Guest kanunski Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 It's fascinating reading all the comments about Sydney and people's experiences, it's been a very useful balance / reality check to the "I can't wait to get there" syndrome where everything will be wonderful. As far as I can make out the negatives are an arrogant aggressive local city working population, no surprise there I live in London and some healthy competition isn't a bad thing when climbing the corporate ladder. Take the attitude as it's meant, business can be cut throat and if you want to be at the top people are like that. As for the comments along the lines of Sydney-siders hate criticism of their city and will string you up for it, fair enough, I bet if some foreigner came into your home town and started having a go you'd set them straight, nothing wrong with being proud of your home town. I’m pretty sure if you don’t live in a major city like London it’s going to be strange moving to one like Sydney. Personally I’m sure Sydney has it’s downsides, I’m heading back with my Australian wife after her spending the last 4 years in London with me, we’re both very much looking forward to the change, we met after I lived in Melbourne for a year back in 03/04, so we both thought it would be great to be in Sydney to see how we get on. We’re very much looking forward to the upsides of Sydney, be interesting to hear others thoughts. :idea: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petals Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 I used to live in Sydney and moved to Melbourne.:smile: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JRaj Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 I have to admit places like Wollongong (spelling????) were stunning and not far from Sydney, but the commute seemed to be a killer. The northern beaches were nice too, but once again the commute and the house prices were a big no no for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kellyjamie Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 would have to agree my friend, on our recent reccie to brisbane we visited sydney for 3 days and i hated it! i did tho keep reminding myself i wa sin a major city and it was not unlike london unfortunately. i prefer brisbane a hundred times over and can honestly say that if going to sydney was my only option to get to oz i would probably reconsider. i loved being down at the harbourside it was fab but the rest no thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest poohbear Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Thanks for the advice. We should be fine in Sydney as hubbie works in central london with a 2 hour daily commute each way so anything oz has to throw at us should be a breeze. We live by the sea at the moment and I could not contemplate living more than 20 minutes away from it. Manly looks gorgeous I just need to check out school locations and the best gymnastic facilities. If anyone can help that would be great. Good luck to all of you in your new ventures - just remember the world is a big place and everyone will be happy somewhere!!!! :jiggy: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wdgann Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 I grew up in Melbourne and am HATE Sydney with a passion. I have been here for 6 years (for work reasons) and here are my observations: *full of people who have the "I am too good for you" attitude. In reality, these people are completely insecure *you feel like a second class citizen when you walk into a bar, restaurant or clothes shop. The waiters, shop assistants etc are simply too cool to serve you properly (in spite of the fact that they uneducated) *traffic is terrible *you can't even enjoy the beaches because you are not allowed to do anything like jetski, water sports, park your car without paying $10 per hour etc *overpriced *population is full of drug addicts. Rich people snort coke and poor people take speed *there is a hole in the ozone layer above Australia so you can't enjoy the sun *bars close early *drinks are expensive *food is overpriced and terrible Unfortunately, I work in a specialised field and am stuck here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Paul_compy Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Sydney rocks! FIN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest earlswood Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 I grew up in Melbourne and am HATE Sydney with a passion. I have been here for 6 years (for work reasons) and here are my observations:*full of people who have the "I am too good for you" attitude. In reality, these people are completely insecure *you feel like a second class citizen when you walk into a bar, restaurant or clothes shop. The waiters, shop assistants etc are simply too cool to serve you properly (in spite of the fact that they uneducated) *traffic is terrible *you can't even enjoy the beaches because you are not allowed to do anything like jetski, water sports, park your car without paying $10 per hour etc *overpriced *population is full of drug addicts. Rich people snort coke and poor people take speed *there is a hole in the ozone layer above Australia so you can't enjoy the sun *bars close early *drinks are expensive *food is overpriced and terrible Unfortunately, I work in a specialised field and am stuck here You sure you aint in Perth mate :elvis: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wdgann Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 