worse next year when public sector cuts start hitting and tax rises have to be implemented. Australia is clearly doign better than the UK.

f. Other things

Train fares. Family of 4 to MK in peak hour - £140. Same distance to Melbourne, also in peak hour $36. Hm. Approx 1/10th of the price.

Arts/culture. Melbourne has some, and you can afford to go to it. London has a huge amount more, but who can pay the mental travel prices? Thus its left to the tourists.

Smiling. Seems to me more people smile in Melbourne than London.

Attitudes. I found (without exception) the service in shops etc to be absolutely great. MUCH less rude than in the UK.

Graffitti. Ten times as much in Melbourne than the UK. I shall campaign to have it emilinated. Its not even "Banksie" style, its just rubbish scrawlings.

Shopping. My wife said it was rubbish compared to the UK. So did my daughter. I shall bow to their experience.

Sports. Affordable to watch and plenty to play. $20 for a ticket to the MCG to watch an AFL match. Didn't understand it, so I'll get Foxtel and watch the Premiership (I'll miss football big time). At a playing level there seemed to be a lot of sports and the kids seemed to be welcomed with open arms. My son had a try out for the local soccer team and was told he would be accepted and put forwards for State Rep immediately (he is with the Arsenal academy here).

Cars. New ones cheaper than the UK. Retain their value more from what I see.

Driving standards. Poor - dont even think of riding a motorbike.

TV. Absolutely shocking. Melbourne has cold weather for a few months so I imagine Foxtel is mandatory.

Booze. Very expensive. I don't drink much so I don't care much.

Crime. Didn't see any - but don't see a lot in the UK either. My guess is that its like any major city - don't go to some suburbs.

Etihad Airline - absolutely excellent. Abu Dhabi airport is rubbish and overpriced, but the airline is great.

Hm. That's about all I can think of for now.

[bunbury61]

Back from a couple of weeks in Melbourne. The basic details as I saw them are ....

a. Costs

Some things are more expensive than the UK (especially at the poor exchange rates), some things are cheaper. Overall I'd say that Melbourne has similar living costs to the UK. As with everywhere the locals (my sister included) seemed to knwo where to go to get cheaper things in some areas. Clothes are pretty expensive in my experience. Tailored mens shirts were $179 in CBD Melbourne, where my regular Charles Tywitts are only £50. Overall - about the same costs though.

b. Housing

Housing in Melbourne seems to me to be seriously expensive in nice suburbs. We ended up buying a nice 3 bed flat in St Kilda Rd for $620k. To me this is cheap compared to buying a flat in a similar position in London (backing onto a park etc). BUT houses in "suburbs" like Brighton are I think very overpriced. I also don't understand how people actually afford them with salary levels being what they are. Overall - I think the market in these types of houses will correct at some point soon.

c. Salary Levels

Don't seem to me to be a lot different. I'll be on a good salary and the job is very challenging. Even if it doesn't work out, it means I'll have a better couple of lines on my CV. The idea of salary packaging is quite daunting, but being able to get a couple of cars on lease without a down payment or any commitment is superb. I'll see how it goes when I really understand it - for which you need professional advice I believe.

d. Schools

Went to some private schools - and they seemed every bit as good as UK private schools. I don't know about the state sector (apart from my wife teaching in it) but the private schools were clean with very articulate staff and superb facilities. Fees are abou tthe same as the UK - $20k for the year. But in the UK fees are rising really quickly now due to the recession.

e. Recession

Doesn't seem to have had much affect on what used ot be called white collar jobs. Reminds me a bit of the last recession in the UK. Tradies suffering a little bit but I didn't see too many signs of it in the CBD. My nephew is a sparky and he has as much work as he wants. The UK recession if far from over, and in my opinion will be a lot worse next year when public sector cuts start hitting and tax rises have to be implemented. Australia is clearly doign better than the UK.

f. Other things

Train fares. Family of 4 to MK in peak hour - £140. Same distance to Melbourne, also in peak hour $36. Hm. Approx 1/10th of the price.

Arts/culture. Melbourne has some, and you can afford to go to it. London has a huge amount more, but who can pay the mental travel prices? Thus its left to the tourists.

Smiling. Seems to me more people smile in Melbourne than London.

Attitudes. I found (without exception) the service in shops etc to be absolutely great. MUCH less rude than in the UK.

Graffitti. Ten times as much in Melbourne than the UK. I shall campaign to have it emilinated. Its not even "Banksie" style, its just rubbish scrawlings.

Shopping. My wife said it was rubbish compared to the UK. So did my daughter. I shall bow to their experience.

Sports. Affordable to watch and plenty to play. $20 for a ticket to the MCG to watch an AFL match. Didn't understand it, so I'll get Foxtel and watch the Premiership (I'll miss football big time). At a playing level there seemed to be a lot of sports and the kids seemed to be welcomed with open arms. My son had a try out for the local soccer team and was told he would be accepted and put forwards for State Rep immediately (he is with the Arsenal academy here).

Cars. New ones cheaper than the UK. Retain their value more from what I see.

Driving standards. Poor - dont even think of riding a motorbike.

TV. Absolutely shocking. Melbourne has cold weather for a few months so I imagine Foxtel is mandatory.

Booze. Very expensive. I don't drink much so I don't care much.

Crime. Didn't see any - but don't see a lot in the UK either. My guess is that its like any major city - don't go to some suburbs.

Etihad Airline - absolutely excellent. Abu Dhabi airport is rubbish and overpriced, but the airline is great.

