Still Struggling with Perth after 12 years

[jack13]

I'm going on holiday to Adelaide at the weekend, its nice there, can't wait!

[MARYROSE02]

This is the usual pointless, 'yes it is, no it isn't' argument, that I often engage in on other subjects, but in this case, I can sit back, and be (almost) even-handed. I'm in my sixth year of my second stint in Australia, after twelve years back in the UK. Almost every day, I think to myself, "I've GOT to get myself a bicycle. God, I MISS cycling in The New Forest', but I am scared of cycling in Sydney. I'm not going back to England though. Why? Because there are other compensations, being able to swim year-round, for instance.

 

If you failed to settle in Australia, then it's probably best to go home. A few do, and are happy. A few do, and realize that they miss Australia after all. If you don't like one part of Australia, you may settle in another part, but it still won't be 'Home!' Unless you make it 'Home' of course, which is what most of us do. Most of us don't spend our time in Australia, constantly comparing it with England. (I'm off the fence now!) I could not care less about comparing prices, things to do, TV programmes, ASDA over Coles, Harrods with David Jones, football v AFL, 'warm' beer v 'cold'.

 

I'm watching Chelsea V Man Utd as I type - recorded it last night after staying up to watch Swansea v Spurs. I might have a quick look at the Daily Mail on line in a minute, and I"ll probably watch Sky News overnight from the UK this evening.

 

But it's also great to know that after brekkie, I'm going for a coffee in the cafe outside my flat, and I'll read the Aussie papers (without comparing them to the Pommie ones), and I'm in a T shirt and shorts whilst everybody at Chelsea seems to be dressed for the Antarctic, and later on I'll take my pick from a dozen or so beaches for a swim (but I won't compare them with Lepe and Calshot in Hampshire, which I miss, of course, because I grew up there.) And in the evening, I'll go for a Thai, or an Indian, or maybe a pub meal, and I'll have a few cold beers, not caring that they are not 'real', and I'll see some friends, some of whom are Aussies, and some who are Pommies, and I won't care which because they are my friends.

 

Come to Australia, be prepared to take some time to settle in, and then, for most of you (us) you will 'become' an Aussie! And if you do not 'become', well, tough luck, go back home!

[Chardy]

Hi all

 

As a family, we have really struggled with Perth. We are really jealous of those people who love Perth and are able to call it home, as we hate this continual unsettled feeling of knowing Perth is not for us. Perth gets a bit of a bashing on PIO, and we want to avoid it in this post. It would appreciated if we could hear from others who moved from Perth and whether it cured them. At the moment, our options are Brisbane and Melbourne. I get a lot of negative feedback when I mention both cities - people mention the humidity in Brisbane, and the traffic, as well as the rednecks. With Melbourne, people mention the overcrowding, the weather and the traffic and poor public transport.

 

Rather than mention the shortcomings of Perth, we would rather concentrate on what we would be seeking comparitively from a City, as follows:

 

 

 

 

• Abit more greenery and a few more hills and a bit more scenery, maybe with some rivers and streams ( I know I could be pushing it here);

• A few more options for day trips and weekend trips;

• A few more wordly people

• A bit more of an international feel

• A bit more vibe and buzz

• A more integrated public transport system, allowing you to have a night out without being at the mercy of the taxis

• A place where people don't retire for the night at 8.30

• More of a student vibe and university scene for my kids

• More of a community spirit, where people don't drive into their garages and you never see them again

• A place where people go out and socialise more than entertain at home

 

 

We appreciate we are looking for a lot here. All feedback appreciated. Thanks for reading.

 

I'm sorry to hear you are feeling like this.

It really puzzles me as we have found all of your list in and around Perth so maybe as another poster said, perhaps it's the suburb/area is wrong....where are you now ?

Perth is a very large spread out metro area so is naturally very varied from one part to another.

[jen85]

Sounds like a description of the UK to me, you may want to re-consider why it is you came to Australia.

[flag of convenience]

I'm sorry to hear you are feeling like this.

It really puzzles me as we have found all of your list in and around Perth so maybe as another poster said, perhaps it's the suburb/area is wrong....where are you now ?

Perth is a very large spread out metro area so is naturally very varied from one part to another.

 

Not that varied though. Being here twelve years though the gloss sounds to have worn for the op. Hard to say in a couple of months perhaps when still all new. I tend to agree with the op, though recognising what is definitely lacking get on with what is here. I'd be unlikely to stay forever though.

[Paul1Perth]

 

• Abit more greenery and a few more hills and a bit more scenery, maybe with some rivers and streams ( I know I could be pushing it here);

• A few more options for day trips and weekend trips;

• A few more wordly people

• A bit more of an international feel

• A bit more vibe and buzz

• A more integrated public transport system, allowing you to have a night out without being at the mercy of the taxis

• A place where people don't retire for the night at 8.30

• More of a student vibe and university scene for my kids

• More of a community spirit, where people don't drive into their garages and you never see them again

• A place where people go out and socialise more than entertain at home

 

 

 

I think either Brisbane or Melbourne would give you a lot of the things you mention. Especially the day trips, weekend trips thing. Out of the two I would go for Brisbane. Melbournes weather and beaches are nowhere near as good. If you like the weather and beaches in Perth that is, If you're not that fussed about either then Melbourne might do.

 

As others have said why not Sydney. You might need a lot more money for an equivalent lifestyle but it's a nice City. I think you will still be at the maercy of taxis after a night out but there seems to be a lot more of them in Sydney.

