SE Melbourne???

[Gaz12]

I'm hoping to get to Melbourne end of Jan 09 and work in CBD. After a nose around this site I'm looking towards Brighton/Hampton/Sandringham area - or perhaps more in land for cheaper rentals. I've got plenty of good feedback for Brighton and Sandringham, but what about Hampton?

I've looked on the Connex website and the train is 30 mins to CBD, but what is it is reality?

We've got two kids (5 and 12) plus two dogs so would love to be near the beach for walks (live near beach at the moment in South Wales). How are the beaches on Bayside? Are they clean? Is it safe to swim?

Have become a bit wary of the place as I know that the cost of living is not much better than UK (especialy as we don't live in a city at the moment). But hope we can adapt.

Any help appreciated. Thnks

[Les & Woz]

Hi
Can't help you with these areas, just wanted to say we are going to Melbourne too, hopefully in March 09 if we can sell the house by then. We have been looking at Mornington Peninsula and Mt. martha + even as far out as Geelong.

Good luck.

Les

[Forgetmenot]

The areas are good areas and if the train is not late then you will probably get to the CBD on time but there is a problem with late trains and cancelled trains from time to time. Also if you were using the Frankston line you may not get on to the expresses that run in the peak hour as they are full from Seaford these days but there are other trains that stop all stations.

Its pricey in these areas and I suggest you have a look at Real Estate, Property, Land and Homes for Sale, lease and rent - realestate.com.au
for rentals in Hampton, Sandringham.

Moorabbin, Bentliegh, McKinnon, Ormond are closer in and if you lived around Caulfield there is no problem with transport to the city as you can get the tram or train and several lines go through Caulfield so there are more trains.

Beach suburbs are going out from the city Port Melbourne South Melbourne St Kilda Elwood Brighton, Sandringham Hampton Black Rock Beaumaris Mentone Parkdale Mordialloc Aspendale Edithvale Chelsea Bon Beach Seaford Frankston Mount Eliza Mornington Mount Martha and south of Mount Martha. Mount Martha would be about seventy km out though

Beaches are safe in the bay but not safe on the ocean. The areas I have mentioned are very much in demand as everyone wants the beach these days and hence they are more expensive areas to buy or rent as rentals are in short supply too

[Gaz12]

I've had a look at renting from that site and would rather look closer to the time as I've yet to receive a job offer.

I'm from a small town on the coast of Wales so would rather that small town feel with the coast nearby and parks. I've thought of Caulfield but it seems like a large town/suburb with not much green about.

The commute is always the deal breaker though. Here I'm 45m from work door to door, can take 1hr somedays to get home. Couldn't take much more than that over there, especially during the summer.

I suppose I may have to compromise in a few areas but it's hard to know what.

Mentone looks appealing but the commute seems a pain. I would imagine that drivig would be just as long, if not longer.

[Hello Kitty]

If you were to live somewhere like Mentone it could take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour getting into the CBD depending on traffic. On weekends and off peak you can get to the city in under 1/2 hour but in peak hour of course it would take longer. The advantage of living in bayside suburbs such as Mentone is that you can drive to work on the scenic route along Beach Road. Speed limit is 60 ks per hour though but you get to see the bay on the way and on a still morning when the water is like glass it is a very pleasant drive. A disadvantage though of driving along Beach Road especially on weekends are the hordes of lycra clad bike riders hogging the left lane.

Another option is to choose a suburb with a train station which there are many of along the bay. Mentone has a train station as does Cheltenham, Parkdale, Sandringham, Mordialloc, Brighton etc. all the way into the city. You could drive to one of the zone 1 stations such as Brighton Beach and it is a quick train ride into the city. Also Sandringham is the end of the line (Sandringham Line) so if you get on there the train won't be full.

If you choose Mentone try and make sure that you are on beachside of the highway (Nepean Highway) as it is nicer and close to the beach.

The most expensive suburb in Bayside is Brighton followed by Hampton, Sandringham, Black Rock, Beaumaris.

Mentone, Mordialloc, Parkdale are a bit cheaper.

Elwood is close to the city but busier with lots of flats.

Port Melbourne is very close to the city and beach and is quite nice so maybe worth a look if you don't have kids. Lots of apartments there too and quick to get into the city on a light rail. Port Melbourne being an inner city suburb is not very green but it does have the beach and bike tracks along the beach.

[Gaz12]

Thanks Hello Kitty

We've got 2 kids (12 and 5) so would like to be near the beach and parks. What is it like the other side of the highway? I've heard of this before road before is it some sort of class divide?!?

[Forgetmenot]

The other side of the highway is the other side of the Nepen Highway and not on the beach side. So if you lived on the beach side of the highway properties are more expensive and get more expensive the nearer to the beach you live. This stretches right down the Nepean Highway.

I lived in Edithvale before I moved to the Peninsula and we did not live on the beach side but at Edithvale I would not want to because if you live very close to the beach you get all the salt problems, rust on the fridge, rusty car rusty house etc. My friend lives right on the beach front at Edithvale and she can walk out of her back gate onto the beach however in the summer the hoards come down from Springvale and hang around the beach at night when its very hot and its so noisy.

So for me near the beach is being far enough way from salt spay and people in the summer

At Black Rock, Beaumaris, Sandringham Mentone and Parkdale the beach side is much wider than further down.

Even in Mornington its better to live on the beach side as it is at Mount Martha because its prettier and nicer in my opinion. Beleura Hill is the place to live in Mornington, very expensive but the views are wonderful. Its also divided by the Nepean Highway.

If you have a look at google map you will see the Nepean Highway and you can follow it the full length and have look and have a look at properties on the beach side along the way.

Further down the peninsula at Rosebud Tootgarook and Rye where lots of retired folk live its a little eco system of its own as its in the lee of Arthur's Seat you do not get the westerly winds there that come accross Safety Beach, Mount Martha, Mornington, Mount Eliza. So its a little warmer in the winter there. People do travel from there to the city each day but I personally think its way too far and work would need to be closer. Teachers, Nurses, Doctors, if you work from home its fine you can live close by.

Another thing you hear here is live South of the River well they mean south of the River Yarra.

[Hello Kitty]

Originally Posted by Gaz12

Thanks Hello Kitty

We've got 2 kids (12 and 5) so would like to be near the beach and parks. What is it like the other side of the highway? I've heard of this before road before is it some sort of class divide?!?

Forgetmenot described it well.

There is not a class divide as such, it is just that being beachside of the highway is more desirable because of the proximity to the beach.

An area that is not beachside of the highway but is still very nice is East Brighton. It is cheaper than Brighton (not much cheaper) but is on the otherside of Nepean Highway. Maybe East Brighton is a good place for you to look at. It is not far from the beach (5 minutes drive), it is has few large parks (Dendy Park, Landcox Park), close to public transport, not too far from the city and very nice homes. Also there are many schools to choose from in the area both private and public. Public primary schools such as Elsternwick Primary, Hampton Primary and Brighton Primary all have a good name. If you are Catholic there is Star of the Sea College in Gardenvale (girls school). Also some excellent private schools - Hailebury College, St. Leonards, Brighton Grammar, Xavier, Firbank.

[Gaz12]

WOW thanks to the both of you. Very grateful.

One more thing (He says Columbo style!). I've found a lot of Anglican or Catholic secondary/high schools. Do you have to be religious to go to these? We aren't by any stretch.

[moving2melbourne]

It depends on the school, you would have to approach each one. They would give preference to children who did follow their religion.