People say the bad things about Sydney exist in other cities. True to some extent. However, at least in places like New York, you also have the conveniences of a big city e.g late night restaurants, late night shopping, proximity to holiday destinations, good shopping. In Sydney, you have NONE of that. The only good thing about Sydney is the beaches and you can't enjoy those because there is a hole above the ozone layer, the council rules ban everything and you get stuck in a traffic jam on a good day going to the beach Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Emmap Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 It's fascinating reading all the comments about Sydney and people's experiences, it's been a very useful balance / reality check to the "I can't wait to get there" syndrome where everything will be wonderful. As far as I can make out the negatives are an arrogant aggressive local city working population, no surprise there I live in London and some healthy competition isn't a bad thing when climbing the corporate ladder. Take the attitude as it's meant, business can be cut throat and if you want to be at the top people are like that. As for the comments along the lines of Sydney-siders hate criticism of their city and will string you up for it, fair enough, I bet if some foreigner came into your home town and started having a go you'd set them straight, nothing wrong with being proud of your home town. I’m pretty sure if you don’t live in a major city like London it’s going to be strange moving to one like Sydney. Personally I’m sure Sydney has it’s downsides, I’m heading back with my Australian wife after her spending the last 4 years in London with me, we’re both very much looking forward to the change, we met after I lived in Melbourne for a year back in 03/04, so we both thought it would be great to be in Sydney to see how we get on. We’re very much looking forward to the upsides of Sydney, be interesting to hear others thoughts. :idea: Very true, if your from a city to start with then another city is just another city, except this time with more sun.....although today it rained!!! bugger!!:arghh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Emmap Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Thanks for the advice. We should be fine in Sydney as hubbie works in central london with a 2 hour daily commute each way so anything oz has to throw at us should be a breeze. We live by the sea at the moment and I could not contemplate living more than 20 minutes away from it. Manly looks gorgeous I just need to check out school locations and the best gymnastic facilities. If anyone can help that would be great. Good luck to all of you in your new ventures - just remember the world is a big place and everyone will be happy somewhere!!!! :jiggy: Cannot help you with schools but i can second that Manley is gorgeous...we looked at living there but didnt really fancy the ferry ride everyday to the city.....much easier and much better veiws than a 2 hour tube jurney through London though thats for sure....enjoy your journey!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest earlswood Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Might just try Sydney..they say it is the drug capital of Oz. COCAINE use in inner-city Sydney and across NSW is the highest it has ever been, outstripping the coke heydays of the early 2000s, new crime statistics show. New cocaine craze despite police hits - National - smh.com.au Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest richardiv Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 so glad I'm not the only one who can't stand it here. I moved here from London, used to urban environments, trips to Europe, a cool breeze, and rarely needing a car. Here it's just hot, suburban, isolated, and public transport is awful. I like melbourne a bit better but the missus is from Sydney so little point in moving there when we're her to be close to her family. I agree that Sydneysiders are self-obsessed and really don't want to hear criticism. It's nice not to have that extreme self-depracation like in England but it's a bit far the other way. It's been a year and a half--hoping things eventually get better. still pining for the old country though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mike_2006uk Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Jraj It certainly is the British mentality to moan about things. I really don’t think you are opening peoples eyes in what to expect, You seem to speak for so many people, all the other whinging POMS you hang around with at work. You will be the kind of people I will be looking to avoid, so you don’t drag me down. Would you go into a UK forum and say, Pinner is too expensive, food costs too much, London traffic is a nightmare, I don’t think so. Your options are to come home and work with a load of moaning English people about the whether, eat fish and chips and shout at the telly watching Match of the Day. We seem to constantly feel the need to compare, compare compare, Sydney’s not like Perth, and Perth is not like Brisbane bla bla bla. Obtaining a visa to work in another country should be something to look forward too and be happy with, not everyone is lucky enough back home to get a visa. Is it the British way to not be happy all the time, are we at out best moaning? Or queuing for things, lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tim_the_taf Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 We've just moved back to the UK from Perth. Loved it there, but only a 457 visa. Weather here is crap, people are obsessed with shopping, TV is full of reality shows, and there's no work. Much rather be back in WA. However, we also went to Sydney, and it wasn't for us either. We much preferred the WA climate and more relaxed lifestyle. As you say, we compare, compare, but at least give others the opportunity to have an opinion. Chaque a son gout. Jraj It certainly is the British mentality to moan about things. I really don’t think you are opening peoples eyes in what to expect, You seem to speak for so many people, all the other whinging POMS you hang around with at work. You will be the kind of people I will be looking to avoid, so you don’t drag me down. Would you go into a UK forum and say, Pinner is too expensive, food costs too much, London traffic is a nightmare, I don’t think so. Your options are to come home and work with a load of moaning English people about the whether, eat fish and chips and shout at the telly watching Match of the Day. We seem to constantly feel the need to compare, compare compare, Sydney’s not like Perth, and Perth is not like Brisbane bla bla bla. Obtaining a visa to work in another country should be something to look forward too and be happy with, not everyone is lucky enough back home to get a visa. Is it the British way to not be happy all the time, are we at out best moaning? Or queuing for things, lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest earlswood Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 We've just moved back to the UK from Perth. Loved it there, but only a 457 visa. Weather here is crap, people are obsessed with shopping, TV is full of reality shows, and there's no work. Much rather be back in WA. However, we also went to Sydney, and it wasn't for us either. We much preferred the WA climate and more relaxed lifestyle. As you say, we compare, compare, but at least give others the opportunity to have an opinion. Chaque a son gout. As the aussies say....if you dont like it here ....the **** off back..:laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 0405delboy Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Hello all, Damn right its the British way to complain and compare and for the record - late night Sydney is like the end of the world. Kings Cross is full of prostitutes and lost souls swaying around off their chops on god knows what. Reminds me a bit of ....er well....Kings Cross. I was too scared to wear me bloody thongs for all the syringes laying around on the floor. Funny how the centrepoint tower looks like a giant syringe!! Well, funny to me anyway!!:twitcy:!!:policeman:!! You cant tell me that you would advise any fresh PIO's to head down there with the kids on a Friday night would ya?? No! So thats where this website comes in to it!! Its called realism!! 0405delboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest treesea Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 :yes: Just a quick thought.....don't you think you should have looked at all these things before moving...hmmm......:biggrin: But that's not so easy to do sight unseen, is it. I lived in Sydney a good few years and personally wouldn't live anywhere there except the eastern suburbs and Balmain. It just goes to show, one man's dream is another man's nightmare. The second time I moved to Australia, I wanted to live in Sydney, but didn't have much money so moved to Melbourne which is cheaper. We were there a year before going up to Sydney for a break, so OH could see it. He hated it. He said it smelt awful. We were at a live music event in Annandale, along the Parramatta Road, just down from Glebe, on a muggy very humid night - hot enough for the rain to steam from the streets. And the scent coming off the street was like rats/washing left for a while without drying it/mouldy cockroaches. I must admit, it was quite strong, but in all the years I lived there I never noticed it until he pointed it out. I think Sydney is one of the great cities in the world to live - better than London (home town), but I could understand how someone could hate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest treesea Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 I am new to this site and will be relocating to Sydney by the end of this year (hopefully ;-)). After reading all the comments I am a little scared. We have to move to Sydney for my husbands job but secretly would prefer to go to Brisbane. Out of all the people who like Sydney where is the best place to live - I have heard that the North is best? We are a family and want good schools (which I don't mind paying for). Hope I meet some happy people!!!! If your OH is working on the CBD side of the harbour, I don't think the northern suburbs would be an ideal commute. Manly is a great place to live; I certainly enjoyed it when I was little, and I have lived in Neutral Bay, right on a ferry line, literally next door to the stop. But if you do decide to live on that side make sure there are two forms of transport from where you live to the CBD, e.g. ferry or train, bus or ferry, because when the fog comes in over the sea, those ferries don't run. The best secondary schools in Sydney are selective state schools. Thousands of children sit exams to go to them each year. They are government, so free. Then you have the private