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Locals help required please - I'm moving up from Brisbane to Sunny Coast and would really appreciate some local knowledge on choosing a suburb and those best avoided.(if any) I'm open to all suggestions - would rather have a green and leafy suburb near a major centre like Molooolaba or Caloundra - although I have a read a few negative comments about the latter - - so if anyone could put me right that would be great. I'll have 2 teenagers going to the local state high school and I have checked them out and they all seem on par. Would like to be within 5 mins of the beach - as that's the main point in moving up. Any insiders guide into what the suburb offers eg, pubs, gym. shopping centre etc etc would be greatly appreciated. I Im going to commute down to Brisbane once a week on the train - so any insider knowledge on that journey also much appreciated. I had a look at Mountain Creek - which looks great - Sippy Downs - too far from beach for me - and Buderim - nice but I cant see myself cycling up that hill. I'd like to get out an about in the suburb with parks and walking trails etc etc, but still be close enough to enjoy the ocean and a bit of entertainment. thank you in advance

Hi, I previously posted a thread on whether good grades matter to get into private schools, and from the majority of replies i get the feeling that they do. So i now need to know if anybody knows of any good Public schools that are able to give extra help to students with special needs? Attention Deficit Disorder and possibly Aspergers Syndrome. Obviously i have to do my own research but reccomendations always help. Its not that he needs a special needs school, its just that he struggles with working alone all of the time. many Thanx Jen x

Hi! It's me again, back with another subjective question! We are looking at Adelaide in terms of a place to live when we move back to Australia, and I wanted to get your opinions on popular suburbs around the city, and good cafes/pubs/food & drink, preferably in Western areas relatively near beaches. I am aware that what counts as a 'good' suburb or place to live is highly subjective based on who you are, in my case; a 17-year old, a 15-year old (me) and a 50-year old, but I just wanted to see what you guys think are some good places to look at. My mum is an Occupational Therapist who is looking for areas in Adelaide that will be good for jobs in Voc Rehab and similar jobs. The suburb/area doesn't necessarily have to be ideal for teenagers, as we aren't particularly interested in shopping, clubbing etc just yet. Personally, I would like a place that is accessible to local cafe's and takeaways, somewhere I could hangout with my friends. I've seen that there are trains/tram lines within the city and surrounding areas, so I could always use those to go to museums, pubs, libraries and other public buildings. Of course, who doesn't love the beach? In an ideal world, we'd want to live somewhere relatively close to beaches (walking or biking distance ideally, but having to drive/use public transport is fine too of course!), whilst also being able to hop in the car or on a bus/train and drive to more urban public places. Seeing as I am 15, I will be needing to go to a highschool in Adelaide, so a suburb relatively near to a good highschool or with school buses would be great haha I know this is all really subjective and vague, and entirely dependant to what you look for in life, but basically I'm looking for your personal top picks in places to live in Adelaide that were/are good for you, as well as places that seem to decently cater for a person's needs in most aspects of life (nature, entertainment, jobs, education, food & drink, public transport, recreation). Any recommendations at all are appreciated! And again, sorry for the subjectivity of the question.

Hi There, I have just been granted my nomination for a Skilled Worker Regional Visa by NT government. We were initially planning on moving to Perth or Adelaide as we have family/friends there but NT gave us the sponsor. We are a bit clueless on the suburbs/areas in Darwin and any help or information would be appreciated. We have two young kids, one aged 3 and a baby coming up on a year old. Where would be the best suburbs for us looking to rent a 4 bedroom property? Ideally somewhere with good schools and plenty of parks. Thanks, G

Hi all Just wondered if anyone could help us. We are coming over for a 1 month holiday to validate our visas and have a good look around for schools, suburbs and properties in July/Aug. We have a few Airbnb holiday places that I wondered if you could tell me if the area is a good location for us. We have 2 children (one is 2 one is 7) and we'll be hiring a car. We will all be in the car a lot, looking around, but my husband will most likely be taking the car off on his own to have a browse around too. That mean's I'll be left in the holiday home to either go to the beach, go shopping or visit the local entertainment areas. My question is, what area's a good to live in for a month as a base point? At the moment we have an option of Devon Park, West Beach, Renown Park, Pooraka, Walkervile or Glenelg or Henley Beach. Which area is best without a car with 2 little ones in tow (pushchair too)? Any help really appreciated. I am posting this on the main site also to get a general consensus. Regards Sarah

Hi, We are looking at moving over to Sydney for a job near the Macquarie University train station. We would need to be able to commute by public transport from our new place hoping to be around 30mins each way. We are ideally looking for somewhere with some nice green parks/areas to go walking in as we hope to get a dog and nearby shops or pubs with good food would be a bonus (10/15 min walk). We have a budget of upto $650 a week for a 2 bed for a couple. Any ideas of areas to look in would be appreciated.

Hi Group, Me, my partner and son (3yrs) are moving to Victoria in June. We are looking for a suburb that is located within a 35-40 minute commute of Melbourne's CBD, it will only be myself that will be working from the start whilst we find our feet so needs to be reasonably priced and we would like a house, any suggestions would be so helpful. The area needs to have plenty to do for my partner and little one during the day. What would the cost of living be roughly (i.e. Electricity, Gas, Internet, phone line...) Thank you to any one that can help. C

