Scully81

Townsville is better for fishing than Toowoomba but Toowoomba closer to other places to visit/flying from Brisbane. We lived in Toowoomba for six months, Bobj says is cool, I say it is VERY cold, hated the cold but other than that great place. TSV hot, hot, hot and I love it. Both place good for kids and family I think.

EVERYTHING!!! Can't see myself living anywhere else in the world:-)

they are def looking for mechanics in Aus. We have only been in Toowoomba and Townsville but both can't find enough/good mechanics and we think 50 to 60K is the average. Like they said, contact dealerships directly, no all of them advertise online but a lot is always looking. My partner had interview line up when we moved to Toowoomba and started two weeks after we got there. Good luck with the move!!

We don't have kids so Toowoomba was not for us but I can see that it can be great place to bring up kids. I used to walk to shops and felt very safe, not like the UK and South Africa. It was too cold for us as well but then again, we rented an old QLDer style home and was like a fridge inside. Can't say we will never go back as it is nice place. We in Townsville now and loving the heat!

We moved from Toowoomba to Townsville about three months ago. I could not find work in Toowoomba but got work straight away in Townsville. I have not come across many UK or SA or Zim people. Sure they around. It does take a while to make friends. We have not made any friends other than 'work friends' Luckily partner's brother also moved here so not alone. Even with no friends we love TSV and will not be moving in the near future. Yes, I know the heat is still coming but it is so nice to arrange this for weekends and not have to worry if it will be raining or cold or just plain miserable. Even without friends, we are really happy here!

Sorry, just seen the reply from Amy/Tom Lancaster. Partner would have got more money after probation but now we moving to Townsville. He will start off with higher wage in Townsville than what he started on in Toowoomba. Again should go up after probation. I have been doing a bit of temp work but we've been fine on 50K. No kids though. It was very easing for partner to get work. He saw the ad on SEEK couple of weeks before we came over. They basically said he's got the job, just wanted to meet him. Now with Townsville, he spoke to guy on phone and guy said job is his as long as he can proof he can do what is on his CV. He does find it alot different, good and bad. If you have specific questions, let me know and I will ask him. Don't want to put too many details on here, pl PM us if you require more info. He works for a dealership. Like other people have said, they are crying out for mechanics over here, so don't think it will be too difficult to get job, depending on experience.

Can't remember the name but think it is Toowoomba Jobs, you can them as friend on facebook. That might help .

When I called up to get paper copies because I could not lodge online, lady said that company and bank sends them our info. They then add it to system. That covers the secrect information bit. She said they usually get all info in July but can be up to mid August. I will try again to lodge ours mid August just to give them time to add all info on us

Obviously you need passport and/or birth certificate. We had to have letter of employment of company my partner was going to work for here in Twmba, it is the same now for TSV, they want a letter of employment before they go further. We also gave receipt for QLD driver license as we applied within few days of getting here. It was quite easy, the more info the better. At the end of the day, they just want to know you will be able to afford the rent. Just be very careful of estate agents. I have only dealt with the one in Twmba, not sure if I am allowed to say the name on here, but after we got the property, they have just been c**p. Told us there was gas bottle at property and when we moved in on a Saturday, there wasn't, only got one on the Tuesday, so had 3 days with no hot water. And other stuff, too much to write here. Make sure you ask everything and get everything in writing! Our estate agent is there to look after the owner's property, no one to help or look after us.

Mostly 12 months but you get places that does 6 months. We are on 6 months contract in Toowoomba but struggling to get 6 months in Townsville, all of them say 12 months.

we live in an older place, all inside is the b22 and outside is e27

My partner is a mechanic and currently on 50k but still in probation. We are in Toowoomba but moving as I can't find job in Toowoomb. It generally looks like %) - 60K is what mechanics get as start salary and most places doing bonus and overtime. From our experience $30 per hour is max you get for light vechicle mechanics in QLD. I am sure there will be someone who will correct me but this has been our experience. I agree with sussex boy, first find job, get sorted and then look for area you want to live in. Would be nice if you can get it all in one go.

We used PSS as when they gave quote it looked good, think was about 1600 but then when they packed it, we had to pay anther 600 that came close to other quotes. I was not at home when the guy came but when I saw the list, I thought we might pay more as where he said eg 3 boxes for clothes I knew it would be more than that. Their service was not bad but it was not great either. I know things are being shipped to another country but I think they overpacked evertyhing. Eg. they would put a plastic tub lid in about five pieces of paper where i think one or two is enough. Saying that nothing was broken when we got it in Aus but because there was so many pieces of paper I actually threw out smaller stuff like lids of salt and pepper pots. You need to go through every single sheet when unpacking. Ours came from UK to Brisbane, then Toowoomba, took about 9 weeks. We did not bring big furniture, think it was less than half the container. All in all not bad, but not brilliant either. Just be sure to get quote right.

