Living in Townsville - Brownsville

[Guest The Pom Queen]

Ok, I don't think 12 months of living here still qualifies me to give an informed opinion of the place but here goes.

It's a long ramble - grammar nazis may want to skip

 

Ummm, sorry, I am struggling to think of the good things. I will give a bit of history of our move here so you can get an inclining to what my overall thoughts are of Australia.

We have been in Oz now what seems like donkeys years, citizens since 2008 although we could have done it sooner, lived in Melbourne most of it, Cairns for the last 4 years and now Townsville just coming up a year. During our life here, we have done numerous road trips being away 4 weeks at a time, we have covered all the East Coast and from Alice to Darwin, across to Cairns and also the other way to WA and Kununurra.

Over the years my tastes have changed. Also the fact that we got out of Melbourne and started exploring what Australia has to offer made me realise Melbourne was just like the UK but was soulless, don't get me wrong I would still live there over the UK and there are some beautiful places in Victoria BUT for me, Australia has so much more to offer.

 

 

Now one quick thing I will comment on throughout this is that I will often refer to me rather than us as a family. This is because Rob has struggled with Australia, I think because I've never been out of hospital since we have arrived he has felt alone, he is a very quiet person and as we work from home he hasn't socialised, so for him he is totally isolated here. Basically he is happy to move where me and the boys want to live to make me more comfortable. I am a very lucky lady and I do feel guilty and have offered to go back, but my boys won't make the move back so he says we will stay.

 

Townsville was a forced move, due to the fact that Cairns didn't have the medical facilities that myself and hubby needed and I was often away from home months at a time in Sydney or Brisbane and even Townsville. Maybe this is why I have never taken to the place I don't know.

I will try and break this up so you can skip to certain sections.

 

Weather

 

The Cairns locals use to always call Townsville - Brownsville and although it's been dry season even over the end of the last wet we had no rain. In fact over the last 9 months I can probably count on one hand the number of days we have had a down pour and even then it's usually at night and lasted 20 minutes tops. Also because of the way the trade winds blow Townsville will always get less rain than areas North or South of it. Heat wise, I have been back home (sorry I will always call Cairns home) a few times now and it always seems cooler, I thought it was me but I spoke to the oncology nurse today and she said that Cairns has always been cooler than Townsville, don't ask me why. I know I can't cope without the aircon on here but I thought that was maybe the type of house we are in here.

 

Suburbs

We are very lucky to have lots of locals around us, in fact our neighbour next door but one is 86 and has lived in this street all his life, all the nurses who have cared for myself or Rob have been born and bred locals as have the tradies. So it can't be all bad if they stick around lol.

 

Anyway we rented when we first arrived to get the low down on suburbs. Unlike every other place we have lived in there are NO good or bad areas. HOWEVER, crime is literally everywhere, it isn't one suburb that's more vulnerable than the others they all get hit the same. So if you are considering Townsville don't get hung up on the suburb. Take a look at schools if you have children or the type of house you want. There are lots of new builds you have Idalia which was Oonoonba but people didn't want the stigma of saying they lived in Oonoonba so finally the new estate was given its own name.

 

Douglas and Annandale are suburbs that are often mentioned as being upmarket although it's had a huge crime wave of break ins recently. In fact when I got home yesterday my son (lives off Riverside Blvd) told me the police broke in the other night. Yes, the police. My son had left his garage door wide open and the internal door. They had the shock of their life and also got a huge lecture on how many break ins there are in Townsville etc. It seems here no matter where you live you need a security dog, camera, alarm. I felt safer in Melbourne lol.

 

Kelso has a stigma attached but as I said above its not really the suburbs but more certain streets. I actually like the acreage properties in Kelso and they are so close to the Williws shopping centre.

 

Bushie Beach - Bushlands Beach/Northshore - wow, now this is where all the new builds are happening. A lot say it's too far out of town but they are opening up new amenities up there all the time.