Mitcham Intro Mitcham is a suburb of Melbourne’s and is located about 21 km east of Melbourne’s CBD. The City of Whitehorse is Mitcham’s local municipality. Post code is 3132. This suburb is a very beautiful and green suburb which is situated in a great location. It is a nice and quietfamily suburb with parks, schools, cafes, banks, etc. There are many large shopping centres nearby and is neighboured by top rated suburbs like Donvale, Blackburn, Nunawading and Vermont. The suburb Mitcham was named after a farm property known as Mitcham Grove. Mitcham Grove was owned by a man William Slater. He used to grow roses and herbs used to produce fragrances and different remedies. Demographics According to the 2016 census, the population of Mitcham was at 16,148. Median age of people in Mitcham is 38. Common ancestries in Mitcham include 23.2% English, 20.7 %Australian, 11.3% Chinese, 8.1% Irish and 7.1%.Scottish. Top languages spoken other than English are Mandarin, Cantonese, Italian, Vietnamese and Persian. Common professions in Mitcham include Professionals, Clerical and Administrative Workers, Managers, Technicians, Tradies, Community Service Workers, etc. Median weekly rent showed for individuals was$363. Median mortgage repayments were at $2000. Schools Following is a list of kindergarten, primary, secondary and high schools located in Mitcham: • Mitcham Primary School • Mitcham Girls High School • Mullauna Secondary College • Mitcham Village Kindergarten • Antonio Park Primary School • Rangeview Primary School Transport Mitcham is just 20 km away from the city. Public transport is convenient. It is very easy to get to the city via train in just 30 minutes when you take the express. .The suburb is situated between major freeways which includes Eastern freeway and Eastlink. Real Estate If you are looking to buy a house or just want general information of the median of buying a house or unit in Mitcham following are the 2018 figures: ➢ 2 bedroom house- $718k ➢ 3 bedroom house - $965k ➢ 4 bedroom house $1.129 million The medians for units in Mitcham are: ➢ 1 bedroom unit- $295k ➢ 2 bedroom unit- $542k ➢ 3 bedroom unit- $775k Median Rent would be $435 per week. The market in Mitcham is considered to be a high demand market as there are many people seeking to rent houses. The median house sales price in this suburb has increased by 77.1%. Health You can visit your local GP and nurse at medical clinics situated within Mitcham at: • North Mitcham Clinic • Whitehorse Medical Centre • Holloway Mitcham Podiatry • Mitcham Health Centre • Ringwood Clinic There are also some dental clinics in Mitcham which include Mitcham Dental Clinic and Brighter Smiles Family Dental Care. Shopping Mitcham is the hub of the eastern suburbs. There is a large selection of big shopping centres around which includes Mitcham Square Shopping Centre, Doncaster Shopping Centre, Eastland Shopping centre, Knox Shopping Centre, The Glen Shopping Centre, Forest Hill Shopping Centre and Chadstone Shopping Centre. Parks/Reserves There are many parks and reserves in Mitcham where you can enjoy beautiful green scenery, go on walks/trails, cycle, take kids out to play etc. • Antonio Park • Halliday Park • Heatherdale Reserve • Yarran Dheran Nature Reserve • Eastlink Trail • Dalmor Avenue Reserve • Box Hill to Ringwood shared use path Restaurants In Mitcham there are a number of restaurants and takeaways where you enjoy a variety of cuisines. Here are the names of a few places: • Bucatini Restaurant & Bar – A wide variety which includes grain fed beef, seafood, pasta, veal, chicken, etc. • Natalie's Restaurant- Modern Australian cuisine • Elate Kitchen Chinese Restaurant- Chinese Cuisine • Horapa- Thai Cuisine • Sapporo Restaurant- Japanese Cuisine • Khusboo Indian Restaurant & Takeaway- Indian Cuisine What locals have to say ➢ Very safe and sound ➢ Not known for night-life ➢ Dog friendly ➢ Love the express trains to the city ➢ Close to large shopping centres ➢ Convenient location ➢ Access to freeways ➢ Green and leafy

Intro Lalor is a suburb of Melbourne’s outer metropolitan region and is located about 18 km north of Melbourne’s CBD. The City of Whittlesea is Lalor’s local municipality. Post code is 3075.The suburb Lalor was named in honour of a man, Peter Lalor, whom was a member of the Victorian Parliament. Many streets and shops are named after Lalor. According to local residents, Lalor is considered a family-friendly, safe and multicultural suburb. Shops, schools, parks and recreation centres are very nearby. Demographics According to the 2016 census, the population of Lalor was at 22,594. Median age of people in Lalor is 37. Common ancestries in Lalor include 11.4% Italian, 9.1% Australian, 8.3% English, 8.1% Macedonian and 7.5%.from Greek. Common professions in Lalor are technicians, tradies, labour workers, admin workers, professionals, Machinery Operators and Drivers, sale workers, managers, etc. 5. Median weekly rent is $316. Recent stats show that 17.9% are established couples and families, 16.9% of people are older couples and families and 14% independent youth. Schools There are about quite a number of schools in Lalor, giving you heaps of options to choose from. Following is a list of schools, colleges and special schools in the suburb of Lalor; • Lalor Primary School • Lalor North Primary School • St Catherine's Primary School • Lalor Secondary College • St Luke’s Primary School • Lalor Gardens Primary School • Merriang Special Developmental School • Northern School Of Autism • Peter Lalor Vocational College Transport Lalor is close to public transport which is an advantage. You can access public trains and buses easily. Railway station in Lalor is located on the South Morang line. The city is not too far away from the suburb. Lalor is close to Ring Road and there’s good accessibility to freeways. Health You can visit your local GP and nurse at clinics situated within Lalor at: • Lalor Clinic- located 1 Messmate St • Lalor Family Practice- located 290 Station St • Lalor Plaza Medical Centre- located 20 Mckimmies Rd • Doctors of Lalor Plus- located 1 May Rd There are also some dental clinics in Lalor which include Lalor Family Dental Clinic and Stella Dental. Real Estate If you are looking to buy a house or just want general information of the median of buying a house or unit in Lalor, following are the 2018 figures: ➢ 2 bedroom house- $583k ➢ 3 bedroom house - $590k ➢ 4 bedroom house $740k For a 2 bedroom unit, the median $390k Median Rent would be $360 per week. The market in Lalor is considered to be a high demand market, many professionals are shifting to this suburbs to buy units or townhouses. Shopping One of the best things about Lalor is that there is a nice big shopping mall just 8 minutes away which is the Pacific Epping Plaza. It has about 100+ stores you can shop from and enjoy. Lalor also has a plaza called Lalor Shopping plaza. Lalor has a fantastic strip of shops and speciality shops. You can also find Coles and Woolworth’s supermarkets here. Things to do Lalor has a great vibrant market, shopping plaza, tasty food, excellent library and close to essentials you would need on a day to day basis. Here a list of places to go and things to do in Lalor and nearby: • Lalor Library • Lalor Recreation Reserve • Lalor shopping plaza • Pacific Epping Plaza • Woodlands Place Park • Casey Drive Park • Rosemary Park Restaurants Here are some names of restaurants where you can enjoy a variety of cuisines like Chinese, seafood, Vietnamese, Indian, Italian, etc. • Golden Dragon BBQ & Seafood House • Vinh Long Restaurant (Vietnamese Restaurant) • Chu Quy Restaurant (Vietnamese Restaurant) • Marhaba Restaurant • Kaayal Indian Cuisine • Aghan Kebab House • Café Ayaan • Gino’s Pizza