Hm. That's about all I can think of for now.

Luke, i look forward to reading your posts with interest - The sinking pommie ship hasnt sunk yet, we are frantically bailing it out.........we had a little break whilst we sat down to watch "our boys" retain the Ashes.
I hope you find some peace.......

[juliemtaylor]

Thanks for the really useful comments from melbourne, hoping to find our take on it all sometime soon...

Julie x

[LukeSkywalker]

Luke, i look forward to reading your posts with interest - The sinking pommie ship hasnt sunk yet, we are frantically bailing it out.........we had a little break whilst we sat down to watch "our boys" retain the Ashes.
I hope you find some peace.......

ha ha! I don't think the UK will completely sink. But it will struggle for several years - in common with the rest of the Western world. If I could I would live full time in my house in Italy - that is my ultimate dream. I guess for now though I have to give Australia a pop as it offers short/medium term security and options for my familly. If that tw*t Brown wasn't in Downing Street and he hadn't created the worst economy for 80 years then things would be different.

[tracy123]

Welcome back Luke

Glad you enjoyed my home town, the appartment you bought is it near the spirit of Tasmania or closer to Acland street?
Don't give up on the footy it will grow on you as soccer did me, for the winter head inland for your days out, the days are warmer and you have some wonderful history in these small towns.
As for the graffiti you will get used to it I never noticed it until i come on this forum, not saying its right btw.
As for the shopping head down to church street etc some of the best clothes shops are hidden on the back streets but I guess if you are used to London could anywhere really compare?

[LukeSkywalker]

Welcome back Luke

Glad you enjoyed my home town, the appartment you bought is it near the spirit of Tasmania or closer to Acland street?
Don't give up on the footy it will grow on you as soccer did me, for the winter head inland for your days out, the days are warmer and you have some wonderful history in these small towns.
As for the graffiti you will get used to it I never noticed it until i come on this forum, not saying its right btw.
As for the shopping head down to church street etc some of the best clothes shops are hidden on the back streets but I guess if you are used to London could anywhere really compare?

Ah. You have exposed my lack of knowledge of the geography. Its number 453 if thats any help - in a wonderful 30's art deco building called KiOra. Private entrance to Fawkner Park. Seems quite a nice place. Footy will have to grown on me - I met a few of the 54 staff I will have to reporting me and they all asked me about it. So I decided I liked the name of Essendon Bombers and thats who I will support. I'm hoping my son gets into the school team for AFL - and if you are from Melbourne how do you rate Brighton Grammar? he was supposed to go to Melbourne Grammar but it didnt impress me at all. As for clothes I just thought the quality was poor - some of the suits were nice wool but the tailoring was appalling (Chinese apparently). I'd rather fly to Hong Kong for the weekend and get some made!!

My wife (for reasons that bemuse me) wants to buy a house with 20 acres in Berwick. Whats that all about?

[tracy123]

Ah. You have exposed my lack of knowledge of the geography. Its number 453 if thats any help - in a wonderful 30's art deco building called KiOra. Private entrance to Fawkner Park. Seems quite a nice place. Footy will have to grown on me - I met a few of the 54 staff I will have to reporting me and they all asked me about it. So I decided I liked the name of Essendon Bombers and thats who I will support. I'm hoping my son gets into the school team for AFL - and if you are from Melbourne how do you rate Brighton Grammar? he was supposed to go to Melbourne Grammar but it didnt impress me at all. As for clothes I just thought the quality was poor - some of the suits were nice wool but the tailoring was appalling (Chinese apparently). I'd rather fly to Hong Kong for the weekend and get some made!!

My wife (for reasons that bemuse me) wants to buy a house with 20 acres in Berwick. Whats that all about?

Ok your closer to South Yarra how strange my wife remembers the buildings? When you said apartment in St Kilda I thought of the new appartments near Melbourne warf (you would of seen the big red boat? (those high rises)) Acland street is where the cake shops are and Luna park. Be careful saying Falkner park there is also a Falkner park cemetery!!! LOL




As for private schools I don't know much about them and unless my kids were very bright and wanted to become something I wouldn't send them to any. (sorry) But you can't beat gut instinct.

As for Essendon well what can i say....... i guess you support Chelsea so no accounting for taste, Try Richmond tigers the peoples club and the best theme song! LOL

[boy of glass]

ah fawkner park, thats our local running circuit. we live in prahran next to college lawns pub. GOOD boozer (bulmers on draught) Powerhouse rugby club are a good bunch of girls and boys. Fancy a few beers give us a shout!!

[Cam]

So did you settle in Melbourne in the end? We've been in Sydney 6 months, had an interview in Melbourne yesterday, am weighing up if I was to be offered the job whether we'd come to Melbourne or return to the UK, just because everything is so much more expensive over here, husband is in IT so he'd have to find a job, took him 4 months in Sydney because of the recession & Xmas, etc. Basically what's it like, what are costs like, etc.?

[Moving 2 Melbourne]

So did you settle in Melbourne in the end? We've been in Sydney 6 months, had an interview in Melbourne yesterday, am weighing up if I was to be offered the job whether we'd come to Melbourne or return to the UK, just because everything is so much more expensive over here, husband is in IT so he'd have to find a job, took him 4 months in Sydney because of the recession & Xmas, etc. Basically what's it like, what are costs like, etc.?

Hi Cam
Yes Luke is in Melbourne, I am sure he will be along soon to update you.
Kate