Moving to Sydney and I need some good advice?

Hello Guys, thank god for places, forums like this!!

My husband looks like he will be offered a job Baulkham Hills, but he will work all over Sydney so we could live either west or city. Me and my two kids, ones 21 and ones 16 will be coming with us of course. They like a vibrant place, we live in Liverpool about 20 minutes from the town centre which they visit a lot (a lot of pubs, clubs, pictures, cafes, shops etc) my youngest is normally playing footie or out and about at the pics etc his school is important also. We are looking for somewhere not so 'sleepy' but not party city (if you get my drift). Weve been looking at Penrith and Emu Plains, just dont want to disspoint my lads, its got to be good for all of us, want a nice house, friendly locality, luv shopping, walking, the gym etc.,

Really appreciate any help you can give,

Thank you.

Ahh nobody replied to me boo hoo lol

Penrith and emu plains are about as far west as you can get from the city and still commute daily, it's not the best trip. The hills district is pretty good, have you tried to look for anywhere around baulkham hills?

thanks, looked at Baulkham tonight and it seems great, do you think my kids will like it? are there good work prospects for managerial/assistant roles in this area

Hi,

Welcome to PIO,

I will move your post from the Welcome section and put it in the NSW forum, hopefully it will attract some informed answers there.:biggrin:

They like a vibrant place....

 

thanks, looked at Baulkham tonight and it seems great, do you think my kids will like it? are there good work prospects for managerial/assistant roles in this area

Well, vibrant is not a word I'd use to describe Baulkham Hills.

The Hills district is pure suburbia with a touch of the bible-belt.

Perfectly respectable but not exactly lively.

Think you'd need to head closer to the city if you want a bit of vibrancy..

Hi there. Hills district is a good family area. This means suburbia, good schools, nice big houses with gardens (bit cheaper than in the city), lots of shopping centres, parks etc. Not much in the way of night life, not many restaurants etc etc Sooo it all depends on what you are used to and what your kids like to do? If you were used to going into Liverpool frequently, you may be happier nearer the city centre. This doesn't mean you have to actually live there, just find an area which is a bit closer and maybe a short train ride into town? The problem with Sydney is that everything is very spread out and distances are very different to back home. Another area you might want to look at is the Northern Shore, although your husband will be working in Baulkham Hills the motorway traffic is usually in the opposite direction i.e. people going from Hills north in am and vv in the pm, so in theory, your hubby would be doing the opposite. Mosman, Manly and other areas might be good for your kids and it is nearer to Sydney city centre. Good luck!!!

I've been wondering how to respond to this all day

In all honesty, in that area I think you would find it dull, if you like as much vibrancy as you say. Sydney is a big city in terms of population (about 4 million) but it's pretty staid in many ways and as it sprawls over a very large area, it's easy to find yourself in a faceless suburb that is too far from the action to feel like you're enjoying city life. The city centre itself is very compact - there's a pretty good arts/cultural life but it's mostly based around the centre so you don't want to be a long journey from that

People often say the Hills district is good for families, and so it is, if your kids are of school age - good schools, lots of good school-related activities/sports groups and the rest of it. And not much else. As others have said, it's a big sprawl of leafy suburbs with some samey strips of shops and a couple of big shopping malls. I don't think this sounds like your sort of place to be quite honest. Your kids are too old for that sort of place, you want (IMO) to be much more central

If you do go more central, then unless you're made of money don't expect to be living in a large 4 bed house with a swimming pool - they don't really exist much in these sort of areas and where they do (like some of the harbourside suburbs) they come in extremely expensive. There are lots of smaller houses but still some very nice ones. That's probably the decision you have to make tbh - smaller house in the thick of it, or go for space at the expense of location/proximity to the centre.

Don't know your budget either, of course, but Sydney is an expensive city, especially for housing - it's London prices realistically. So make sure you check out places on domain.com.au or realestate.com.au so you don't get too shocked when you get here. Be prepared. Also be prepared for the lack of a "local pub" culture that you'll be used to, especially in the burbs. Pubs in the outer parts of the city are few and far between and almost universally big, multi-roomed (and therefore not very "local" or cosy) "hotels". This doesn't mean they're all bad, it just means most of the suburban communities don't have the pub at their heart the way they do at home

It's not all bad news and I don't want to put you off - I find the range of activities available here, and the groups that offer them, vast compared to home; I've joined a running club and cricket club, our 4yo son is having golf, tennis & swimming lessons (tons of this sort of thing available) as well as activities surrounding schools, the wife has joined a swimming club and so on; and everyone we've met through this sort of thing has been really friendly

Just don't want you to have a nasty surprise, that's all. Do you have a chance to have a good look around before you decide where you want to live?

Thank you so much for your replies...am begining to see the woods for the trees as they say..luv the idea of a nice big house (who doesnt) but I know these boys will want a life...ha ha.

