llessur

Ahh, there you go. It's all a bit tongue in cheek with the map - although I think it does give a rough idea of how the main metropolitan area is split into unofficial zones (e.g. eastern suburbs vs beachside suburbs vs northern suburbs etc). I love the hills and we've talked about moving there one day - although places like Mount Barker do feel quite far away for me as I'm used to my 5 minute commute to the CBD by train. Stirling or Hahndorf would probably be the furthest I'd want to live from the city at this point in my life, but somewhere just inside the hills region with access to a train like Blackwood/Belair would be perfect! At the end of the day a commute here is still the same as a commute in the UK (i.e. dead time) so I do think it's important for those who haven't been here before to get an idea of the scale of Adelaide and its surrounds before they commit to an area that might be a deceptively long way away from their work in the city - hence my woop woop comment

Opened a few months ago now but I thought it was worth a mention: From: https://www.broadsheet.com.au/adelaide/cbd/bars/sparkke-whitmore

Fixed it.

Haha, correction accepted. I am just a city boy after all...

Happy to provide them. I think there's a similar situation here as with product reviews on the internet - people who've bought something and had no problems with it are unlikely to jump online and tell everyone how great it is. The few people who have problems though are the ones most likely to shout about it publicly. Best of luck with your move!

The Adelaidean and Realm are coming on nicely (Image courtesy of the Sensational Adelaide development forum)

Right, I've knocked up a rough guide based on my own experiences. The blank bits around the middle are just average suburbia. Corrections and suggestions gratefully received.

In all fairness your experience relates to IT so stating that 'anyone considering Adelaide should reconsider' is probably a bit strong. Perhaps if you're chasing an IT-related career with a big corporation and wouldn't be happy in an IT role in a school, university, health care provider, the public service or a smaller organisation then Adelaide perhaps wouldn't be your first choice. However, we have lived in Adelaide since 2012 and have had absolutely no problems in finding (non-IT) work. Both my partner and I work in Universities (non-academic roles) with short hours, great employee benefits, good pay and are eternally happy that we don't have to put up with the long commutes, overcrowding and ridiculous house prices of the eastern cities. Adelaide tends to gets a lot of bad press on these forums and, whilst that's obviously not the case with you as you live here, a lot of the negativity seems to come from people who either lived in or visited Adelaide (or had a friend of a friend of a friend who did) 10 or more years ago, had a mediocre time and then have bashed it ever since. I've said it before on this forum that Adelaide has changed immeasurably in the last 7-8 years in terms of vibrancy and attitude - it is finally embracing the smaller boutique city that it actually is rather than trying to play catch up with the larger cities. I would highly recommend Adelaide to anyone who wants an easy, relaxed lifestyle, free from many of the problems than blight the larger cities. We have great weather, lovely beaches, endless parklands, a vibrant city centre, next to no traffic, decent public transport, realistic house prices and two of the world's best wine regions right on our doorstep. It's a great place to bring up a family but now the city centre has sorted itself out I'd also be more than happy living my younger days here too. Thanks to my wife being from Adelaide originally, we have a large group of friends, all aged 30-40 and from a wide variety of educational backgrounds - I don't know of anyone who has had significant trouble finding a job in their chosen field in Adelaide. It's also a bit of a fallacy that no major organisations have a presence in Adelaide - many do, although not their head offices. Origin, Suncorp, Boeing, BHP, ANZ, Westpac, Bendigo Bank, Ernst & Young, JLL and Santos a just a few off the top of my head that have a sizable workforce in Adelaide. If you're chasing a specific career or you want to further your career by moving through a large number of organisations in a relatively short period of time then you might decide to move elsewhere from a strategic perspective - but that's the same for any city in any country. If you wanted an IT career with a big corporation in the UK you'd move to London, or another major city. You'd be unlikely to move to Littlehampton - although the latter would offer an arguably much better lifestyle for many people. People shouldn't write Adelaide off just because it isn't Sydney or Melbourne. The lifestyle advantages Adelaide offers exist precisely because it isn't Sydney or Melbourne.

That's the age-old question without a definitive answer Most areas in Adelaide are safe, especially when compared with big cities here and overseas. There are some less desirable spots (Elizabeth for example has a fairly bad reputation) but ultimately where you live will be decided on where you work, how far you're prepared to commute, where you want to send your kids to school and what you want in your local area - beach, city, hills, cafes etc. Adelaide and its metropolitan area are pretty large and the suburbs all have distinct characters (some are the epitome of quiet suburbia, others have much more in the way of local shops and cafes etc). If it looks walkable on a map it's quite likely not, especially in the 40 degree summers. Prices to rent and buy also vary quite considerably. Usual advice is don't commit to anywhere long-term before you've arrive. Find a short-term or holiday rental somewhere fairly central (stay within a few km of the CBD if you want a good, central base for exploring the area) and spend a little while checking out different areas for yourself

We set ours up with NAB from the UK - no problems during the process or in the seven years afterwards. ANZ on the other hand...