 

Property

 

95% of the houses here are the old Queenslanders which surprised me as Cairns is mainly new estates or brick. After living in two new builds one in Melbourne and one in Cairns our tastes changed and we fell in love with the old Queenslander.

 

 

Schools

 

Again no good or bad, just lots of differing opinions.

Pimlico seems to get the best overall consensus of a good state school. We chose a private school and have to say it has been a good choice for our son.

 

Overall

 

Townsville is not a tourist town it is a working town with the defence force making up the majority of the population. Townsville gets a lot more money spent on it than Cairns, that does annoy me especially as Townsville doesn't even have an international airport and flight costs for domestic flights are ridiculous it can even work out cheaper to fly back up to Cairns and then interstate.

Is it for me, well it's home for now but I don't want to stay.

To anyone who has recently moved here or contemplating the move, please don't be put off by my views, like I have said, we have seen so much of Australia and know there are so many more beautiful places so have lots to compare against. I think if I had just arrived from the UK I would love it. In fact this is how I always imagined Australia, wow did I get a shock landing in Melbourne.

 

Im going to stop now as its taken me 2 hours to write this as I can't look at the screen for long periods anymore. Any questions ask away.

[Guest guest30085]

You can just tell that you love it..:dull: :laugh::wink:

Edited November 20, 2015 by guest30085

[Lucharmily]

First visited Townsville over 20 years ago. First impressions were not favourable. I most remember spending a Saturday morning looking at different suburbs and, when finished, waiting at the big bus stop at the end of Thurwingowa drive by the Kirwan shopping centre. Waited a couple of hours in the heat and not one person who passed me told me that the buses stop running at midday on a Saturday!

[Guest The Pom Queen]

You can just tell that you love it..:dull: :laugh::wink:

Lol, I have one of those love hate relationships. How is that packing going?

[Guest The Pom Queen]

First visited Townsville over 20 years ago. First impressions were not favourable. I most remember spending a Saturday morning looking at different suburbs and, when finished, waiting at the big bus stop at the end of Thurwingowa drive by the Kirwan shopping centre. Waited a couple of hours in the heat and not one person who passed me told me that the buses stop running at midday on a Saturday!

It has grown a lot in the last 12 months all the new housing around now so you would notice a big change. I see from your profile you are in Darwin, are you still there, do you like it? We love Darwin I think we have been 4 times now, we would have moved there instead of Cairns but decided the Darwin weather was much warmer than FNQ

[ali]

Can't believe it's been 12 months

[Guest The Pom Queen]

Can't believe it's been 12 months

Me neither, although 3 of those were whilst we stayed here for hospitals but still had house in cairns.

[Bobj]

Love your attitude. Both of you, don't ever give up.

 

 

Even in T'ville...:wink:

 

Cheers, Bobj.

[Jacaranda]

Enjoyed reading your post TPQ.My best mate lives just outside Townsville,and I've never been.She was born and bred in Townsville,and moved to Sth Oz when she got married years ago.We both lived in a small country town,and she always use to whinge like hell when winter rolled around,about how cold it was!lol She moved back up to Qld a couple of years ago,to be closer to family.

[Gbye grey sky]

Funny you should say that about the heat there. On our road trip to FNQ in August/September Townsville was the hottest place we stopped at both on the way up and on the way down. Mind you, it was brown and dry everywhere at that time.

[Bobj]

Funny you should say that about the heat there. On our road trip to FNQ in August/September Townsville was the hottest place we stopped at both on the way up and on the way down. Mind you, it was brown and dry everywhere at that time.

 

Most likely due to the area being 'protected' because the coastline swings west, thus protecting it from the SE trade winds and also putting it in a 'rain shadow'.

 

It is still a goodly place to live.

 

Cheers, Bobj.