Intro Doreen is a suburb which is located in Melbourne’s Outer Metropolitan region. It is approximately 26 km North-East from Melbourne’s CBD. The City of Whittlesea and Shire of Nillumbik are Doreen’s local municipalities. Post code is 3754. Doreen is a nice suburb that has a great country feel and is a good mixture of old and young people. Demographics According to the 2016 census, the population of Doreen was at 21,298 people. Median household income for Doreen residents is $1813 per week and median age of people is 31.The major origins of people were 26.6% from Australia, 26.6% from England, 8.3%, from Ireland, 6.8% from Italy and 6.7% from Scotland. Recent statistics show about 37.3% are maturing couples and families, 19.6% are established couples and families, 12.6% of people are older couples and families and 10.2% are young families in this area. Schools There are a number of pre-schools, schools and colleges you can find in Doreen. Here is a list of them: • Hazel Glen College • Doreen Primary School • Laurimar Primary School • St Paul the Apostle Catholic Primary School • Plenty Valley Christian College • Ivanhoe Grammar School - Plenty Campus • Laurimar Kindergarten • South Morang Preschool • The Connie Wright School of Music Art, Singing and Sound Healing Transport Usually everyone has their own vehicles to get to and from places. Trafific is heavy in this area which most residents complain about. Public transport isn’t very convenient. There are no train stations and limited buses in this suburb. Real Estate Doreen has some reasonably priced homes present. Following the year 2018, if you are looking to buy a house, the median of buying a house in Doreen would be as follows: ➢ 3 bedroom house- $500k ➢ 4 bedroom house - $600k ➢ 5 bedroom house- $782 Median Rent would be $380 per week. Health You can find your local GP or nurse at clinics located within Doreen. Here are the names and services these clinics provide: Doreen Total Health Care Clinic-Skin Cancer Screening, Skin Cancer Surgery, Family Medicine, Women’s Health, Child Health including immunisation and health check, Mental Health, Health Checks, Travel Medicine and Flu Vaccination Doreen Family Medical Practice- On-site pathology service, resident psychologist, practice podiatrist, Exercise Physiologist, Physiotherapist and additional services such as Women’s & Men’s Health Checks, Paediatrics, Travel Immunisations, Childhood Immunisations, Diabetes Management, Respiratory Management, Asthma and COPD Management, Chronic Disease Management, Health Assessments, Skin Checks, Wound Management, Workcover & TAC, Smoking Cessation, Pre-employment medicals, Medication Reviews, Minor Procedures, Cosmetic Medicine and Emergency Medicine. Laurimar Medical- Health Checks, Immunisations, On-site Pathology, Psychology, Women's Health, Chronic Disease, Dietitian, Speech Pathology, Men’s Health, Travel Health, Laurimar Specialist Centre, Cosmetic Procedures, Children’s Health, Mental Health and Radiology services. For pathology there is an on-site pathologist, “Dorevitch Pathology” available. There are also dental practices in Doreen which include- SmileWorks Dental and Care Dental Group. Shopping You can find your local Woolworths at Woolworths Laurimar located at 95 Hazel Glen Dr.There is als0 a chemist at Chemist Discount Centre Laurimar. Hazel Glen Drive has a nice shopping strip with shops and some nice cafes and restaurants. You can find Italian food, Thai, Indian food, fish n chips, roast chicken takeaway shops and enjoy coffee at locals cafes. Names of few restaurants/cafes are: • Aksorn Thai Restaurant • Laurimar Pizza • O'Sole Mio Pizza • Hazel Glen Fish & Chips • Lilydale Free Range Roast Chicken Doreen • Uday • Appret Cafe Parks There are quite a number of well facilitated parks. Great to enjoy with kids, go on walks, jogs, cycling, trails, tracks, take dogs out for walks and enjoy the lakeside. Here’s a list of the parks in Doreen: o Hilltop Park o Fortress Park o Merredin Park o Chadwick Park o Jorgensen Park o Laurimar Wetlands o Blackwood Park o Rothacker Park o Graffs Cottage Park o Doreen dog park