 

Don't know what you mean about worldly people. I've never come across so many people who seem to have travelled as much as the friends I have here. I've visited Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane and you find a mix of all types in all places. Same goes for the international feel and vibe and buzz. I find plenty of that and don't think either Melbourne or Brisbane are any better.

 

If you pick your suburb well in Perth you can have a great night out and use public transport to get home. There are suburbs that aren't on the bus routes and close to the railway lines but that would be the same in any City. I have left Perth at 11:30 and been in the house at 12:00 and we live 30Km North. My son woulldn't dream of using public transport though and always gets taxis. Must cost him a fortune.

 

I don't think the student vibe and University Scene would be much different in Melbourne or Bris.

It's not the same as the UK where generally students move away from home and into student digs in another City. Most stay at home and travel to Uni. As technology takes over more and more students are going into the campus less and less frequently, wherever you are.

They log on and get their lecture at home.

Pity really as the UWA campus has to be one of the best. Feels like a proper university. Great facilities, gyms, squash courts, tennis courts, bars, swimming pools, groups for just about everything, bands on, lecture theatres second to none, gorgeous leafy gardens to walk around, brilliant libraries, history, music and arts catered for very well, art gallery on the campus, museum on the campus, cricket pitch in the middle of the campus with nice old fashioned scoreboard. Like all Uni's though a lot of the facilities are underused and I don't know whether the cricket pitch is even used for cricket any more. Would be a lovely place for a match.

 

I would go for Brisbane in front of Melbourne. I could easily settle there but would miss the beaches.

[Paul1Perth]

But, in the UK did you live in a house with enormous garden, play equipment and often a pool? Kids don't need to play in the street here...

 

And parks galore. There are several parks with play equipment in my suburb, including a fantastic one by the beach with the usual free barbies. It's packed at weekends and most evenings with kids of all ages, playing footy, cricket, having a barbie and most of the time not a parent in site. That's one of the things I noticed when we moved from the UK. We rented in Como for about a year and our youngest was 2. We took him down to a really well maintained park, with a lot of other kids there and he had difficulty with the equipment for a while. Just not used to it coming from the UK. We named him Mr careful for a while.

[Paul1Perth]

Fair one but I'm sure not everyone in Australia lives in a house with enormous garden, play equipment and often a pool.

 

If they don't they usually have friends that do.

[Peach]

No pool ...we have a decent sized garden with no hidden dangers ....but kids have a smorgasbord of choice here ....London next weekend ...its not better or worse , just different

My kids don't hang around on the streets either ....dance classes ...golf ....and my youngests favourite past time ..shopping .

They have seen the videos from family in oz , and they aint interested ...which actually surprised me .

My eldest is Australian , and I thought there would be some attatchment to the place of her birth ....not in the slightest

 

Not at your local shops either , we are talking oxford st and regent st

 

Has no relevance as to whether not Australian children are to be found playing out in the street, which was the comment my post was in response to.

[Guest]

I think either Brisbane or Melbourne would give you a lot of the things you mention. Especially the day trips, weekend trips thing. Out of the two I would go for Brisbane. Melbournes weather and beaches are nowhere near as good. If you like the weather and beaches in Perth that is, If you're not that fussed about either then Melbourne might do.

 

As others have said why not Sydney. You might need a lot more money for an equivalent lifestyle but it's a nice City. I think you will still be at the maercy of taxis after a night out but there seems to be a lot more of them in Sydney.

 

Don't know what you mean about worldly people. I've never come across so many people who seem to have travelled as much as the friends I have here. I've visited Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane and you find a mix of all types in all places. Same goes for the international feel and vibe and buzz. I find plenty of that and don't think either Melbourne or Brisbane are any better.

 

If you pick your suburb well in Perth you can have a great night out and use public transport to get home. There are suburbs that aren't on the bus routes and close to the railway lines but that would be the same in any City. I have left Perth at 11:30 and been in the house at 12:00 and we live 30Km North. My son woulldn't dream of using public transport though and always gets taxis. Must cost him a fortune.

 

I don't think the student vibe and University Scene would be much different in Melbourne or Bris.

It's not the same as the UK where generally students move away from home and into student digs in another City. Most stay at home and travel to Uni. As technology takes over more and more students are going into the campus less and less frequently, wherever you are.

They log on and get their lecture at home.

Pity really as the UWA campus has to be one of the best. Feels like a proper university. Great facilities, gyms, squash courts, tennis courts, bars, swimming pools, groups for just about everything, bands on, lecture theatres second to none, gorgeous leafy gardens to walk around, brilliant libraries, history, music and arts catered for very well, art gallery on the campus, museum on the campus, cricket pitch in the middle of the campus with nice old fashioned scoreboard. Like all Uni's though a lot of the facilities are underused and I don't know whether the cricket pitch is even used for cricket any more. Would be a lovely place for a match.

 

I would go for Brisbane in front of Melbourne. I could easily settle there but would miss the beaches.

 

I had a dip at South Bank this weekend! Does it not count? haha

 

Also went to Bribie Island - well worth a trip next time you are up this way

[Paul1Perth]

I had a dip at South Bank this weekend! Does it not count? haha

 

Also went to Bribie Island - well worth a trip next time you are up this way

 

I've had a few dips at South Bank and whilst it's great for idling away a few hours you can't really swim properly and it's just not the same as a proper beach. It's great though for a City Centre. South Bank is great all round, good pubs, live music, Perth could learn a lot from what Brissie has done, without ripping up half the City, causing traffic mayhem and wasting millions.

 

I'll try Bribie Island next time.