Edited November 21, 2015 by Marisawright

[adele244]

What a fantastic honest review. Thanks TPQ. Townsville is a place we were considering as we could have been mortgage free with the low property prices, but this is the same for Toowoomba (we are looking slap bang in the middle of Toowoomba and Ipswich)

 

Obviously work will determine this, but at the moment it is between Townsville & Toowoomba area.........may focus a little more on Toowoomba now ;-)

[Nats]

Thanks for that post, given me lots to think about. We're headed for Townsville in April/ May 2016 having spent nearly 4.5 years in Brisbane and 1.5 years in Perth.

 

I'm very open minded about this move, excited and optimistic for the change, but if it doesn't work out will probably return to Perth. It really is a case of different strokes for different folks isn't it? I never disliked Perth, but I was keen to see what else Australia had to offer. We drove from Perth to Darwin over a 5 week period, stopping off at various places in between, then onto Cairns and Brisbane. Haven't spent as much time as yourself travelling but it really is the most beautiful country and I have a real soft spot for the NT. The red dirt & wild cattle.. just how I envisioned Australia to be. I loved Kunanurra and Katherine Gorge and a little place called Berry springs outside Darwin, just sublime. I've been to Cairns a couple of times since then and the surroundings are just stunning.

 

I'm hoping Townsville suits us, but if not we have another couple of years before the little one starts school to make a decision on where we put down roots. I know what I don't want.. Brisbane or the like. Nothing bad to say about Brisbane, as many love it here.. it just doesn't offer anything special in terms of lifestyle for us, unlike WA. We rarely venture into the city, and begrudge having to travel up or down the coast in traffic to get to a decent beach. Our lifestyle really is more suited to a smaller town. I reckon I'd enjoy living in rural/remote community, but frightened to take the plunge.

 

How do you find the hospital?? I've heard lots of good things about Townsville Hospital, although the references are in relation to it being a good place to work, not really from a patients perspective. I currently work in Emergency and I'm told the Emergency set up in Townsville is really good, I believe it's bigger than the Royal Brisbane ED and of course newer. Different demographic too, therefore more challenging traumas. Although I won't be working in ED full time when I move.. time for a change.

Cheaper parking!!! A major plus.

 

How old are your boys Pom queen? It's a way off for us yet but I am having to think about Schooling as we may want to send our little boy to prep/ kindy at same school we wish to enrol him in. I think if we can manage it and our circumstances don't change we'd like to put him into private school. Been looking at Townsville Grammar and Cathedral. Any advice on these? I have a friend in Bushy, her little boy (same age as ours) has been enrolled in daycare attached to the school in which she is sending him to.. can't remember what school but it's nearer Bushland Beach. I can't rule suburbs out until I get there but I think Bushy might be too far from the 'action' perhaps? And I worry about travelling to and from work during floods.

 

Sorry, I tend to waffle. There's never really any chat surrounding Townsville, I google Townsville most days just to get a low down on Suburbs and opinions.. just keen to get organised but there's nothing out there.

 

Will you/ can you return home to Cairns in the future?

 

Nats x

[Mel Lofts]

Hello Pom Queen. We have lived in Townsville for 3 and a half years now. Interesting to read your thoughts. We moved here straight from the UK and love it, although we bought a caravan recently and have started travelling around (weekends only for the moment due to work commitments) and yes there are some lovely places around including Cairns and we also love Cape Tribulation and Mossman. We both work from home too. Do you fancy meeting up for a cuppa to share stories?

[Guest The Pom Queen]

What a fantastic honest review. Thanks TPQ. Townsville is a place we were considering as we could have been mortgage free with the low property prices, but this is the same for Toowoomba (we are looking slap bang in the middle of Toowoomba and Ipswich)

 

Obviously work will determine this, but at the moment it is between Townsville & Toowoomba area.........may focus a little more on Toowoomba now ;-)

Don't let me put you off, I'd hate to think I had done that. Could you come and visit both before deciding.