The first time ever that I landed in this amazing land of opportunities, Australia, I had arrived as an inspired student to pursue a Masters in Information Technology course in La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria. The first place I called home in Australia was the vibrant suburb of Bundoora located in Melbourne’s North, a bit on the east side. The Bundoora area was originally inhabited by the Kurnaj-berring tribe of the Wurundjeri clan. Europeans first arrived in the Bundoora area, known at the time as the Parish of Keelbundora, in 1835. The Bundoora Post Office opened on 1 October 1863. Current day, the suburb consists of a healthy mix of ethnicities. The most common ancestries in Bundoora are Australian, English, Italian, Chinese and Irish. More than half of the population of Bundoora consists of people born in Australia. The remaining comprise of a mixture of countries such as China, Italy, India, Greece, etc. Bundoora can definitely be called as one of the biggest hubs of education in Australia. It boasts of the La Trobe University which was established in 1964 and is Victoria’s third largest University with its biggest campus in Bundoora. Having spent 2 years pursuing my Masters course at La Trobe, I cannot describe the sheer size of the campus – It is MASSIVE. From La Trobe, just a 10-min drive or tram ride ahead is one of Australia’s biggest university, RMIT. RMIT’s East Campus area, located in Bundoora, is home to RMIT’s Wind Tunnel and RMIT University Sports Statistics Research Group. Apart from these leading Universities, Bundoora is also home to a few very well-known primary schools and Catholic-Christian colleges. The Parade College, Bundoora Secondary College, Loyola Collect just to name a few. These schools, colleges and universities have produced some fantastic brains and successful personalities. Thinking about public transport in Bundoora, the first thing that comes to mind is the iconic Tram Route 86. The route has been in existence since 1986, before I was born. Bundoora is the terminus of the Tram route 86 with the other end in Docklands, near the waterways, just besides Melbourne CBD. Although not having a train line passing through the suburb itself, there are various options to get to nearby train stations such as Watsonia on Hurstbridge line & Reservoir and South Morang on the South Morang. There are buses frequently available from Bundoora to these train stations. From the Latrobe University bus link on Plenty Road there is access to many suburbs throughout Melbourne, even connecting the north to the south. On a weekend the Nightrider has services running through Bundoora for late night travel. For cyclists, Bundoora offers the Western Ring Road Trail and Darebin Creek Trail for recreational as well communitive cycling. Renting or buying a place in Bundoora doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg as compared to some of the other suburbs of Melbourne. Renting or buying is very affordable and there are large number of options available. Accommodation is very readily available since there is a large population on students living in the area. The rental costs, a lot of time, include accommodation, utilities such as electricity, gas and internet. Thus, helping new students keep a track of their budget. The accommodation is starting to become more modern and aligned with the trends of today. Bundoora is definitely a good area to buy an investment property in as you will almost always have a tenant in. I have some mates from my uni-days who have bought properties in Bundoora and cannot be happier with their choice. Bundoora is definitely a hot-spot for renting and purchasing properties. In my 5 year stay in Bundoora, including my study years, I have had multiple jobs. I have never had any issues finding work to support myself. Bundoora offers a varied range of employment options ranging from working in a café, in one of the factories or warehouses to working as a tutor in the University and teaching the next batch of students in the same course as yourself. Bundoora boasts of a wide range of factories and warehouses from car repairs to carpenters. Lots of opportunities around to earn a decent living and utilise physical as well as mental skills and expertise. Bundoora offers a lot of recreational activities that do not take a big swing at your wallet. There are acres of parks available to enjoy a picnic with your friends, there’s Northland Shopping Centre that is a one-stop shop for all your needs. There are strings of cafes where you can have a nice time with your friends and families. Bundoora also offers an amazing mix of restaurants of different cuisines offering delicious food. There are sports and aquatic centres that offer lots of option to participate in activities of your choice and also keep fit at the same time. Bundoora is big hold on sports as well. It has a football team competing in the Northern Football League. Golfers play at the Bundoora Park Public Course on Plenty Road. Bundoora is also home to the Bundoora Brumbies Baseball Club. The City Football Academy, administrative and training headquarters of A-League club Melbourne City FC is located in Bundoora, adjacent to the La Trobe Universitymain campus.

The iconic suburb of Essendon is the place I have been calling home since the last 10-years and feel a deep connection with the place. It has always been home since I got out of University and started the life of a responsible adult. Essendon offers close proximity to the Melbourne CBD and is only about 12-km north-west of the CBD. The City of Moonee Valley is Essendon’s local government area. Essendon and the banks of the Maribyrnong River were originally inhabited by the Wurundjeri clan of the Woiwurrung speaking people of the Kulin Aboriginal nation. In 1803 Charles Grimes and James Fleming were the first known European explorers into the Maribyrnong area. Essendon was named after the village of Essendon in Hertfordshire, England. In 1851 the gold rush opened up the Moonee Ponds District with miners travelling along Mount Alexander Road to Castlemaine. The Essendon Post Office opened on 18 August 1856. A vast majoring, 73%, of people in Essendon were born in Australia. The remaining fraction was made up by people born in India, Italy, England, China and New Zealand. 73.5% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included mainly Italian, Greek, Mandarin, Hindi and Cantonese. Essendon boasts of a bundle of reputable schools and colleges around that have produced a lot of intelligent and successful individuals. Schooling in Essendon ranges all the way from child-care centres that help in early development of kids to some amazing Private and government colleges that help building careers for thousands of students every year. The high focus on education here is distinctive. The Lawther Hall Anglican Grammar School was amongst the top 20 schools in all of Melbourne’s suburb last year. Other notable schools and colleges are Essendon Primary School, St Columba’s College, Essendon Keilor College and St Bernard’s College just to name a few. Essendon, along with its close proximity to the Melbourne CBD, also has a wide and greatly efficient public network. The Craigieburn train line offers stops at Essendon, Glenbervie and Strathmore that lead to various different parts of Essendon. Getting to the train stations is also very convenient due to the ample amount of bus routes and the tram line. The tram route 59 runs along Mount Alexander Road and Keilor Roads terminating at Airport West at one end and in the heart of Melbourne CBD at the other. The suburb is bordered on the south west by the Maribyrnong River Trail, and on the east and north by the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail. Both are used by commuting and recreational cyclists. Catching public transport to and from this suburb is extremely easy and convenient. Essendon also offers easy access to the city and the Airport via the famous CityLink, which can get you to these places in no time. Essendon also boasts of an Airport of its own offering interstate commute at reasonable prices. Essendon, being one of the fastest developing suburbs around Melbourne, offers a very balanced mix of apartments in multi-storey buildings and houses with ample amount of space. There is always an option available to suit your need. Being one of the rapidly growing suburbs of Melbourne, property values are always on the rise which makes for an amazing option for investment ensuring a decent return. With the rise in apartment buildings and thus increase in the supply, the rental costs are not extra-ordinarily high and are in line with the market. You get what you pay for. Proximity to the CBD, an amazing culture, abundance of space - all makes up for the cost involved. Essendon, as a whole, expanding in to Essendon North, Essendon West, Essendon Fields and the Essendon Airport area offers a lot of space and various kinds of businesses and thus providing ample amount of employment opportunities. Jobs available in Essendon range from working in a vibrant café to working at the Airport. I have worked at a few cafes, bakeries and restaurants in Essendon and have always managed to earn a decent living to support myself. Employment culture in Essendon is very relaxed and happy whilst being professional and polite at the same time. Essendon has a strong café culture, night-life and lots of eateries around. It boasts of multiple cafes offering all-day breakfast where you can enjoy a nice weekend brunch and catch up with friends. An entire strip on Keilor Road in Essendon provides access to lots of food joints offering delicious cuisines from all different parts of the world. Essendon has multitudes of accessible supermarkets, petrol stations, convenience stores. Essendon is also home to the huge Direct Factory Outlet (DFO) and the large Home Maker centre that cater to all your needs. Essendon, being home to a large majority of younger crowd who are health conscious, offers a range of high-class gyms and fitness centres. There are different leisure activities available all around. Essendon also boasts of vast areas of parks and gardens that are maintained to a very high standard. These make for a great place to hang out for kids and adults.

