Vasse - info please

[pugsley]

Hello,

I'm looking for some opinions from people who live in Vasse? We lived in Perth's Northern suburbs for 6 years then decided to come back to the UK. We have been in the UK for almost 5 years now but desperately miss Oz and are thinking about returning.

Before coming back here we had toyed with the idea of moving to the South West.  We now feel it is where we should have moved to. We are Australian citizens and have 2 children. Age 5 and 8.

What is Vasse like as a place to live? What are the schools like? Is there plenty of work? I am a registered nurse and my husband is a construction manager. Is there a nice community feel? Plenty for the children? 

We love the SW region so are already won over by that. We used to spend many weekends down there escaping Perth and city life. We know it is a much quieter pace which is what appeals to us for our family.

Thanks 

[Paul1Perth]

I think the area is growing in popularity. I would rather be in Busselton, Dunsborough, Yallingup but Vasse is not that far away from those places and property might be cheaper.

There is a big new hospital in Busselton so should be work for a nurse. Contruction is booming and builders, trades are very busy.

[mrsmac]

Vasse is a lovely area, with all the amenities you need, including a great little primary school and early learning centre. There is a Coles supermarket, weekend community market, cafes and restaurants, etc, and Busselton and Dunsborough are both just 10 minutes away. Vasse is preferable to Dunsborough in that it doesn't get over run with tourists every weekend, and 'Schoolies' championing their 'right of passage' every November/December. It is very much the gateway to the many wonderful wineries, breweries, art galleries, beaches, etc that are in abundance in the South West. I think you would be hard-pressed to find a nicer area to bring up your young children. 

[pugsley]

Thank you both for your comments. It is the amenities and close proximity to Busselton and Dunsborough which we find so appealing. It's good to hear positive opinions. It's such a lovely part of the world.

I had forgotten about schoolies mrsmac! We unwittingly ended up in Surfers Paradise many years ago at Schoolies week won't make that mistake again! 

Thanks again

[HappyHeart]

Vasse is the gateway to the SW as people have said, better option than Bunbury. Busselton health campus nearby. Good schools. 

Don't discount further inland (Bridgetown, Nannup and surrounds, get lots more bang for your buck and Vasse is pretty 'estate like'

Really depends what you're after lifestyle wise. 

Better prices south of Margaret River, think Augusta and surrounds. Obviously less job opportunities. Busselton is an hours drive from Augusta. There are little community hospitals in the small towns and aged care facilities needing staff. 

Construction manager? Hello, when can you start?!?! 

We currently live in Perth and actively planning a move to SW (like you always felt we should have gone straight there in hindsight) I'm also in healthcare. A nurse friend recently moved to Bridgetown and is LOVING it. If you like that pace of life and know what to expect I'd say it's a no brainer (If you can find work) 

[HappyHeart]

Forgot to say, long and short term rentals are rarer than rocking horse poo at the moment so you'd need to secure a property prior to arrival. Locals are struggling to find a place to live and the shire are considering all.options to ease the crisis. It's worse in the SW than in Perth. House prices are also rising fast. 

[Dusty Plains]

On 26/04/2021 at 16:04, HappyHeart said:

Vasse is the gateway to the SW as people have said, better option than Bunbury. Busselton health campus nearby. Good schools. 

Don't discount further inland (Bridgetown, Nannup and surrounds, get lots more bang for your buck and Vasse is pretty 'estate like'

Really depends what you're after lifestyle wise. 

Better prices south of Margaret River, think Augusta and surrounds. Obviously less job opportunities. Busselton is an hours drive from Augusta. There are little community hospitals in the small towns and aged care facilities needing staff. 

Construction manager? Hello, when can you start?!?! 

We currently live in Perth and actively planning a move to SW (like you always felt we should have gone straight there in hindsight) I'm also in healthcare. A nurse friend recently moved to Bridgetown and is LOVING it. If you like that pace of life and know what to expect I'd say it's a no brainer (If you can find work) 

Agreed. I live west of Sydney,  yet the family connections are strong in South West WA, and so we are there on a yearly basis. We love Bridgetown, Nannup etc. As suggested some time ago, we have been constant visitors to the area since 2015 and have since been back many times. We have seen the area blossom.  

There may be community hospitals in the towns but realistically, Busselton Hospital, and Busselton itself, is the "capital" of the South West. Busselton health campus is key to WA Health, there being numerous health specialists at Busselton health campus who are also high up in WA health generally and work strategically on a state basis.

I agree that Vasse is an estate, and that may suit people however new housing is abundant elsewhere in the SW.

Schools range between fair to excellent, but it depends how much you want to pay. Some of the private schools in the Busselton area are at the top of the state in academic performance and in sport, music etc.  

[Blue Flu]

Just be aware that Vasse has drug issues like many areas in Australia and South West in general. It is a problem in small towns and I refer to meth. (ice) 

[HappyHeart]

Bumping this thread for anybody who’s interested. 

[HappyHeart]

Hamelin Bay, is that where the stingrays come up to the shore for a pat and a tickle? Its been a while for us down that way and onto Augusta several years ago.  If so, we have been there and loved it and we also did the pat and tickle thing. A surreal experience and a beautiful setting along the shoreline there as I recall. You park in the carpark (of course) then make your way over the sand hills and onto the beach (??). That was 5 years ago at least, but we still remember the stingrays and the fact that we were 4000 km from home and loving it.