[Guest The Pom Queen]

Thanks for that post, given me lots to think about. We're headed for Townsville in April/ May 2016 having spent nearly 4.5 years in Brisbane and 1.5 years in Perth.

 

I'm very open minded about this move, excited and optimistic for the change, but if it doesn't work out will probably return to Perth. It really is a case of different strokes for different folks isn't it? I never disliked Perth, but I was keen to see what else Australia had to offer. We drove from Perth to Darwin over a 5 week period, stopping off at various places in between, then onto Cairns and Brisbane. Haven't spent as much time as yourself travelling but it really is the most beautiful country and I have a real soft spot for the NT. The red dirt & wild cattle.. just how I envisioned Australia to be. I loved Kunanurra and Katherine Gorge and a little place called Berry springs outside Darwin, just sublime. I've been to Cairns a couple of times since then and the surroundings are just stunning.

 

I'm hoping Townsville suits us, but if not we have another couple of years before the little one starts school to make a decision on where we put down roots. I know what I don't want.. Brisbane or the like. Nothing bad to say about Brisbane, as many love it here.. it just doesn't offer anything special in terms of lifestyle for us, unlike WA. We rarely venture into the city, and begrudge having to travel up or down the coast in traffic to get to a decent beach. Our lifestyle really is more suited to a smaller town. I reckon I'd enjoy living in rural/remote community, but frightened to take the plunge.

 

How do you find the hospital?? I've heard lots of good things about Townsville Hospital, although the references are in relation to it being a good place to work, not really from a patients perspective. I currently work in Emergency and I'm told the Emergency set up in Townsville is really good, I believe it's bigger than the Royal Brisbane ED and of course newer. Different demographic too, therefore more challenging traumas. Although I won't be working in ED full time when I move.. time for a change.

Cheaper parking!!! A major plus.

 

How old are your boys Pom queen? It's a way off for us yet but I am having to think about Schooling as we may want to send our little boy to prep/ kindy at same school we wish to enrol him in. I think if we can manage it and our circumstances don't change we'd like to put him into private school. Been looking at Townsville Grammar and Cathedral. Any advice on these? I have a friend in Bushy, her little boy (same age as ours) has been enrolled in daycare attached to the school in which she is sending him to.. can't remember what school but it's nearer Bushland Beach. I can't rule suburbs out until I get there but I think Bushy might be too far from the 'action' perhaps? And I worry about travelling to and from work during floods.

 

Sorry, I tend to waffle. There's never really any chat surrounding Townsville, I google Townsville most days just to get a low down on Suburbs and opinions.. just keen to get organised but there's nothing out there.

 

Will you/ can you return home to Cairns in the future?

 

Nats x

Hi Nats

It sounds like you have done the same of us and explored what there is out there. We love the NT and nearly chose Darwin over Cairns at one point.

Like you I absolutely love Kununurra. It was only when @Bobj took us there on one of our trips I realised it was a place I could call home, well if I didn't need all these hospitals. I do love the outback, even Mt Isa so to be honest I can't understand what it is about Townsville that doesn't float my boat. I think it is me more than Townsville itself. Also that there does seem a lot more crime, but then we moved from a rainforest village where the hill was so steep no one would ever have ventured up there, so really I've probably been sheltered and spoils too long. I am not a city person, although I do enjoy a few days in Sydney when I have to go down.

 

You are lucky that your little one has a few years before school. Unfortunately my sons schooling has been affected with us in and out of hospitals but he is doing well now and seems very settled. Although he keeps in regular contact with his school back in Cairns.

 

In regards to Townsville hospital, compared to Cairns it has everything, unfortunately for me and the complications I've had I have found there has been no one who would risk operating on me which has meant going to Brisbane or Sydney. I've never been an inpatient at the public hospital as we usually go to the Mater. The Mater is an excellent hospital, staff always seem very happy. Most of the specialists have their suites there as well and tend to work public or private. It is very small compared to the private hospitals in Brisbane (Mater and Greenslopes)

 

Schools, for private the grammar has to be the top school, but then their prices match their reputation lol. Cathedral is the other with an excellent reputation along with Ignatius.