Hi Guys We are seriously considering moving to Brisbane/Sunshine Coast but are a bit lost in terms of where to move. We are looking for great junior and High schools, ideally state but open to private. Ideally somewhere not to isolated but not too busy! The dream is to be close to the sea but willing to travel 1hr to go to the beach. Want to avoid the Gold Coast. Our main concern is everywhere we look in Brisbane and Sunshine Coast has flood risks! We did think of Buderim but it seems very sleepy which I’m not sure will be good for teenagers. We also looked at Red cliff but seems a bit isolated and run down. Do you guys have any ideas? Thanks for your time!

Perth’s Migrants | What’s it Like Living in Perth? Rottnest Island: Perth in the Background Perth has a population of one and three-quarter million people, living in one of the world’s most isolated cities. Perth is an island of people, with vast stretches of virtually uninhabited desert to the east and thousands of miles of Indian Ocean to the west. Other Australian cities are several hours by jet plane. Perth’s lucky residents enjoy a Mediterranean climate and a relaxed lifestyle in a very beautiful, clean, spacious feeling city. Like most Australian cities, the majority of people live in detached houses with gardens. This means the city sprawls over a large area. At the heart of the city lies the beautiful, wide, Swan River. Slightly over one third of Perth’s residents were born overseas. According to the Bureau of Statistics, people from the UK are Perth’s biggest migrant group, making up 12.4 percent of the population. The next biggest groups are New Zealanders (2.5%), Italians (1.6%), Malaysians (1.2%) and South Africans (1.0%). Around 6.5% of the population is Asian and 0.6% come from the Middle East or North Africa. Aboriginal Australians represent 1.5% of Perth’s population. Despite having well over one million inhabitants, Perth is markedly quieter than the larger cities of Sydney and Melbourne. Perth is not really an ideal location for young, single people seeking exciting city nightlife. Many people think Perth is an excellent location for families. Most migrants find Perth is a friendly place to settle, particularly compared with Sydney where people sometimes seem to have less time for one another. One of Perth’s big plusses is its beautiful beaches. Many migrants dream of living next to these although houses in good, beachside suburbs tend to be very pricey. Unlike the big east-coast cities, where the sun rises over the Pacific Ocean, Perth sees spectacular sunsets over the Indian Ocean. Where to live in Perth Almost three-quarters of Perth’s houses are detached, with varying sizes of garden. The average prices we mention below are for houses and not apartments. Apartments / flats are cheaper. Generally speaking, the north and west of the city are the most highly regarded areas to live. Many British migrants have chosen to settle in the northern suburbs around half an hour north of the city centre. In suburbs such as Beldon, Connolly, Edgewater, Heathridge, Joondalup, Mullaloo and Ocean Reef, British immigrants make up around one quarter of the population. In late 2016, average house prices in these areas ranged from the mid $400,000s in Heathridge, and Beldon, high $400,000s in Edgewater, low $500,000s in Joondalup, mid $700,000s in Mullaloo, and Connolly and high $700,000s in Ocean Reef. The northern and central suburbs of Perth are where people with the highest salaries tend to live. Houses in top suburbs close to the central city, such as Nedlands and Dalkeith, situated on the beautiful Swan River, command median prices of around $1.5 to $3.0 million. All over the world, beachside properties have been in demand and fetch very high prices. Perth has followed this trend – an evening stroll along the beach and a dip in the sea is an attractive prospect. Less obvious advantages of living near the sea in Perth include less extreme summer heat and fewer flies than can be found farther inland. There are, however, some disadvantages to buying beachside property in Perth. High winds can become annoying. When they are strong, they can blow garden umbrellas around and bring sand into gardens and houses. Suburban developments close to the coast also tend to have houses packed more densely than elsewhere. In the coastal suburbs of Scarborough and Wembley Downs, to the north west and west of the city centre, the median house prices were low $800,000s and low $900,000s in late 2016. Some of the south eastern suburbs, such as Maddington, Gosnells, Lynwood, and Thornlie are less well regarded than Perth’s other areas. The average house prices in these suburbs ranged between $350,000 – $450,000 in late 2016. Perth is a very clean city although, sadly, graffiti and “hoons” are becoming an issue in many locations – even some of the better suburbs. Hoons are youths causing problems such as vandalism and reckless driving. A major attraction of Perth is its many parks and play areas for children. Perth is an ideal location for people who enjoy an outdoor lifestyle. Summing Up – Pros and Cons Perth is a pleasant city, with a relaxed, outdoors lifestyle and beautiful beaches, lying on the eastern rim of the Indian Ocean. Western Australia, of which Perth is the capital, is Australia’s largest state – bigger than most countries. Perth Pros A sunny, warm, Mediterranean climate A beautiful, clean city Expansive white-sand beaches Warm seas and breathtaking sunsets over the Indian Ocean Pleasant suburbs with easy traffic Excellent public transport Very attractive countryside around the city The Fremantle Doctor, an afternoon sea breeze, is a great relief on the hottest days Perth Cons Some summer days are too hot The swarms of flies that come sometimes in summer when winds bring them in from the east There are too many boy-racers on the roads Perth has the highest burglary rates of any major Australian city are, however, some disadvantages to buying beachside property in Perth. High winds can become annoying. When they are strong, they can blow garden umbrellas around and bring sand into gardens and houses. Suburban developments close to the coast also tend to have houses packed more densely than elsewhere. In the coastal suburbs of Scarborough and Wembley Downs, to the north west and west of the city centre, the median house prices were low $800,000s and low $900,000s in late 2016. Some of the south eastern suburbs, such as Maddington, Gosnells, Lynwood, and Thornlie are less well regarded than Perth’s other areas. The average house prices in these suburbs ranged between $350,000 – $450,000 in late 2016. Perth is a very clean city although, sadly, graffiti and “hoons” are becoming an issue in many locations – even some of the better suburbs. Hoons are youths causing problems such as vandalism and reckless driving. A major attraction of Perth is its many parks and play areas for children. Perth is an ideal location for people who enjoy an outdoor lifestyle. Summing Up – Pros and Cons Perth is a pleasant city, with a relaxed, outdoors lifestyle and beautiful beaches, lying on the eastern rim of the Indian Ocean. Western Australia, of which Perth is the capital, is Australia’s largest state – bigger than most countries. Perth Pros A sunny, warm, Mediterranean climate A beautiful, clean city Expansive white-sand beaches Warm seas and breathtaking sunsets over the Indian Ocean Pleasant suburbs with easy traffic Excellent public transport Very attractive countryside around the city The Fremantle Doctor, an afternoon sea breeze, is a great relief on the hottest days Perth Cons Some summer days are too hot The swarms of flies that come sometimes in summer when winds bring them in from the east There are too many boy-racers on the roads Perth has the highest burglary rates of any major Australian city