Edited 49 minutes ago by Dusty Plains

@Dusty Plains

Yes, the locals love it too. Every time we go down we spot them. My son snorkelled with them a few years back. I'll post some pics 

[HappyHeart]

Hamelin Bay in Summer

[HappyHeart]

Cosy Corner Augusta

Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse

Busselton Jetty 

 

[Blue Flu]

On 14/08/2021 at 21:42, HappyHeart said:

Hamelin Bay, is that where the stingrays come up to the shore for a pat and a tickle? Its been a while for us down that way and onto Augusta several years ago.  If so, we have been there and loved it and we also did the pat and tickle thing. A surreal experience and a beautiful setting along the shoreline there as I recall. You park in the carpark (of course) then make your way over the sand hills and onto the beach (??). That was 5 years ago at least, but we still remember the stingrays and the fact that we were 4000 km from home and loving it.

Edited 49 minutes ago by Dusty Plains

@Dusty Plains

Yes, the locals love it too. Every time we go down we spot them. My son snorkelled with them a few years back. I'll post some pics 

I'm surprised that it is allowed to pat and tickle a stringray. One would have thought it would be heavily policed over. The sting can I believe be most painful.  Heard of this place but not been. I 've always given these creatures a wide berth  on the few sightings of them. (all Down South) 

[HappyHeart]

2 hours ago, Blue Flu said:

I'm surprised that it is allowed to pat and tickle a stringray. One would have thought it would be heavily policed over. The sting can I believe be most painful.  Heard of this place but not been. I 've always given these creatures a wide berth  on the few sightings of them. (all Down South) 

I'm not sure if these ones are particularly dangerous? At least 1m across. There was uproar a few years back when a fisherman caught and killed a well know ray called stumpy if I remember rightly. So named because he only had half a tail. They've basically been tamed and come in to be hand fed (though it's discouraged) They always draw a crowd and I've never seen anyone being silly. 

[HappyHeart]

"Popular Hamelin Bay stingray slaughtered in front of screaming kids | PerthNow" https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/popular-hamelin-bay-stingray-slaughtered-in-front-of-screaming-kids-ng-9a16711871399ebb1b8cabe69cd9a3e6

[Blue Flu]

2 hours ago, HappyHeart said:

"Popular Hamelin Bay stingray slaughtered in front of screaming kids | PerthNow" https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/popular-hamelin-bay-stingray-slaughtered-in-front-of-screaming-kids-ng-9a16711871399ebb1b8cabe69cd9a3e6

I do seem to recall that now you mention it. 

[newjez]

15 hours ago, HappyHeart said:

I'm not sure if these ones are particularly dangerous? At least 1m across. There was uproar a few years back when a fisherman caught and killed a well know ray called stumpy if I remember rightly. So named because he only had half a tail. They've basically been tamed and come in to be hand fed (though it's discouraged) They always draw a crowd and I've never seen anyone being silly. 

We used to play beach cricket on Rottnest. There was often a big ray patrolling up and down the shore. Bit of a challenge if the ball was hit in the water. Fine beach side, as you could see the ray quite clearly. Bit harder coming out of the water as you couldn't see it when in the water. No one got stung though. I think they are harmless unless you stress them.

[newjez]

On 08/03/2021 at 06:05, Paul1Perth said:

I think the area is growing in popularity. I would rather be in Busselton, Dunsborough, Yallingup but Vasse is not that far away from those places and property might be cheaper.

There is a big new hospital in Busselton so should be work for a nurse. Contruction is booming and builders, trades are very busy.

Big hospital in bunbury too.

Only real downside of the southwest is when the kids go to university

[Paul1Perth]

17 hours ago, HappyHeart said:

I'm not sure if these ones are particularly dangerous? At least 1m across. There was uproar a few years back when a fisherman caught and killed a well know ray called stumpy if I remember rightly. So named because he only had half a tail. They've basically been tamed and come in to be hand fed (though it's discouraged) They always draw a crowd and I've never seen anyone being silly. 

You can do the same thing in Rottnest. Geordie and Longreach get family groups of rays, specially at sunset.

If you snorkel they'll take food out of your hand and come right up to your mask.

[HappyHeart]

58 minutes ago, Paul1Perth said:

You can do the same thing in Rottnest. Geordie and Longreach get family groups of rays, specially at sunset.

If you snorkel they'll take food out of your hand and come right up to your mask.

After all these years still never made it to Rotto. 

[Toots]

25 minutes ago, HappyHeart said:

After all these years still never made it to Rotto. 

We went a few times when we lived in Perth.  Loved Rotto  .............................  it hadn't been 'gentrified' then.  We used to take our own picnic and swim in the beautiful turquoise sea.

[Bobj]

16 hours ago, Toots said:

We went a few times when we lived in Perth.  Loved Rotto  .............................  it hadn't been 'gentrified' then.  We used to take our own picnic and swim in the beautiful turquoise sea.

And the quokkas; those inquisitive little beasties. But my time there was 1963/4 when things were even less 'gentrified' @Toots

A beach party I went to had all the people singing The Beatles, "Love Me Do", that was in '64. Fabulous times!

Bussleton was a sleepy holiday town, so too Mandurah.

Cheers, Bobj.

[HappyHeart]

On 17/08/2021 at 05:53, newjez said:

Big hospital in bunbury too.

Only real downside of the southwest is when the kids go to university

You got that right. That's one of the potential limiting factors in when we can move. 

[Marisawright]

On 16/08/2021 at 16:27, HappyHeart said:

I'm not sure if these ones are particularly dangerous? At least 1m across. There was uproar a few years back when a fisherman caught and killed a well know ray called stumpy if I remember rightly. So named because he only had half a tail. They've basically been tamed and come in to be hand fed (though it's discouraged) They always draw a crowd and I've never seen anyone being silly. 

Wasn't Steve Irwin killed by a stingray?  

[HappyHeart]

29 minutes ago, Marisawright said:

Wasn't Steve Irwin killed by a stingray?  

Yes.. The barb went into his heart..terrible..