 

Like i I said with suburbs you can't go wrong. You would probably love it up where my son lives, I had to go to the public hospital yesterday to pick up some supplies and it was a 2 minute drive to his. In fact a lot of people just walk to the hospital or Uni from there. You even have the lovely OAP's who drive golf buggys and will give you a ride to the end of the road.

 

I can't help on the flood side as mentioned earlier we are still waiting for rain lol.

 

At at the moment I'm not getting online as much as I would love but if you have any questions ask away or message me, I will get back to you but it may be a while, don't take it personal if it's not instant.

[Guest The Pom Queen]

Hello Pom Queen. We have lived in Townsville for 3 and a half years now. Interesting to read your thoughts. We moved here straight from the UK and love it, although we bought a caravan recently and have started travelling around (weekends only for the moment due to work commitments) and yes there are some lovely places around including Cairns and we also love Cape Tribulation and Mossman. We both work from home too. Do you fancy meeting up for a cuppa to share stories?

Hi Mel, lovely to hear from you. I think if I had moved here myself straight from the UK I would have loved it to. I can't say I hate it but it doesn't feel like home. The caravan sounds a great way to get out and explore, try heading up to Cooktown if you haven't already. I would love to catch up. I'm going to be AWOL until the new year but will definitely catch up with you then. Do you have children? What area of Townsville are you in.

[Mel Lofts]

Hi Mel, lovely to hear from you. I think if I had moved here myself straight from the UK I would have loved it to. I can't say I hate it but it doesn't feel like home. The caravan sounds a great way to get out and explore, try heading up to Cooktown if you haven't already. I would love to catch up. I'm going to be AWOL until the new year but will definitely catch up with you then. Do you have children? What area of Townsville are you in.

 

Yes we've been up to Cooktown but not in the caravan as we didn't have it then. We have a grown up daughter who lives with us and goes to JCU. Daughter did a one week teacher training placement at Mossman State School so we dropper her off on our way up when we went to Cooktown. We were only in Cooktown for the day and it was raining, so we will probably go back there on our way across toward Darwin or even go up to Thursday Island. We are in Castle Hill, so handy for the city and the strand and lovely views. Are you going travelling until the new year? If so where are you off to?

[Nats]

Sounds like you've had a bit of a rough time of it health wise Pom Queen. I admire the way you push on and stay positive. I'm not sure how I'd cope if either of us were to become seriously unwell or suffer chronic health problems, it does cross my mind on occasion as I see lots of scary stuff at work. Never entered my mind when I was planning this adventure from Scotland funny enough! Something potential migrants should really weigh up. Since having my little one I can't help but worry 'what if?'. Thankful for my private Health cover, touch wood I never need to use it!

 

You mention high rates of crime, I'm hearing a lot about youth crime in Townsville, some try to brush it under the carpet but it does concern me slightly. I've added lots of Townsville pages to my Facebook account, trying to find playgroups, mums groups etc.. and without sounding like a complete snob, the majority of the members are not people I would like to become acquainted with lol. From what my husband has seen first hand and acknowledging that the defence force make up a high percentage of the population, Townsville is a working class town, and that's fine, we're working class too.. but every other person who comments on the Facebook groups is enquiring about DVO's etc .. I'm hoping I'll meet like minded individuals there, there has to be pockets of above average intelligents out there lol. If even just my colleagues.

 

As as I said, I give it a couple of years, I'm embarking on an 18 month work/study program anyway, if we hate it we'll return to Sunshine Coast or head to Perth. as it happens I'm currently 9km from Brisbane CBD, I work in the busiest ED in Brisbane, nearest the CBD and the Valley.. I'm so over drunks and meth heads. Every city has them, we're just too close for comfort here. I hear Perth has a major ICE problem now too, but at least in Perth you can live up or down the coast and rarely see it.

