My husband, our 4 year old, our 8 month old and I will shortly be moving to Sydney.
My husband's job is based in Parramatta and we are therefore hoping to live in the Hills district. Our plan is to rent initially, at least for a year, before committing to buy.
Could anyone give us any advice/recommendations on which suburbs in the Hills district are family orientated, safe and friendly? Or more importantly - which ones should be avoided!
Also, are there any schools (for my 4 year old to start at in January 2008) which have especially good reputations? Are the state schools a good standard or should I be looking at the independent ones?
Any other information about life in the Hills would be appreciated!
Castle Hill is a lovely area and will take your husband about 30 mins to get to Parramatta. Don't know what the schools are like, but the area has beautiful houses, so won't be bad I suspect.
There is a good shopping centre (Castle Towers) and a good town library/civic centre.
Hi Sal,
All of the suburbs in the Hills District are excellent family areas. I think that you will find the schools are all very good. It's simply a case of choosing the suburb which suits you best. I would suggest that if you are looking at Baulkham Hills shire, that you stay reasonably close to Windsor Road for your husband's commute to work as peak hour traffic into Parramatta is pretty awful. He has 2 choices drive or bus. Unless his firm has parking I would opt for the bus.
Have a look at www.realestate.com.au and www.domain.com.au. If you select the Hills District you will get properties from all suburbs in the Hills.
I have brought 4 sons up in the Hills so am a bit bias, but this really is a great place to bring up children.:D
Husband has just corrected me and told me that his job is based in Northmead and it does have parking - so it looks like a car journey for him!
Have heard whispers that Kellyville / Bella Vista are a bit like concrete jungles - is this right? We are looking for leafy, established suburbs - will we find these in the Hills?
How long have you been out in the Hills, Ellie 2? Which suburb do you live in?
Husband has just corrected me and told me that his job is based in Northmead and it does have parking - so it looks like a car journey for him!
Have heard whispers that Kellyville / Bella Vista are a bit like concrete jungles - is this right? We are looking for leafy, established suburbs - will we find these in the Hills?
How long have you been out in the Hills, Ellie 2? Which suburb do you live in?
Sally
In my opinion you've heard right. I've lived in the Hills since 1971. It was semi rural then. We had market gardens opposite us. All gone now. I live in Winston Hills. I would suggest, Northmead, Winston Hills and Baulkham Hills. These are the older established suburbs. Castle Hill is good, more expensive now, with a longer commute to Northmead. If you go on to Multimap or Whereis it will give you an idea of where they are situated.
Just let me know if I can help in any way. What firm is your OH going to work for? Could possibly suggest easy ways for him to get there!:)
OH working in an industrial estate off Briens Road, Northmead. His company are initially paying for us to rent a furnished house for one month and also a hire car, so we have up to one month to establish where we want to settle! Been doing lots of internet research but great to talk to someone who lives there.
How do you rate the standard of education compared with the UK? From the schools I have found, they are seem very big (500-600 pupils) which I think may be very daunting for my 4 year old to start at. The school she was going to start at in Sept here only had 120 pupils. Are there any smaller primary schools that you know of??
Hi Sally,
I know where your OH will be working. Those websites I gave you also do rentals. I wouldn't worry about the size of the schools. The older children here look after the littlies. I left Scotland 41 years ago so know nothing of the English system and certainly could not make a comparison with the Scottish system anymore but I am a teacher and can say that the education system in NSW and particularly in the Hills District is very good. You don't have any worries there.
Renting for a month is good and I would suggest that when you get here you look at renting in the area you choose before you buy - just to make sure. I would be quite happy to show you around the area when you arrive. Eleanor
