I also live in Melbourne but I would suggest checking out a few larger towns when you come for a visit. Bendigo would certainly be worth checking out. We were there recently for a couple of days and it seemed a very nice town with some lovely old buildings, a good art gallery, cafes etc. It is not too far from Melbourne (about 1 1/2 hours) if you need a big city fix of shopping, culture etc. Not to say there is no culture in a place like Bendigo. We went there specifically to see the Archibald Prize winning portraits at the Bendigo Gallery which is the national portrait prize of Australia.
You should also check out Geelong and Warrnambool though I have only pased through Geelong. In fact there are many lovely places to live outside Melbourne but am not sure of the job situation in the smaller towns.
Mildura in my opinion is too far from Melbourne (over 5 hours drive) and it gets very, very hot in summer. If it is 35 degrees in Melbourne it will be 40 degrees there and whilst we get a cool change here they swelter for weeks on end with no relief and the nearest beach many hours drive away.
Colac and Portland I don't know much about but it is not somewhere I would think of going but then again, I haven't been there.
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Hello Again, Buzz
I live in South Gippsland - about 2 hours south of Melbourne, a little seaside town called Inverloch (pop 2000, in the winter at least). Lived in Melb. for the first 10 years I was here and loved it but the small towns have a lot going for them,especially once you have a family. We are close to 2 larger "towns" Wonthaggi and Leongatha which provide most of the employment. If you like the quieter, outdoorsy life but still want to be close to a big city to get your "fix" from time to time, South Gippsland is a good option - especially if you like the sea - beautiful coastline down here. Melbourne is certainly not the be all and end all of Victoria. The major drawback is the employment opportunities which are very limited compared to Melbourne of course.
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Hello Again, Buzz
I live in South Gippsland - about 2 hours south of Melbourne, a little seaside town called Inverloch (pop 2000, in the winter at least). Lived in Melb. for the first 10 years I was here and loved it but the small towns have a lot going for them,especially once you have a family. We are close to 2 larger "towns" Wonthaggi and Leongatha which provide most of the employment. If you like the quieter, outdoorsy life but still want to be close to a big city to get your "fix" from time to time, South Gippsland is a good option - especially if you like the sea - beautiful coastline down here. Melbourne is certainly not the be all and end all of Victoria. The major drawback is the employment opportunities which are very limited compared to Melbourne of course.
Inverloch looks great - did you enjoy the bike race going through?
I quite like Orbost, a bit further east, but, as you say, job opportunities zip. Mallacoota too has an appeal with even fewer job opportunities (if that is possible).
There are also some lovely spots along the Gt Ocean Rd which would be fine if you didnt need employment.
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I like Foster and Kurumburra, Lang Lang is commutable to the outskirts of Melbourne as is Garfield, Drouin, Warrigal. The Latrobe Valley has more employment as the power stations are situate there and there are several largish towns. Sale, Traralgon, Churchill.
Healesville is on the outskirts too and a nice area to live but towards the Dividing Range.
Poowong is a nice town in Gippsland too right up on the hill and you can see for miles. My oh did bike races around there very nice area.
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Hello Again, Buzz
I live in South Gippsland - about 2 hours south of Melbourne, a little seaside town called Inverloch (pop 2000, in the winter at least). Lived in Melb. for the first 10 years I was here and loved it but the small towns have a lot going for them,especially once you have a family. We are close to 2 larger "towns" Wonthaggi and Leongatha which provide most of the employment. If you like the quieter, outdoorsy life but still want to be close to a big city to get your "fix" from time to time, South Gippsland is a good option - especially if you like the sea - beautiful coastline down here. Melbourne is certainly not the be all and end all of Victoria. The major drawback is the employment opportunities which are very limited compared to Melbourne of course.
We went to Inverloch last weekend and it was really lovely. I have to say I'm quite jealous of you living there!!!
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Thanks to all so far giving excellent info . Lets keep em coming this is getting really interesting anyone else out there that live outside of Melbourne???
We are having a tough time deciding between Geelong and Hobart in Tasmania.
Dalhousie, you have mentioned that schools are good in and around Geelong. Could you possibly name a few? We will have one in primary and one in high school. I am a nurse in oncology, I have looked at Geelong hospital on the web and it looks good. OH works in stores, fork lift driving, goods in and out etc, do you think he will find work around Geelong?
We are having a tough time deciding between Geelong and Hobart in Tasmania.
Dalhousie, you have mentioned that schools are good in and around Geelong. Could you possibly name a few? We will have one in primary and one in high school. I am a nurse in oncology, I have looked at Geelong hospital on the web and it looks good. OH works in stores, fork lift driving, goods in and out etc, do you think he will find work around Geelong?
Any info will be helpful!
A lot depends on where you will live of course. Geelong Public Hospital is in Ryrie Street and within easy walking to the shopping centre of Geelong, (and you are right it is a great hospital) Geelong Private Hospital is in the same area. Another Private Hospital is St John of God and it is situated in Myers Street, so suggest you search Google Maps to get an idea of where things are.
Firstly Geelong: The second largest city in Victoria situated on Corio Bay. Good beaches at Eastern Beach for children. Good hospitals and amenities. Plenty of schools both private and public, has a great shopping centre. Train service to Melbourne every half hour during peak and every hour out of peak times. Driving to Melbourne on the three lane freeway takes about an hour. Nearest surf beach is Torquay about 20 minutes drive away. Bellarine Peninsula and great wineries about 30 mins away.
Now places to live in Geelong, I will try and be as honest as I can about the areas I but of course I will not be able to cover all of them.
North Geelong is the area closest to Melbourne; certain areas are considered working class. One area in particular seems to have a “bad” name viz Corio, but honestly the new estates out there in the Lovely Banks area seem OK. The amenities and services are very good I believe. I think Corio carries the stigma because it is very near to an older public housing scheme that now houses the unemployed and unmarried mothers this area is called Norlane. Because of the “sigma” of the area the schools carry the tag as well. Another area in North is Bell Park. This was populated by Greek, Italian and Croatian immigrants many years ago. Lots of over the top large houses in that area. Shopping centre on the Anakie Road seems adequate. A really nice area in North Geelong is St Helens, hidden away somewhat very close to the beach. Great wee spot. Another place of interest would be Lara, about 30-40 minutes from Geelong on the Melbourne freeway.
To the West is West Geelong, a very old part of Geelong, close to the train station Large, old Edwardian houses, also smaller workers cottages, great restaurants, coffee shops etc search for Pakington Street. It’s about a five minute drive to the City Centre. Still West but a little more north is Hamlyn Heights and Manifold Heights: suburbs, in the real sense, shopping centres only small. Mainly a Middle class area, Lots of 60’s and 70’s houses. Still only about 5-10 min drive to the city. Also look at Newtown, an upper middle class area, close to the best private schools: - Bostock House (which is Geelong C of E Grammar’s primary school) Geelong College: Sacred Heart; St Josephs are others in the area.
The areas closest to the Hospital would be East Geelong, and Eastern and Western Beach.
Eastern Beach and Western Beach in particular are both sought after areas so is quite expensive. East Geelong has some large old houses, is close to the Geelong Botanical Gardens and Eastern Gardens sporting fields. Great area but again I expect expensive.
Areas further south west would be Newcomb, good shopping, middle to lower middle class area about 10 min drive to Geelong. Further south east again Leopold, a new area quite good shopping but about 15 to 20 minute drive to Geelong
To the south (heading towards the surf beaches of Torquay, Anglesea and Lorne) are South Geelong, a very old part of Geelong mostly old weather board Victorian houses but close to the city centre. Then Belmont, Grovedale and Highton. Belmont has a good shopping centre, and has good amenities and bus services great village feel about it. Highton is a little more upmarket and I know a great number of immigrants live there. Grovedale has been established for a while but is still the newest of the three close to the Waurn Ponds area which is a developing area near Deakin University. Highton has a nice village atmosphere; Belmont has probably more amenities and is a little closer to Geelong about 15 minutes.
You can then travel further on to Torquay about 20 minutes from Geelong. A surfing town, growing very quickly, great beaches, reasonable shopping centre and coffee shops etc. but expensive. Anglesea would be about 35 minutes from Geelong again a seaside resort, not quite as “buzzy” as Torquay.
I haven’t covered all the areas but I think this will give you a fair idea of what to expect in Geelong. Regarding employment with the financial situation at the moment, not sure about the employment prospects, but the government has just pumped 10b into the economy and it is considered that Oz should fare well. Who knows??? But there are a number of large industries Fords, Alcoa, Brinton’s Carpet Factory, Godfrey Hirst Carpet Factory. The Geelong airport (home of Jetstar) is upgrading and expanding. The Victorian Government has nearly completed the new Transport Accident Commission Office and that will move from Melbourne to Geelong very soon. As well there is the usual retail, services and small industries. Suggest you look up the Yellow pages on the net for Geelong to get a better idea.
Now back to your original question, sorry this has been a bit long winded, but I thought that it was important that you first find out where you want to live and then settle a school. There a scores of good schools in Geelong both government and private. Again suggest you “Google search” Schools in Geelong Victoria, that brings up every school in the area. If you then need specific information on a particular area or school, then please let me know either by PM or on the site, I will be only too happy to do what I can.
Good luck with your decision
dalhousie
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