 

I guess he thing I really ought to be concerned with is the humidity!! The heat is really taking its toll on me just now, in Brisbane. I love the climate here, it was part of the pill to migrate, but since having my boy I can't tolerate it. My hormones must be out of whack, even if it's been 17 months!!

 

thanks again for all your words of wisdom x

[adele244]

When ever I see "Brownsville" I get the image of a cesspit!!! It really makes me chuckle.......well small minds and all that!! :laugh:

[Bobj]

When ever I see "Brownsville" I get the image of a cesspit!!! It really makes me chuckle.......well small minds and all that!! :laugh:

 

Yup! The subconscious working away...:laugh:C

 

Cheers, Bobj.

[Dom1]

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.

[Guest The Pom Queen]

Yes we've been up to Cooktown but not in the caravan as we didn't have it then. We have a grown up daughter who lives with us and goes to JCU. Daughter did a one week teacher training placement at Mossman State School so we dropper her off on our way up when we went to Cooktown. We were only in Cooktown for the day and it was raining, so we will probably go back there on our way across toward Darwin or even go up to Thursday Island. We are in Castle Hill, so handy for the city and the strand and lovely views. Are you going travelling until the new year? If so where are you off to?

Try and get up for the Discovery Festival it's a fantastic experience. They do a reenactment of Captain Cook coming ashore.

You must be very close to us then as we are at the bottom of castle hill.

[Guest The Pom Queen]

Sounds like you've had a bit of a rough time of it health wise Pom Queen. I admire the way you push on and stay positive. I'm not sure how I'd cope if either of us were to become seriously unwell or suffer chronic health problems, it does cross my mind on occasion as I see lots of scary stuff at work. Never entered my mind when I was planning this adventure from Scotland funny enough! Something potential migrants should really weigh up. Since having my little one I can't help but worry 'what if?'. Thankful for my private Health cover, touch wood I never need to use it!

 

You mention high rates of crime, I'm hearing a lot about youth crime in Townsville, some try to brush it under the carpet but it does concern me slightly. I've added lots of Townsville pages to my Facebook account, trying to find playgroups, mums groups etc.. and without sounding like a complete snob, the majority of the members are not people I would like to become acquainted with lol. From what my husband has seen first hand and acknowledging that the defence force make up a high percentage of the population, Townsville is a working class town, and that's fine, we're working class too.. but every other person who comments on the Facebook groups is enquiring about DVO's etc .. I'm hoping I'll meet like minded individuals there, there has to be pockets of above average intelligents out there lol. If even just my colleagues.

 

As as I said, I give it a couple of years, I'm embarking on an 18 month work/study program anyway, if we hate it we'll return to Sunshine Coast or head to Perth. as it happens I'm currently 9km from Brisbane CBD, I work in the busiest ED in Brisbane, nearest the CBD and the Valley.. I'm so over drunks and meth heads. Every city has them, we're just too close for comfort here. I hear Perth has a major ICE problem now too, but at least in Perth you can live up or down the coast and rarely see it.

 

I guess he thing I really ought to be concerned with is the humidity!! The heat is really taking its toll on me just now, in Brisbane. I love the climate here, it was part of the pill to migrate, but since having my boy I can't tolerate it. My hormones must be out of whack, even if it's been 17 months!!

 

thanks again for all your words of wisdom x

If you are struggling in Brissy you will struggle up here I'm not going to lie. When we go down to Brissy I end up in a jacket and 5 blankets because I've acclimatised over the years to the heat of FNQ. Like I said though you will acclimatise. Give me a shout when you get here.

[Guest The Pom Queen]

When ever I see "Brownsville" I get the image of a cesspit!!! It really makes me chuckle.......well small minds and all that!! :laugh:

There is a bit of competition between Cairns and Townsville a little like the North/South debates lol.