Sydney and Melbourne housing affordability woes: Is it time to move to Adelaide? ABC "Housing out of reach", "The death of the Australian dream" — if you're a young adult living in Sydney or Melbourne such headlines might be enough to make you give up trying to own your own home. Key points: Young adults moving to Adelaide to buy housing Adelaide praised internationally as it transforms Job opportunities still the biggest challenge outside Melbourne and Sydney House prices in Adelaide, however, remain affordable and with international travel guide Lonely Planet laying praise on the city in recent years, along with economists, perhaps it is time for a closer look at the festival city. Cameron Kusher, CoreLogic's head of research in Australia, said Adelaide's median house price was $455,000 at the end of February. Sydney by comparison was $895,000 and Melbourne $680,000. "We're talking Sydney prices almost double what they are in Adelaide, but you certainly don't get double the wage for the same level of job in Sydney," Mr Kusher said. In fact, to service an 80 per cent loan in Sydney, it would cost a homeowner 44.5 per cent of their annual median income, compared to 37.9 per cent in Melbourne and 33 per cent in Adelaide. Just saving a 20 per cent deposit in Sydney will cost somebody 168 per cent of their median annual earnings. In Melbourne it will cost 143 per cent but in Adelaide it is a relatively smaller 125 per cent. "It's much harder to get into the market in Sydney, and it's a similar story in Melbourne," Mr Kusher said. "And once you're in the market, you've got to dedicate a lot more of your income to paying off the mortgage." PHOTO: SA was endorsed by the Lonely Planet guide as one of the top five regions in the world to visit in 2017. (Facebook: South Australia) Is it time to move to Adelaide? The housing figures make an isolated argument for an interstate move, but mention Adelaide to any parochial Sydneysider or Melbournian and it is more often than not met with scoffing, invariably by those who have never travelled there. "The big brother or big sister will always knock the little one into place," Melbourne-based Lawrence Mooney said, an Adelaide fan who visits regularly. "People need to feel superior in some way or another. That's why Adelaide's picked out. They might call Adelaide a sleepy town with a disproportionate appetite for weird, headline-grabbing murders; an ageing place full of baby boomers who block innovation and refuse to retire; or a town full of hardcore football fans who harbour a chip on their shoulder for losing the grand prix to Melbourne. Such descriptions are correct, of course, but unbeknown to Sydneysiders equipped with blinkers, or Melbournians reciprocating an unassailable football rivalry, Adelaide has transformed significantly over the past seven years: A rivitalised CBD is bursting with small bars and start-up businesses The famed February/March Fringe Festival has exploded into the second largest of its kind in the world A revamped Adelaide Oval is bringing tens of thousands into the CBD all year around After years of letting it languish, the State Government is finally investing in public transport and reinstalling a city tram network The transformation has not gone unnoticed overseas. Lonely Planet recently listed South Australia fifth on it Best of Travel 2017 list, citing its wine regions and beaches as drawcards, just three years after it endorsed Adelaide as one of the top 10 cities in the world to visit in 2014. And in 2016, the Economist Intelligent Unit listed Adelaide as the fifth most liveable city out of 140 cities surveyed worldwide. Melbourne was listed as number one; Sydney dropped four places to move out of the top 10 altogether. PHOTO: Adelaide's east and west are separated by the busy Rundle Mall shopping strip. (ABC News: Nicola Gage) Young adults making the move Rita Horanyi, 34, moved to Adelaide from Melbourne in 2010 to do postgraduate study and now lives there. "It's true that Adelaide didn't have a great reputation when I first moved, and back then it was understandable why that was the case," she said. "In the last five years the city has improved significantly. Adelaide's bad reputation lingers, but friends of mine from interstate who visit for festivals and so on do notice the changes and are pleasantly surprised." Warner Music media manager Bret Woods, 35, moved back to Adelaide about four years ago after spending his adult life in Sydney. "Working in the music industry, I'm seeing there's more than enough stuff going on," he said. "To me, it almost feels like when Sydney had that small bar scene five or six years ago. Adelaide's in the same situation." Having recently bought a house in Adelaide, Mr Woods simply laughed at the idea of buying a house in Sydney. He added that perceptions of Adelaide interstate were starting to change, with several friends from the UK and Sydney having recently visited for the Fringe Festival and the Clipsal 500 car racing carnival. "And obviously our wine regions are pretty highly regarded, and at least do their bit to hold up SA to the rest of SA [outside the festival months]." PHOTO: Wineries, such as Bird in Hand, draw crowds to Adelaide's wine regions with events all year around. (Supplied: Bird in Hand/Felix Forest) News Limited journalist Stan Denham moved to Adelaide from Sydney five years ago. "The kind of lifestyle you can have in Adelaide is not attainable in Sydney, unless you are earning megabucks," he said. "I was up there last weekend and was struck again by the beauty of the city, but then very few Sydneysiders get to really enjoy that. "Most of my time was spent working and commuting." Dubai-born surgeon Annika Mascarenhas, 27, moved to Adelaide from Perth in 2013, having visited the year before. "I've been here while things have started to boom," she said. "I think the misconception exists that Adelaide's a sleepy city. It exists in Perth as well. "The Oval opened, the Fringe got a bit bigger, more wineries are advertising good weekends ... there's plenty to do." Adelaide's biggest challenge is jobs Before Adelaide can expect a major influx of young adults chasing the homeowner's dream, however, it does lack in one area that Sydney and Melbourne has in spades — job opportunities. Most of those jobs have been in the services sector, financial services and the health care sector. "But unfortunately for the rest of the country, the jobs growth story hasn't been as strong," Mr Kusher said. Until recently, South Australia suffered the highest unemployment rate in the country, due largely to a downturn in mining and the decline of large-scale manufacturing. Start-up businesses and small bars are unlikely to produce the same levels of employment, but the State Government has been working hard to transition the city's employment base. This includes securing major, long-term defence contracts, spending big bucks on a medical research hub, and courting emerging industries such as self-driving cars. But Melbourne and Sydney also benefit from being the headquarters for the big end of town in businesses, multinational companies, banks and financial institutions. "It would be hard to move them away from those cities for somewhere like Adelaide or Brisbane or Hobart," Mr Kusher said. "Those cities need to look at ways to attract different types of business or to find ways to attract big businesses to move part of their functions to other parts of the country." Mr Kusher added, however, that as more and more businesses started to allow their employees to work remotely, there could be a shift of workers moving to places where the housing is more affordable, "in markets like Adelaide".

