Dom1

What i said was there doesn't seem to be any more problems in Townsville compared to other places on the Coast, I don't know the crime rate statistics. You are incorrect imagining i deem crime normal because i have arrived directly from the UK. Quite the opposite, I have been lucky not to live in areas with high crime rates so the situation you describe would not go unnoticed. The security measures you are having to take are far from normal, I would be looking at a different suburb rather than buying guard dogs and installing surveillance cameras. Being able to leave your front doors wide open and not worry is not very realistic in this day and age, maybe if you live remotely or a small community, not in a city of any size. I appreciate your preference would be to live in Cairns, but I don't see how your comments are beneficial to other posters, who are mainly new to Townsville or making the huge decision of where to emigrate too. There are some pretty ropey areas in most Cities, including Cairns, maybe the key is to avoid them.

It is interesting to read the different views on Townsville. Our young family moved here from the UK in March 2013. My wife and I both had good jobs and our lifestyle was comfortable, however we wanted to try something different. Our experience has been very good, we live in a cracking area and the kids attend the Grammar which is excellent. I like others had doubts when doing research, there seemed to be lots of comments regarding crime which is worrying. I would not say there are more problems in Townsville than any other town of city on the East coast. It feels like a safe & happy place to bring up young kids, I would not hesitate to recommend it as a place to live. Yes it is very hot at this time of year, but for 9 months the weather is perfect. You can get to some amazing places in a short period of time, Arlie & Mission Beach both within 3 hours, Magnetic Island 30 minutes on the ferry and Rainforest an hour upto Paluma. Not to mention Cairns, Palm Cove & Port Douglas a little further afield. We all have different ideas on what makes a place good to live, for us relocating to Townsville has been a good happy experience. I have no doubt that in time we will move to a different part of Australia, but for now we are enjoying what Tropical North Queensland has to offer, which is plenty.

I have been reading a recent Townsville thread on British expats which basically states the place is getting out of control, with regular car jackings and vigilante groups roaming around. Is this really the case or a few isolated incidents ?

Thanks Bobj, I have briefly been Townsville in the late 90's And liked it, however I cannot remember too much and I guess it has changed a fair bit. i will be visiting the two places in 3-4 weeks which I'm looking forward too. I want to give the kids as much outdoor fun and adventures I can whilst at the same I'm a keen angler and want to try try my hand at a different type of fishing and enjoy the weather/ cold beer/ food etc. Dom

Hi all, I would welcome any feedback/advice on living in either Townsville or Towoomba. I have a young family and have been offered the opppurtunity to work in either of these locations with a good position in the new year. All feed back will be gratefully received. Dom

Hi I am looking for some info on work as a pharmacist in Townsville, as my husband may have a job there. we currently live in the Uk and I am a mental health pharmacist working in an NHS hospital. I have a community background also. I am not sure of the tests and work experience required for registration in Oz as a pharmacist from the UK, so if anyone has any advice I would be very grateful. We may be in Townsville in January next year. Thank you in advance, Steph