These tips may help if you're thinking of moving to Melbourne

emmadownunder · 19-01-2008, 11:38 PM

Hi all
Just joined this site and looking through the threads, I realised that I was asking the same questions when I was still back in the UK and maybe could have done with a bit of help. So here goes........I'll try and give you as much info as I can but by all means send any questions through to me later.
We just got here in August - my OH is Aussie and from Melbourne and has been over in London with me for the last ten years We just decided to come back after having our son last year.
It took us 3 months to find somewhere to live (luckily we were living with the inlaws for a while when we first got here) and then another two til we moved in. We live in City of Banyule, Watsonia North which is North East. All of this area is lovely with lots of trees, parks, playgrounds and schools so is good for those of you with kids. It's about 30 mins into the CBD on the train. Adjoining areas to here - Nillumbik, which a lot of you have mentioned is also beautiful, just a little further out (DIamond Creek, Eltham). When you're looking to buy bare in mind that when they quote $350 + for example, be prepared to pay at least 10% over this price. And the market is quite fierce at the moment - we were going to some open houses with queues like a nightclub!
Weather here is very changeable but I like it as at least you still have seasons.Today it's raining and so was yesterday but we need the rain but it's not cold Then later this week it's to be sunny and getting back up to 30 again. It's only the 40 degree days that are unbearable - just make sure you buy somewhere that has cooling!
The flies are the only thing I don't like about Melbourne - you just have to make sure you wear lots of aeroguard and they are not here all year!
Oh and another thing on housing......the new houses are fantastic but the land you usually get is pretty small - therefore, beautiful house but not much garden and also most of them are in areas that are not fully developed as yet - no schools, shops etc. But will be eventually - just depends on what you're looking for.
My final piece of advice - before I bore you all silly!!! - Not that you will, but try not to see Australia as some kind of wonderland where the sun always shines and life is never hard! It is hard wherever you live and although the standard of living is higher here than the UK generally, prices are still going up for fuel, groceries, mortgages etc etc
Anyway, hope this helps.........and fire away if you have any questions....

Lareina · 20-01-2008, 10:44 AM

Thanks Emma....it is always nice to hear from someone living near where we want to be! My husband is australian too...we hope to be back in Melbourne this year if we can sell the house! We came out for a month last year and stayed with Stuarts aunty in Chrinside Park. We looked at the new houses in Mernda..very nice and seemed to get allot of house for your money but yes gardens are rather small! Thanks for the info, take care. xx

Les & Woz · 20-01-2008, 11:37 AM

Hi found your notice really interesting. We are currently in the process of trying to get visas. We hope to live in Victoria somewhere. We visited there last December but don't want to live in the city. We have been looking at Geelong. Would you be willing to exchange email addresses? Ours is cushtymebabe@hotmail.com Warren & Lesley

20-01-2008, 12:18 PM

Hi Emma and Welcome!:)..
Pingpongor Tess

MARYROSE02 · 20-01-2008, 01:12 PM

Melbourne suburbia sounds like Sydney suburbia. My brother lives about 30 mins by train (not that he'd ever, EVER, take public transport) from the CBD at Picnic Point. (stations at East Hills, Panania, Revesby). I lived in the inner city (Surry Hills) but when I get back I think I'll move out near him. The suburbs have changed in the last few years, with more restaurants and coffee shops and many of the pubs have excellent restaurants too. Those 40 degree days are unbearable mind. I remember once, when my brother lived at Edensor Park (practically in the Outback!), going for a bike ride with my mum. She had to shelter under a tree (was it a Coolabah!!!?) whilst I cycled home and my brother returned with his car to pick up mum and bike). On a semi-serious note, I also noticed that all the suburbs have skin cancer clinics now. I hope all those people enthusing about the sun are remembering their 30+ factor and hats and staying in the shade 1100-1500!!!

Dave (sorry to be a preacher)

adele244 · 20-01-2008, 04:02 PM

Hi there,

Thanks for your useful information. I would like to ask a few more questions if I may.

My husband, my 3 year daughter and myself have decided that we have had enough of the UK and have decided to seriously get the ball moving now.

We run quite a tidy little business which we would like to take over to Melbourne with us. We repair laptops, pc's, plasma Tv's, LCD Tv's and projectors and amplifiers for all the national cinemas.

Do you think there is a need for this business in Melbourne, or would there be too much competition?

I have been reading that there is a shortage of these skills, but Im sure you guys would be able to inform me more wisley. Also my husband is an electrician by trade, so if things got a little tight, Im sure he would do extra electricianing jobs.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Andrea Bridge · 20-01-2008, 07:41 PM

Hi there, How refreshing to get a level headed view, but not rose-tinted and not on a complete downer! I wish you every continued success with your life there, and hope that you keep us all up to speed with it.
Lots of love and luck ...

Andrea
x x x

emmadownunder · 21-01-2008, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adele244

Hi there,

Thanks for your useful information. I would like to ask a few more questions if I may.

My husband, my 3 year daughter and myself have decided that we have had enough of the UK and have decided to seriously get the ball moving now.

We run quite a tidy little business which we would like to take over to Melbourne with us. We repair laptops, pc's, plasma Tv's, LCD Tv's and projectors and amplifiers for all the national cinemas.

Do you think there is a need for this business in Melbourne, or would there be too much competition?

I have been reading that there is a shortage of these skills, but Im sure you guys would be able to inform me more wisley. Also my husband is an electrician by trade, so if things got a little tight, Im sure he would do extra electricianing jobs.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Adele
Difficult for me to say if there is a need for this type of business here as it's pretty specialised and it's not really my field......You might need to do some more research.....But a pommie relative of ours over here is an electrician and he got work really easy and has overtime coming out of his ears so I know that there is sparkie work definitely. Let us know what you decide and if you need any more help.......Just yell!

emmadownunder · 21-01-2008, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lareina

Thanks Emma....it is always nice to hear from someone living near where we want to be! My husband is australian too...we hope to be back in Melbourne this year if we can sell the house! We came out for a month last year and stayed with Stuarts aunty in Chrinside Park. We looked at the new houses in Mernda..very nice and seemed to get allot of house for your money but yes gardens are rather small! Thanks for the info, take care. xx

Where's Chirnside Park?
Have you got your spouse visa yet? It's a bit of a rigmoral isn't it?
Just read one of your other threads about leaving family - it's just so hard when you meet someone from the other side of the world isn't it? I miss my mum like you wouldn't believe but just try and stay really strong when I speak to her.......It was so hard leaving though - and I did and still do feel very guilty about taking our little one away from his nanny....but he has a pa and nonna here too and he also needed to see them. My OH has been in the UK with me for 10 years and I only thought it fair to come over here - which I'm not saying is forever - we'll see how it goes but so far the doctors, hospitals and facilities for the kids (also schooling) leave ours standing, the standard is so much higher...let us know when you think your family may get out here....

racht · 21-01-2008, 09:11 AM

That's great info, thanks. We too are looking at those sorts of areas. We should be out there by the end of the year.