Profile of Melbourne, Victoria Melbourne: Yarra River in Central Business District Melbourne’s Migrants | What’s it Like Living in Melbourne? Melbourne’s population of 4 million enjoys a temperate climate and an abundance of economic and lifestyle opportunities. Melbourne has traditionally rivalled Sydney as Australia’s premier city. From the outsider’s point of view, it’s fair to say this is a competition Sydney has won. You would not want to mention this in Melbourne though! In quality of life surveys, Australian cities score strongly compared with cities in other countries. The Economist Intelligence Unit has rated Melbourne as Australia’s best city. As you might expect, any city rated as Australia’s best will also be one of the world’s best. The Economist Intelligence Unit rates Melbourne (along with Vancouver and Vienna) as the world’s best cities to live in. Melbourne scores the highest possible mark for all categories, including infrastructure, housing, education, access, environmental focus, crime rate, culture and cultural events, diversity and climate. Although Melbourne’s weather can be changeable, it scores the highest climate mark of any Australian city, partly because of its dry summer heat. Melbourne has a thriving cafe culture and offers its residents virtually unlimited dining and cultural opportunities. The shopping certainly rivals Sydney’s and there are a huge number of parks and gardens around the city. Melbourne also plays host to the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix, the Australian Tennis Open, and, in Golf, the Heineken Classic and Australian Open. People According to the Bureau of Statistics, around one third of Melbourne’s residents were born overseas. People from the UK are Melbourne’s biggest migrant group, making up 5 percent of the population. The next biggest groups are Italians (2%), Vietnamese (2%) Greeks (2%), and New Zealanders (2%). Around 7% of Melbourne’s population came from Asian countries and 2% come from the Middle East or North Africa. Aboriginal Australians represent less than 0.5% of Melbourne’s population. Where to Live in Melbourne Melbourne: Suburban Street Melbourne does not sit directly on the ocean. It sits inside a bay – Port Phillip Bay – on the south coast of Australia’s state of Victoria. Painting with a broad brush, the western half of Melbourne is perceived as “working class”. The eastern half of the city is thought of as “managerial” or “professional”. About three quarters of Melbourne’s residential properties are separate, detached houses with their own gardens. Housing is more expensive in the southern and eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Houses in many of the city’s “good” areas command prices of well over $1 million. Fashionable inner-eastern Melbourne can be particularly expensive – for example Kew has an average house price of over $2 million and the elite suburb of Toorak has an average price of about $3.5 million. Fortunately, there are also a good number of desirable, family-oriented suburbs with much more affordable houses. Units or apartments are also an option and cost typically between $300,000 – $600,000. Inner western suburbs can be more affordable (average prices $450,000 – $700,000) compared with the inner eastern side of the city. Inner suburbs lie within half an hour’s train ride of the city centre. Melbourne enjoys lower crime rates than other Australian cities although some areas – even in the “better” parts of the city – have significantly higher crime rates than others. If you intend catching a train into the CBD (Central Business District), the eastern half of Melbourne has more railway stations. One hour maximum on the train will take you into the centre of the city from all but Melbourne’s farthest outer suburbs. If you choose to live on the beautiful Mornington peninsula, the commute would take a bit longer.