Sounds really good, thanks for replying, will def look into it!!

There are a lot of posts on here about different Northern QLD places and mixed reviews. We have not been anywhere other than Toowoomba area but thinking of moving up north. The main places, as far as I know, is Rockhampton, MacKay, Townsville and Cairns. There are so many different posts about this that I can't get the real picture. All of them seem to be humid places with risk of floods. Can you guys that know the places give me a quick line or two about the positive and negative about each place? Partner is a mechanic, I'm only doing Admin, no kids, want to live a any nice hot place, not too worried about the beach and sea but like water and fishing. Hope that gives an idea of what we are after. Cheers

My partner did the same. He unpacked main toolboxes, cleaned it all, took pictures of it all and then pack them in smaller boxes. was about ten smaller boxes and then the two big boxes. Even empty the big boxes was heavy but it was ok for shipping guys to take. Had no issues along the way with tools or boxes

We had African Gray and she was not allowed to come. We moved to QLD

It is so nice to hear positvie feedback. I can appreciate that Aus not for everyone but no need to diss any country (aus or UK) . Each to their own. It so nice to hear that people appreciate chance they've got to get to Aus as there are many that would like to come but can't (including some of our family and friends back in UK) and then a lot that gets the visas but send negative . Glad you are happy back home. Enjoy!!

We had similar issue when we moved in, agency said there is gas bottle at property and then when we moved in there wasn't and that was a Saturday so was without hot water until Tuesday. I called housing association, can't remember name off top of my head, and they said whatever you do, don't stop paying as then you are in the wrong. You need to note every little thing down and all emails and phone calls and then if you want to take it further you can. With us, the dishwasher did not work and few other things were not working but in the end when all was fixed we did not bother to take it further but I will not use this agency again and tell everyone I know how bad they are.

Hi we moved to toowoomba beginning of march. Like everybody is saying, depends what you want. We do not have kids and are renting at the moment in south toowoomba paying 300 a week for 3 bedroom house. It s bit small but exactly what we want. I am still looking for job but getting by comfortably on partner money about 1500 every two weeks. No money to buy big things but we do not need things at moment, shipped a lot over. About city, it is not that big. Loads of house. Most areas look lovely and even though small there is plenty of shops. Not saying it is crime free but I feel very safe in house and walking round city. I go for walk most mornings and you just can't beat the feeling of sun on your back and hearing all the birdies. I also walk to shops and cbd. There has been some crappy days with weather but not that bad and not so constant as in uk. It will rain for few days and sunny for a lot of days. Again it does get chilly but not like uk. Today is fresh outside but sunny so you still feel like getting out and doing something. To finish off, if you don't mind smaller city then toowoomba good place to start. It is so easy to sort everything as everybody so friendly and helpful which you don't always get in bigger places. And is still close enough to Brisbane and other places that you can go away for weekend. As soon as I get job that is what we going to do but for now enjoying toowoomba and sunshine! Hope this helps

Thanks just added Toowoomba jobs. Had a look today, there is about 8 jobs I have applied for but closing date for most of them are in the next two week or so. I don't want to sound fussy but would like to get decent job, don't mind temping but don't want to take full time job just because. I do want to enjoy what I do. I will keep you all updated. I am sure something will come up. When I moved to UK from SA ten years ago I waited three weeks to get job and it was a lot easier get jobs in LDN at that time. This is now week three so not too worried ... just yet:-)

Thanks Skani, will have a look

HI, does anybody have a link like the one above for QLD. We are looking to buy but I can't find anything on google that I can understand

Thanks Rachael, I am going to tweak my CV and then start calling. @Jo: The visa came through way to quickly (not complaining, was just a shock). We applied end Jan 2011 and got it end September but was told to be in country mid Feb 2012. We could not afford to come, sign in and then go back to UK. So we sold the house, gave away a lot of stuff, packed the rest and came over on 14th Feb. All in all, about 18 months as partner did Vetassess August 2010. We came to Toowoomba as family here but def want to move to Townsville or Cairns. Just not getting the Aus feeling in Toowoomba. :-)

Thanks for the reply Cal. I will give it a go. Cheers