Someone more knowledgeable will hopefully add to this but in the meantime here's a link that might answer some of your questions: https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/education-and-learning/schools/choosing-a-school/enrolling-in-primary-school

What sort of information?

No worries at all Adelaide tends to get a bit of a bad rap on here but a lot of the negativity seems to come from people who haven't been here recently. The city has genuinely changed immeasurably in the last 6 or 7 years - it feels like it is finding its feet and embracing the mid-sized, lower populated city that it is (and all of the benefits that come with that) as opposed to living in the shadow of the larger cities like Sydney and Melbourne. I also thought it's worth adding some comments and threads about the city itself as a lot of the discussions I have read relate to moving to the southern suburbs, well away from the city. Whilst I can fully understand why people would want to live in these beautiful areas, with SA being so city-centric (i.e. a lot of the employment, shopping, bars, restaurants, events etc are located in the city) I also think it's well worth pointing out the benefits of living closer to the city - shorter commutes, easy access to city attractions like footy, cricket, theatre, festivals, wining & dining etc. At the end of the day a commute is a commute - 40 minutes on public transport or driving in peak hour traffic here is no more fun than it is in the UK... Best of luck with your move - it will be a great life for your little one. I miss the UK in many ways but now we've had a daughter I couldn't imagine choosing to bring her up in the UK as opposed to here. The weather, the sports, the open space, the general optimism - it all seems a little bit more wholesome

Oh I don't doubt it can be done (especially if you've got money) - most of our friends back in the UK have now had kids and are bringing them up in inner city areas, I can see there would be many benefits. However, we're now living in a city fringe suburb in Adelaide so we get all of the benefits of city life (we're about as close as you can get before you hit the parklands - 5 mins on the train) but we still have the all space and amenity of suburban living. If we were living in Melbourne as originally planned we'd either be paying through the nose renting a tiny city apartment where we'd be tripping over each other all day, or we'd have moved 40km out of the city to be able to buy a place - in which case we wouldn't really be living in Melbourne.

Hobart's an interesting beast though - it's generally very low-rise, with lots of heritage shopfronts and has far more of a European town feel about it. I can see why a high rise (not just this 55m proposal but the much taller one proposed for near the waterfront) might not fit in as well. Adelaide on the other hand already has countless 50m+ buildings, many of which have been around since the 60s and are looking pretty tired. Adding more tall buildings can only improve the skyline, as well as adding more A-grade office buildings which are desperately required if we are to continue attracting interstate and international companies here.

A timely article in CityMag: From: https://citymag.indaily.com.au/habits/home/hurtle-co-forme-projex-shortest-move-history/