schools - I used to think of them as having the children who weren't bright enough to get into a selective state school but had parents who could afford to foot the bill. Then you have the normal government state schools. I remember my various friends daughters agonising about whether they would get a place in whatever selective state school they were trying to get into. The downside of these schools is they tend to be single sex schools. Well, each to their own, but I wanted a co-ed experience for my children. I like the eastern suburbs as a place to live. Dover Heights would be worth a look. It has a very good co-ed secondary college Rose Bay Secondary College) which I think from memory has a selective stream but mainly takes children from the local catchment. Going back to Manly, the school of choice would probably be Northern Beaches Secondary College. It is spread across a few campuses, but again, it's completely selective. So if sending children to the local comprehensive instead, you're not really getting the best teachers for your children because they tend to get swallowed up by the selective or private schools. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Trina Findlay Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Like any city in the UK (and in the world) that I've been to, Sydney has its good points and bad, nice areas and dodgy ones. My sister lives there and personally, although I live in Geelong, I love Sydney, despite the hectic pace compared to Melbourne. I can also recommend Manly - it's a beautiful spot, and great for people-watching (if that's what you're into - not that I'm a voyeur!!).. my sister has two young kids and it's a great place to raise a family - she lives in Harbord, just outside Manly, and has an easily accessible choice of shops and beaches. They've also lived in Neutral Bay, and Cremorne, both of which I really liked - away from the hussle and bussle of the CBD but not isolated at all. I stayed with them for a while in Neutral Bay, and temped in the CBD - I can't think of a much better commute to work than sitting in the sunshine on the deck of the ferry - 15 minutes later, I was sitting at my desk! Pretty good I reckon!! Don't be scared off just because some people don't like Sydney - if everyone had the same tastes and ideas about what they want out of life, Sydney would be crammed to the max, and cities like Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane wouldn't even exist!! Be open minded, and try not to have too many expectations (whether positive or negative) - then you won't be disappointed and can take the experience for what is - YOURS! :spinny: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Emmap Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Hello all,Damn right its the British way to complain and compare and for the record - late night Sydney is like the end of the world. Kings Cross is full of prostitutes and lost souls swaying around off their chops on god knows what. Reminds me a bit of ....er well....Kings Cross. I was too scared to wear me bloody thongs for all the syringes laying around on the floor. Funny how the centrepoint tower looks like a giant syringe!! Well, funny to me anyway!!:twitcy:!!:policeman:!! You cant tell me that you would advise any fresh PIO's to head down there with the kids on a Friday night would ya?? No! So thats where this website comes in to it!! Its called realism!! 0405delboy Its also called living in a city!!!!.... Why would you be taking your kids out on a friday night anyway in a city....its oviouse that drinking, drugs, and many other things will be going on..... Saying that though, i have seen families walking through Kings Cross at the weekend, and never seen any real problems there....i certanly wouldnt take my child through kings cross or any other part of a city on a friday night...its oviouse what will be going on.....thats why you go to the beach, parks, swimming on the week end days..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mutikonka Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 I take my kids down to the Cross/Potts Point on the weekends - nothing much to worry about. I wouldn't venture there or anywhere like Oxford St with/without kids on Friday night though. But then I wouldn't hang around in Leeds city centre on a Friday either. This thread is going round in circles. You either like Sydney or you don't. I was getting a bit sick of the place but have just come back from Asia, and now I think it's the bee's knees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ptp113 Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Sydney is OK for a holiday or a day at the footie (go the Swans!) but a sh1t hole to live in. Expensive and full of snooty a'holes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Emmap Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Sydney is OK for a holiday or a day at the footie (go the Swans!) but a sh1t hole to live in. Expensive and full of snooty a'holes. Charming..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest austibeach Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Sydney is OK for a holiday or a day at the footie (go the Swans!) but a sh1t hole to live in. Expensive and full of snooty a'holes. There you go, you heard it here first ! A very constructive viewpoint on life in Sydney. :frown: Eric. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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