If you can think of anything else please let me know, I am so grateful x

Forgot to say, our budget would be about 5/600 per month (dollars) and if we cant live by the beaches then we would like a pool , do you think this is enough living in Baulkham.. had a look at it again and it does seem very nice, quite similar to the suburb I live in now, how long does it take to get to the city from Baulkham, Ive looked at different timetables, some say 20 mins some say 30 (by train)

any help is fab, my family are excited getting replies, its funny!!

Forgot to say, our budget would be about 5/600 per month (dollars) and if we cant live by the beaches then we would like a pool , do you think this is enough living in Baulkham.. had a look at it again and it does seem very nice, quite similar to the suburb I live in now, how long does it take to get to the city from Baulkham, Ive looked at different timetables, some say 20 mins some say 30 (by train)

 

any help is fab, my family are excited getting replies, its funny!!

do you mean $5/600 per week for a rental and not a month? You may find you will struggle on that budget (sorry not meaning to be negative!) we live in the Glenwood area which is classed kind of as the hills area! We are paying mid $500 per week for our accommodation which is a nice 4 bedroom in a nice suburb. I agree with the comments made re the nightlife there really is not a lot of that up and around that area - there is castle towers which is a big shopping centre with a cinema and a nice restaurant area but other than that not a lot. Your 16 year old I would imagine will have to carry on at school and if that is the case I have been told that the hills area is great for that. We have a son who will be 16 in July and he is still at school got another 3 school years to go will leave just after he turns 18. I am not too sure on the commute from Baulkham Hills to CBD but it takes me on train from Quaker Hill to central just about an hour - it is an ok commute and better than driving. If your looking for jobs in that area try norwest recruitment agency they seem to advertise in that area! Good luck :biggrin:

Ah thanks 'Glenwood'.

would be per week our payments on rent.

Whats it like in Quaker Hill and do you know what Blacktown is like...are they nice places to live. The houses seem beautiful in Quaker Hill but I cant find much on the suberb etc., do you think there would be work in these places?

My hubby says hes not bothered how long he has to comute but I would want to work somewhere near to where I live, I dont like driving at all so the little time in the car is the best!!!

What do you think?

Ah thanks 'Glenwood'.

 

would be per week our payments on rent.

 

Whats it like in Quaker Hill and do you know what Blacktown is like...are they nice places to live. The houses seem beautiful in Quaker Hill but I cant find much on the suberb etc., do you think there would be work in these places?

 

My hubby says hes not bothered how long he has to comute but I would want to work somewhere near to where I live, I dont like driving at all so the little time in the car is the best!!!

 

What do you think?

Ok so weekly you can pick something up in Glenwood for that which is a really nice place to live wiht good schools, we pay $540 per week for a large 4 bedroom house with a decent size garden not huge but not a postage stamp either! I would avoid Blacktown at all costs not a nice place to live from what I have been told from some locals and Quaker Hill is not the best either though that is where the station is! I would look more Glenwood, Kellyville, Stanhope and Kings Langley all seem v nice. There is work in Blacktown but not in Quaker Hill it is more residential (Ihave only been here for just over 10 weeks so someone that has been here longer feel free to jump in What sort of work is it you will be looking for? Commute is ok to the CBD especially if you get on at the earlier stations you can get a seat Let me know if I can help with anythign else

Hello Guys, thank god for places, forums like this!!

My husband looks like he will be offered a job Baulkham Hills, but he will work all over Sydney so we could live either west or city. Me and my two kids, ones 21 and ones 16 will be coming with us of course. They like a vibrant place, we live in Liverpool about 20 minutes from the town centre which they visit a lot (a lot of pubs, clubs, pictures, cafes, shops etc) my youngest is normally playing footie or out and about at the pics etc his school is important also. We are looking for somewhere not so 'sleepy' but not party city (if you get my drift). Weve been looking at Penrith and Emu Plains, just dont want to disspoint my lads, its got to be good for all of us, want a nice house, friendly locality, luv shopping, walking, the gym etc.,

 

Really appreciate any help you can give,

 

Thank you.

Hi and Welcome.

The other place that no one has talked about is the Shire, we live in Caringbah 5 mins from Cronulla with some of the best beaches around. I have lived here for 3 years, we have 3 teenage kids of 16, 18 and 19 and they and us love it here, 45 mins on the train to the city, all on train route. Theres loads for u and the kids to do just in this area. The schools are also very good 2 of my kids have passed their hsc (A levels) and my son is taking his this year.

Please look the area up, and the beaches I fell in love with it, like most people do.

If there is anything I can do to help just shout;

Good luck with everything

Anita x

Hi and Welcome.

The other place that no one has talked about is the Shire, we live in Caringbah 5 mins from Cronulla with some of the best beaches around. I have lived here for 3 years, we have 3 teenage kids of 16, 18 and 19 and they and us love it here, 45 mins on the train to the city, all on train route. Theres loads for u and the kids to do just in this area. The schools are also very good 2 of my kids have passed their hsc (A levels) and my son is taking his this year.

Please look the area up, and the beaches I fell in love with it, like most people do.

If there is anything I can do to help just shout;

Good luck with everything

Anita x

Agree, we lived at sylvania for 12 months up until nov last year. 525 per week fir a 3 bed villa type house in a 20 villa block, it was bigger than your average 3 bed semi here in the uk. It was about 10-15 mins to cronulla beaches and average 35 min drive to the city and 45 with public transport. The shire would be a little bit far for baulkham hills I reckon. Sydney traffic is pretty ****e most of the time if you have to travel any considerable distance.

The Hills is not as bland as some would suggest. I have brought up 4 sons in the area and they were never short of things to do. Many more restaurants, cinemas, pubs, clubs than there used to be. Shopping centres abound. Castle Hill, Rouse Hill, Winston Hills, Baulkham Hills, Parramatta as well as the local shopping strips someone else mentioned. You can get a train into the City from Seven Hills if you live around Baulkham Hills - plenty of parking there. Plenty of sports clubs too if your sons are interested.

Try http://www.myboot.com.au for suburb demographics.

Thanks again for your replies....really appreciated.

Think your all right about the houses, size, locations etc. I wouldnt move all that way for a small house, I just wouldnt compromise at the moment as I would love room to have my family visiting etc., however I do like having nice neighbours who I can trust etc.,

On another note, has your lifestyle changed since you got to Oz..do you get out and socialise, do you get to the beaches or is it just work home work home and the shops on a saturday like at home lol? interested in your thoughts etc, thanks guys

Kazza you sould like a lovely . I am interested also in reading all of the repsonses to your thread. I am moving out in 6 or 7 weeks and have yet to decide whereto live. I am on your budget and also have two babies. I will be working in the north shore so am in different areas to you potentially.

Good luck and let us know when you decide!!

Ah thanks.....

I think Im just begining to get to grips with how big Sydney is...massive!

Watched down under today and the houses are so different depending on where you live...I do like the fact that you can get a really gorgeous house in the hills and the west as opposed to smaller places near the city. will keep looking and listening to all this good advice. Thanks all soooo much!xx we should hear from the 'job' in the next week or two, until then I will just watch the rain out of my front living room window, dismal kids!x

Hi kazza there's many a good place, we've been here a while and lived in the city, hills, and now west ish in st Clair can recommend all we simply moved out west for the big house and pool when we had are kiddo who's now 3, had a few reservations as we didn't know anyone out west side of syd but it's a great family feel and motorways all directions makes it easy to get around.

There's nothing wrong with any of the areas mentioned and if you had brought your kids up they would have built up social networks based upon their school friends and neighbours. BUT 'parachuting' them in somewhere might be a let down for them if they are used to a 20 minute trip to the city centre.

My brother lives in a lovely area - Picnic Point - and his children - 22 & 19 - love it there too but they have grown up there. My nephew went to Cronulla on Wednesday - 40 mins by car I guess, then came home and went straight out the other way to Campbelltown on the train, about the same time? to watch Sydney **. Both of his kids have cars and they need them too as it's 30 min walk to the nearest station.

He used to live in Edensor Park - NOTHING wrong with it, lovely home but when I stayed there without a car it felt like being in an open prison - no bus service, miles to the nearest shops, too hot in summer to walk to the end of the drive. I'm just not used to it. By comparison, yesterday arvo I walked into the southern part of the city - in 15 mins I was on George St in amongst the throngs of people, cafes, bars, restaurants, and an Asian festival in the park by Eddy Ave.

I suggest you rent a short term furnished flat close to the city for a couple of months. Your kids will have easy access to plenty of cinemas, cafes, etc. I think you said you husband will be working all over the city so being in the centre will be easier for him too. Then try and find a place to live that ticks as many boxes as you can find. Live as close as possible to a railway station and a decent sized place. Penrith might suit but I would hate to recommend anywhere far from the city to your kids.

PS I can't believe that I'm not allowed to write Sydney 'Football Club' with the two capital letters the way I thought that everyone in Australia referred to them?

PPS - Sydney ** is a professional football (soccer) club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football (soccer) competition, the A-League.

That's news to me as I did not realize that those two letters together constitute something offensive - unfortunate for anyone with those initials who likes to write their name that way - eg VS Laxman in the Indian cricket team?

I don't mean to be negative but at 21 what visa is your son coming out on as unless he is still in full time education he wont be classed as a dependent.

Hes doing a degree...but hes happy to sort himself if he needs, hes got plenty of time he wont finish it till 2013:)

I'll try and remember the soccer thing, thanks! the world is going mad....

Thats sounds like a good idea living in an apartment/flat for a bit. My OH will be out there before me for a couple of months so he could do that i suppose and work it all out before me and my youngest son get there...we have a plan forming.

Thank you for taking the time to put down your thoughts, ideas, really appreciate it

Meant to say, I am currently working for the Fire Service in a managerial role..I suppose a managerial job, maybe to start as assistant manager or team leader, supervisor would be good. Dont need to wok for the fire service though, could be for another organisation etc. I like managing and a lot of my work is around community safety etc. where should I look do you think to get some ideas? As I said earlier I dont like driving much so wouldnt want to work far from where I live.

Let me know what your thoughts are?