The CBD's not often mentioned as a potential suburb in discussions on this forum, but with a heap of new apartment buildings either built or approved for the near future, I think it's well worth a look. You'd be in the heart of all the action with a short commute to work plus have great entertainment options, vast parklands and public transport right on your doorstep. The beach would still be just a 15 minutes drive, or a 30 minute tram ride away Location and Setting The CBD (or 'the City') is the busy bit with the tall buildings in the middle of all of the suburbs. It was laid out in 1837 by Colonel Light (South Australia's first surveyor-general) in a grid pattern on the south side of the Torrens River and is surrounded by a ring of parklands on all sides. The suburb of North Adelaide sits directly to the north of the City, on the other side of the river. The City sits almost centrally within the Adelaide metropolitan area, with the beach and hills approximately a 15-20 minute drive to the west and east respectively. Population and Demographics According to the 2016 ABS Census data, the CBD area had a population of 15,000 - this has probably grown slightly over the last three years based on new apartments which have been constructed. In 2016 the median age of CBD residents was 29, probably reflecting the relatively high student population residing within the city area. Housing Unlike Melbourne and Sydney, Adelaide didn’t boom chaotically in Victorian times, but rather grew steadily, evolving around well-planned streets and squares. The east end was historically affluent: here you’ll find elegant two-storey brick terrace houses, single-fronted stone cottages as well as new townhouses. In the city’s west you’ll find heritage workers cottages, contemporary townhouses as well as apartment towers. As at July 2019, the median house price in Adelaide's CBD was $619,000, whilst the median unit/apartment price was $416,000. Transport When it comes to Adelaide, all roads lead to Rome. The CBD is by far the best-served suburb for public transport - with trains, buses and trams running directly into the CBD. The Railway Station is located on North Terrace - trains run from the CBD to Gawler in the north, Seaford in the south, Outer Harbor and Grange in the west and Belair in the Hills. A spur to the Flinders Medical Centre/Flinders University precinct is currently under construction and should be finished in 2020. Adelaide Railway Station Trams run from the Entertainment Centre in Hindmarsh, through the CBD to either the Botanic Garden or Glenelg in the south and are free to ride between the Entertainment Centre and the southern edge of the CBD (i.e. all rides within the CBD area are free). The beachside suburb of Glenelg is about a 30-45 minutes ride away (depending on time of day) and trams run until after midnight. Buses to and from the CBD are numerous and run pretty much anywhere within the metropolitan area that you would want to go. Driving to/from/within the CBD is generally a stress-free experience and certainly nothing like trying to drive through some of the UK major city centres. Many townhouses and apartments will have allocated car parking, although some of the older CBD houses and cottages will not. Parking in those areas is usually on-street via a resident's permit system. Car ownership is not generally required for travelling within the CBD - public transport, cycling, e-scooters and walking would be a better bet. However, depending on your lifestyle, a car would probably be useful in Adelaide for travelling further afield and getting out and about on the weekends. If, however, you were looking for a suburb to live car-free then the CBD would be your best bet by far. Parks and Schools If there is a suburb in Adelaide which is spoilt for choice when it comes to parks then the CBD is it. As mentioned above, the City is surrounded on all sides by a 500-700m wide band of parklands which vary in format from manicured gardens, sports facilities, boating lakes, playgrounds, bmx/skate parks and remnants of native bushland. In addition to the parklands, there are also five city squares - the large Victoria Square in the very centre of the CBD, and smaller squares in each quadrant. If you live in the CBD, a park of some description will not be far away. The CBD is home to various schools - private and public, primary and secondary - including the two public high schools, Adelaide High and the brand new Botanic High School. Both of which have very good reputations. Botanic High School Shopping Adelaide CBD is the State's main shopping destination - whilst there are a couple of big Westfield shopping centres in the suburbs, neither comes close to the number and variety of retailers situated within the City. The main shopping area is situated on and around Rundle Mall - a pedestrianised mall towards the north of the CBD. Here you'll find both local and international retailers - including the new branch of H&M as well as David Jones, Myer etc. Further east, Rundle Street is the home of smaller boutiques, as well as restaurants, bars and cafes. The street is closed to traffic every year around Fringe season and has a great atmosphere: Bars, Restaurants and Entertainment This is where the city comes into its own compared to other areas - there are numerous bars and restaurants, as well as cinemas, theatres and pop up events. Too many pubs and bars to mention individually, there are various classic hotels such as the Exeter, the Stag, the Austral and the Franklin - some worn and homely, others newly renovated and trendy. The Stag Public House There have been a glut of new bars and restaurants opening across the city since the previous State Government introduced a new category of liquor licence for venues with a capacity of under 120 people back in 2013 - there are now in the region of 120 new venues operating across the CBD that did not exist in 2012. Small bars on Leigh Street There are also hundreds of eateries located across the CBD providing every type of cuisine imaginable - as in most places in SA, quality is usually top notch. You certainly won't go hungry in Adelaide. For entertainment the Festival Centre attracts many international shows and acts - theatre, caberet, music etc. And there's the historic Her Majesty's Theatre which is currently being completely renovated: And not forgetting the fact that every March the city and parklands come alive with Fringe and Festival-related activities. All in all, if you're looking to move to SA, aren't desperate for the quarter acre block in the suburbs and would instead prefer to be in the heart of the action the the CBD is well worth considering.

Great for the CBD's population though. What's point of a capital city if it empties out after 5pm? Plus, new building generally=economic activity which = jobs and growth (to nick a government soundbite)

The fantastic Pizzateca of McLaren Vale fame has now opened a pizzeria in the CBD, on Gilbert Street - Madre. Looks great Apparently the style is a super-traditional take on Neapolitan pizza, using seawater and sourdough rather than fresh yeast which results in a lighter, easier to digest end product. If they're anything as good as their existing offering at McLaren Vale then I'll be happy! More info: https://citymag.indaily.com.au/habits/plate-and-cup/madre-pizzeria-pizzateca-adelaide-cbd/ https://citymag.indaily.com.au/habits/madre-gilbert-street-pizzateca-adelaide/ https://www.broadsheet.com.au/adelaide/food-and-drink/article/now-open-madre-arrives-cbd-serving-neapolitan-pizza-made-seawater \

Another one approved - a 132m (equal in height to the existing tallest building) hotel for King William Street:

I came over on a partner visa - I met my Aussie wife back in the UK and as she was from Adelaide we ended up here. Our original plan was to head to Melbourne as we were in our late 20s/early 30s back then and didn't think Adelaide had much to offer. One of the reasons we ended up staying was the increasing amount of vibrancy and entertainment options in the city - it was a lot more fun than we expected so we didn't feel the need to move interstate. These days we've got a toddler so regular trips to bars and restaurants seem like a distant memory. Now we appreciate Adelaide for different reasons - the weather, ease of getting around, short commutes, house prices, parklands etc. I can't image bringing up a toddler in central Melbourne...