Around three-quarters of Adelaide’s houses are detached. Generally speaking, the North and North West of the city are industrial – some areas might be described as “less desirable”. An Adelaide newspaper, The Sunday Mail, singled out some locations in the North and North West as the least desirable areas of the city. These are Angle Park, Athol Park, Ferryden Park, Mansfield Park, Woodville Gardens and Woodville North. Unemployment is worst in the northern, outer-northern and outer-southern suburbs – in areas such as Angle Park, Elizabeth, Smithfield, and Christie Downs. Managerial and professional classes are concentrated in the eastern and hills suburbs. The outer-northern and southern areas have high proportions of skilled workers and trades-people. Most areas in Adelaide are pleasant to live in, varying in price and character depending on location – for example coastal properties tend to cost more than those inland. Streets are clean although graffiti is becoming an issue in many locations. Houses in Adelaide have often been built on generous sized plots. Many migrants find it unusual that houses in Adelaide are built with single-glazed windows and little or no insulation. This comes about because winters in Adelaide are very short. Nevertheless, winter nights can be chilly, though frost is rare. Wood-burning stoves are used in many houses to heat living areas on the coldest days. The easiest solution to warming your house when it’s chilly is to buy a few electric radiators. Gas heaters are liable to cause condensation. You could have central heating installed but it would not be used for most of the year – most people consider central heating is not cost effective. Much of the city’s water comes from one source – the Murray River. Although the water is safe to drink, it’s heavily treated with chemicals; it has a poor taste. You can buy a water filter for your tap; these are not expensive and remove the chemicals to leave fresh-tasting drinking water. Adelaide’s Pros and Cons Port Noarlunga Beach, Adelaide If you can find a job and you don’t want to live in a trendy city, Adelaide is a very pleasant place to live – offering an easy, relaxed lifestyle. Commonly held pros and cons for Adelaide are as follows: Adelaide Pros Cheap houses A sunny, warm, Mediterranean climate with low humidity Lovely beaches Pleasant suburbs with easy traffic An exciting variety of excellent, inexpensive places to eat out Good public transport Attractive hills and national parks around the city The world famous Barossa valley lies just 60 km away Adelaide is Australia’s most affordable big city. Adelaide Cons Sea water temperatures are cooler than around Australia’s other cities, except for Melbourne. Some summer days are just too hot. Adelaide has higher unemployment and, on average, lower wages than other major cities in Australia. There are too many boy-racers on the roads.

I see a lot on here about where to settle with kids for schools but where are the best places if schools are not an issue? My OH and I would like to be near decent restaurants etc but also not right in the city centre and we'd be happy to commute to work - any suggestions?

Hi, looking for some general advice please. I'm a qualified midwife with ten yrs experience hoping to move to Melbourne in January with my family. Can anyone recommend which hospitals are the good ones in Melbourne for midwives? What salary could I expect, and lastly, which areas are the most suitable for raising a young family within commuting distance to the hospitals. Not asking for much then :smile: If anyone can offer any advice that would be great xxx

Hello! We are a couple with a 14 month old toddler who have recently moved to Melbourne (Oz). Currently we are residents of Docklands but are looking to relocate and need the following points to be considered. We do not have a car or a driving lisence so the new accomodation has to be walkable or easily manageable in trams that dont take too long in taking us to grocerystores, shopping malls etc. 1. A Playgroup/Community Center/Parks for activities for toddler within walking distance or easily accessible via tram 2. My baby is learning how to swim, currently we are going to citybaths but a sub urb that would offer this as well would be a plus 3. Walking distance to the Library due to the activities organized for babies 4. My husband's workplace is in Docklands, so a suburb that is not too far away and takes about 20 minutes of tram/train to commute to work. 5. Walking distance or short distance accessible by tram for groceries 6. a good Kindergarten so I can register my baby enabling him to attend 2 years from now 7. Preferably well reputed Daycares if possible 8. Ideally looking for 350 to 450 pw fully furnished (1 Bedroom, 1 Parking) or 300 to 350 pw unfurnished (1 Bedroom, 1 Parking) ----(as we need to keep a car provision for future) Apologies for the long list but the endless list of good suburbs has got me so confused. I love where I live - Docklands - and would not have considered relocating had it not been for the very high rental rates here We are looking to move to an inner sub-urb for now, until my baby is of a school going age. Many Thanks in advance for all your help! cheers!

Myself and partner are in our mid 30s with a, currently 5 month old baby. We've just received our 190 visa and clueless of where to move to in ACT, despite reading up on the suburbs....there are just too many! My partner is the main applicant and was sponsored as 'ICT Support Engineer'. We will have a vehicle to get around but arriving with minimal funds. We would like somewhere reasonably priced, that is safe and suitable for our age group with a young baby for at least a few months until employment is found. Any advice would be appreciated. Contacts/associates/friends to gain and meet up with also would be nice Bex

In the next 5 weeks we will moving to Sydney for my husband to start work in Greenacre. We are looking for a house to rent commutable to Greenacre with a 15-20 minute drive. Have heard the Hills district could take upto an hour at peak times - so would South be better? North Rocks or Carlingford how far are they. We have 3 boys so a good area for them is needed too! Help.

Apologies for posting another 'which suburb is best' thread but would love some advice! My partner and I lived and worked in Sydney for a couple of years, been back in the UK for 5 years now but hoping to emigrate next year on a permanent visa. We lived in apartments in Kings Cross before and loved it but now have a 2-year old in tow, so priorities change! Looking for advice on family friendly suburbs to rent in that won't break the bank. We will probably only have my income as a nurse to begin with so really have quite a tight budget, but don't want to end up in a really dodgy suburb! I know Sydney is expensive but there must be others in our position, with a pretty tight budget. Sutherlandshire seems to crop up lots on the threads but think this is maybe out of our reach...And don't want to head too far west... Any tips/advice would be much appreciated! :cute:

Hi all, Myself and my boyfriend will be moving to Sydney around August this year, unfortunately due to lack of time and funds, we aren't able to visit first to look around suburbs etc. to get an idea on where to live. My boyfriend has been sponsored and his head office is based in Rosebery so we are looking South of the harbour. I'm currently working as a Legal Assistant and will be looking for a similar role but won't be able to secure a job or know where I will be working until we're there! I'm assuming most of these sorts of roles are CBD based but hopefully some dotted round the suburbs too. We're hoping to be close to a beach and we've been looking at Cronulla as one option as we're not exactly 'city people'. Travel won't be much of an issue for my boyfriend as he will have a company car and it's generally a field based role but I will be dependant on public transport (which I have researched and looks pretty good) but a bit of local knowledge re: traffic and travel times etc isn't something I can anticipate. Any advice would be very much appreciated, Hazel

Hi all, Am looking for a recommended medium in the eastern suburbs of melbourne (Casey area pref) I have looked on the internet but would prefer a recommendation! Any help would be great, thanks :cute: