BobHatton

Thanks all. Dawesville is certainly on our list of locations and so too now is Miami Bakehouse!

Gold Coast is OK if you have tattoos, wear fake tan and regularly pump your body full of steroids. Apart from that, it's not the best or safest place in the World to reside in.

It was meant purely tongue in cheek Ali...

PS $450k would get you a LOT of house in Hervey Bay including beachside in places.

Hervey Bay now has some of the best health care facilities in any regional centre in Australia and all very central. We have most medical services here including a massive private hospital (St Stephen's). Retirement villages galore and medical homes for the infirm. Dundowran Beach is considered one of the best suburbs and is where the 'money is' although Julie Street is set back from that a bit. 10 minutes drive to town. The three outlying suburbs (which are rapidly becoming part of HB) are, in order, Dundowran, Craignish, Toogoom and Burrum Heads. You won't go wrong.

Thanks for all your comments guys - it certainly gives us something to go off and research some more. Hopefully see you all one day in the Wild, Wild, West!

Just tell them that your child DOESN'T actually have Autism; as is the case in 98% of over-diagnosed children!

Not having a permanent address as such MAY affect your insurance quote as insurance is based around a postcode. BTW, a rego can be bought for 6 or 12 months (similar to the tax disc in the UK). In Queensland cars don't need a Road Worthy Certificate (RWC) unless (a) You're buying one or (b) You're selling one with a rego. Unlike the UK where MOT's were needed once a year (they were when I was there anyway) there is now requirement for a yearly RWC in Queensland. This does differ by State though (eg: NSW does have a yearly RWC). One other thing; don't buy from a dealer. Their warranty is not worth the paper its written on and they will charge at least a 20-25% premium for the pleasure of buying from them. Have a look at Townsville Gumtree and buy privately is my recommendation. Hope this all helps.

Feed 'Toogoom' into realestate.com.au There you'll find a number of houses around the $300K mark and within spitting distance to a beautiful beach. We have a locl shop, hairdressers, chemist and a couple of restaurants. Just try and make sure you buy an actual 'brick and tile' house as there were a number of houses built with polystyrene blocks that have problems (not all). Let me know what you find and I'll be able to help you. I've attached a house for sale in Toogoom currently at $305K - only one street from beach. If you're mad keen to be in Hervey Bay itself (Toogoom is only a 15 minute drive) then look at suburbs like Eli Waters which is also still very affordable.

Sydney is a whole heap different to Cooktown that's all I can say!

Thanks for your comments. Surely someone on here must live in the Mandurah/Rockingham area to have an opinion on the good/bad areas?

Toowoomba is a rapidly growing city and is the second biggest inland city in Australia (after Canberra). Nearly 150,000 people now call it home. It has some of the best schools in Queensland (children come from far and wide to live there), has a HUGE shopping centre, lovely parks and is only about an hour and a half to Brisbane. It can get VERY cold and foggy in the winter and VERY hot in the summer (being inland and high up). Crime rate is about average for Queensland which seems to be rising everywhere to be honest. Rangeville is a nice suburb as is South Toowoomba. Consider Westbrook and Mount Lofty also. Avoid Wilsonton and Newtown if you can.

You'll need a residential address in Queensland to get a new one regardless of whether you were a resident or not. Proof of address would be needed such as utility bill.

No contest: Hervey Bay

Hervey Bay really is the hidden gem on Queensland's coast. Affordable housing, great infrastructure now and wonderful people. We have been living here since 2006 and have bought three house in that time (in Urangan, Kawungan and now Toogoom) and so if anybody wants any advice please don't hesitate to ask.

Baking soda with a little lemon juice......mix and voila!

Hi all, thanks for taking the time to read this. We have been living in Oz now for 20 years and all but one of those years has been spent in Queensland (Hervey Bay). We're seriously thinking of moving over to WA and have looked at various options and have narrowed it down to Mandurah or Rockingham. We have visited both of those areas on a recce and don't mind either. Which are the better areas to retire to? I've heard good things about Dawesville but would encourage any opinions, good bad or indifferent. Any advice? We would be on a buying budget of just under $350K Also, where in the World (specifically in WA) could we find TRUE British pies? By that, we mean TRUE meat and potato pies with short crust pastry throughout! You know, like a Hollands pie 'back home'. After over 20 years of eating Aussie pies with their flaky pastry, they STILL don't cut it. Please, please tell us that there is a British Bakery in WA who know how to make a British Pie! With hundreds of thousands of ex-pats living in WA there simply MUST be a British Pie maker! Here's hoping!

Been a Hervey Bay local now for over 16 years so if anyone has any questions, please fire away! Originally from the UK and have lived in NZ, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Townsville and the Sunshine Coast....

Hi - Hervey Bay local here! (16 years and counting). There are NO supported living accommodations in Hervey Bay for children that I know of, although there is a 'special' education facility here in Hervey Bay that caters for children with special needs. The main employer here in HB is the health sector. We have a large elderly population and the health facilities keep growing to meet that demand so maybe a change in career? Centrecare would be the ones to write to in regards to supported accommodation (there are adult facilities). PO Box 1840 Hervey Bay QLD 4655

When we lived in Redland Bay (admittedly 15 years ago) it took me nearly 45 minutes commute to MacGregor which is just South West of the city due to traffic. Traffic around Brizzy is appalling at certain times. I tried catching the train from Cleveland as an alternative but didn't like not being in my own space! (Cleveland is a good option though as it is a town in itself and has the railway station. I wouldn't buy in Alex Hills....just my opinion.

Sad....

You're just jealous of the State of Origin.....?

Oh I see. It's good to know you're so experienced then. Still, if you've only been once at least it got rid of one redneck...

Do one troll...

And you've lived in Hervey Bay for how long?