Another tall building announcement this week - Hyatt Regency will be building a 114m five-star hotel on Pirie Street: Meanwhile Realm and the Adelaidean continue to take shape: (Picture courtesy of the Sensational Adelaide development forum) (Picture courtesy of the Sensational Adelaide development forum)

Continuing my theme of adding a few threads to the forum about the city, I thought it was worthwhile providing some information about places to eat and drink. There have been a glut of new bars and restaurants opening across the city since the State Government introduced a new category of liquor licence for venues with a capacity of under 120 people back in 2013 - there are now in the region of 120 new venues operating across the CBD that did not exist in 2012. This number has been increasing by around 20 each year since the change and has had a dramatic effect on the vibrancy and activation within previously quiet parts of the city - especially some laneways such as Peel Street and Leigh Street: Peel Street Leigh Street I thought it was worth mentioning this fact as many of the less than positive posts about Adelaide on this forum seem to have been made by people who have not lived here in the last few years. I have been a resident of Adelaide since 2012 and the atmosphere around the place has genuinely changed immeasurably since then (although I am assured by my wife that the fact this uplift occurred directly after my arrival is a mere coincidence). Whilst it's probably difficult to provide commentary of venues which have already opened, I will try to keep the thread updated with details of new announcements - it may help to provide prospective migrants with an idea of what nightlight and entertainment options exist in the city. The latest announcement is for the re-opening of the former dining hall at Adelaide Railway Station (which has been closed off and used for storage for over a decade) as a bar/restaurant called the Guardsman. The bar will front onto the station concourse and looks like it will be a great addition to the already grand building: According to the press release: "The Guardsman will feature a grand central bar, open kitchen, multiple dining and seating zones, a private room and shopfront serving coffee and takeaway items opening onto the Railway concourse. It includes full restoration of the Hall’s heritage features". It will certainly make it a lot easier for me to grab a beer on the way to home from work...

Good plan Steve - definitely get in and meet with some recruitment consultants directly. Once they've seen your face and you've established a relationship you might be surprised at how quickly they find you a role. My first couple of roles in Adelaide were not really directly related to what I had done in the UK and were a bit of a step down. However, they really helped me a get some Adelaide-based experience on my CV (which I think really helps, especially for new migrants), helped me get a local referee (they are very much in to references here - I've seen colleagues at work have 30 minute phone conversations with job applicants' referees) and there's always a bit of 'artistic leeway' in to how you can present that job on your CV when you apply for the next one (i.e. keep the bits that do align with the job you're applying for and drop the rest). If nothing else it will get you out of the house and give you a bit of beer money. Have you considered trying to get into one of the universities? They all have quite active media/marketing departments. Getting an unrelated contract role within a uni would make it much easier to apply and get your application considered. There are also a good chunk of roles which are advertised only internally...

There are also some positive signs starting to emerge in the South Australian economy as manufacturing starts to pick up in such areas as solar panels and batteries, electric vehicles etc, new renewable energy projects continue to be approved and come online, tourism numbers are increasing healthily, mining is starting to pick up, ship and submarine building is about to boom with the major new federal contracts being awarded to SA, the medical research precinct on North Terrace is due to be expanded with the new SAHMRI 2 building, the film, games and visual effects industry is booming with major companies such as Rising Sun Pictures, Sony and Technicolor opening offices and the new Mortal Kombat film to be produced here and the Australian Space Agency HQ opening in Adelaide as part of Australia's first creation and innovation neighbourhood at Lot 14 etc etc. It's not all doom and gloom job-wise in SA and, arguably, we're at a turning point with the economy shifting nicely towards 21st century industries. I would expect/hope that things continue to shift in this We don't have the same expansive job markets as Melbourne and Sydney but we are also about a quarter of their size population-wise. I'd maintain that the work is out there, but it often comes in the form of temporary and contract roles. Applying for full-time permanent positions via Seek etc didn't work out for my wife and I. We both undertook a number of short-term contracts, sometimes not completely aligned with our previous work, to get into the full-time permanent positions we are in today. A lot of the time the contract roles will either lead directly to a permanent role, or they will allow you to access the internally advertised roles within the organisation you are working for. Once you're in at any level, it's a lot easier to get your application seen.