Best Suburb to live in Melbourne not far from Forrest Hill area

Hi, I'm new to poms in oz and I was wondering if anyone could give us some advise, My husband is an field based engineer and has just got a job near forrest hill in melbourne, the company are going to apply for 457 visa so we should hopefully be there in august sometime.

We are a family of four with two young children, 4 and 2 year old, we are looking for a nice suburb within 45mins of Forrest Hill with Good schools,transport,golf course and also a nice town with good facilities within easy reach

Our price range will be between $400 -$500 a week.

Also any other tips would be helpful.

Looking forward to the move but also very nervous about the big move down under!!

You've got loads of choices there

I can recommend a great vet in Forest Hills if you need one (Burvale)

Forest Hills and most of the surrounding suburbs are leafy with established trees and parks. There's a big shopping centre (with movies) in FHills, - loads of buses though, and trains aren't far away.

Blackburn South is lovely - but will be pricey, I think you'd probably get better value for money if you head for Vermont or Heathmont. (Have a look at a map of Melbourne and follow Canterbury Road out from Forest Hills.

Or follow Burwood Highway out towards Ferntree Gully, you could even go north or south along Springvale Road - but the nicer areas are gonna be pricey

Heathmont has a couple of golf courses, but I've not lived there so I can't attest to the 'vibe'

August will be chilly btw, so don't expect summer when you arrive - but that's probably a good thing 'cos you can settle in before the heat hits

EDIT:

Oh and I like Melways maps better than google http://www.melway.com.au/online-maps/

put in the post-code 3131 for Forest Hills

Thanks Joand Jon,

Thats really good info and having had a quick look at Heathmount it looks promising. Do you mind me asking how much it cost to get your Dog over as we have a boxer which would be the same size as yours.

Many Thanks

Steve and Nic

The Satchdog is wonderful and loving life over here - how much it will cost will vary depending on vets etc

But she cost us around £3800 all in to get over:

shipping and permits = £2400-2500 (including crate)

vets = £200-300 (can't remember now)

quarantine = au$1400 (ish)

Watching her swimming and enjoying Brighton dog beach yesterday made it worth every single cent

Hi, Been looking into the areas suggested nearby to Forrest Hill but finding the more you go out the more value for money you get in rented.

Any areas you recommend abit further out? Whats Rowville like?

Need somewhere with good schools.

Thanks Nicola

Hi, I'm in Scoresby, just down the road from Rowville,, it's a good area, a few of my sons friends live there.

Polly

We've been here just over a year & love it!

Polly

We live in Vermont, literally down the road from Forest Hill...bout 4kms away...its pretty lots of parks , safe etc...i baby sat children for a year they went to a lovely school antonio park primary in Mitcham, amazing facilities and after school activities)