Guest Oz Boots Posted January 1, 2011 Posted January 1, 2011 Hello and Hapy New Year to all. We're moving to Melbourne in February (flying on the 1st!) and are very lucky to have a few friends already established in the City, who have offered us somewhere to stay when we arrive. However not forever! I have a job lined up and will be working in Carlton. We've been researching the different suburbs and are thinking of looking for an appartment in Brunswick/Brunswick East. Does anyone know the area? If so, any facts of advice would be greatly received. Even similarities to UK towns so we can get a feel for the place. Also (and I'm sure this must have been asked in countless other posts) but can anyone let me know if there may be any surprises we might encounter when we arrive. We've done a lot of research but surely won't have covered everything! Thanks in advance for your help. We're happy to make some Melbourne friends as well, if anyone is interested!
Petals Posted January 1, 2011 Posted January 1, 2011 No similarity to UK is what you will find. Food has a different taste even if its the same brand, i e baked beans etc. Chocolate does not have as much sugar and is not as sweet as in the UK. Grog is not sold in supermarkets here as people have to have a certificate to sell grog so we have separate bottle shops. Have to pay for prescriptions, with a lot of doctors they require a copayment which can be $30 plus depending on the doctor. Sushi bars are king No villages, Melbourne is a huge sprawling city taking in a very large area and there are parts I have never been to in the 35 years I have lived here. Dogs and cats have to be registered and there are strict laws covering where and how you can walk them. Cats are not allowed out at night. Not as much prepared food in the supermarkets, Aussies prefer to cook or get takeawaway. Aussies pick on accents and mean nothing by it. Not so pc as UK Brunswick is popular with young professionals and as with all the inner areas close to CBD. Carlton is a nice area and has lots of restaurants, mainly Italian. I guess your friends can also or have already filled you in on a lot of information. Good luck.
olly Posted January 1, 2011 Posted January 1, 2011 Exactly what Petals says, especially the bit about the UK village, there are some more rural suburbs in the outer perimeter which have small shopping strips, like maybe the Mornington Peninsula where they have little 'villages' but not the same as UK. I used to work in Brunswick/West Brunswick, it is an inner city suburb with quite a lot of older style housing, including Victorian type terrace houses, some single some double storey. It is easy to get to Carlton. You might even think about somewhere like Kensington, there are quite a few new developments over there and I believe it has a bit of a vibe. I am out in the outer east and anywhere along the Eastern Freeway from the city is gettable to Carlton (I am thinking of Fitzroy, Nth Fitzroy, Heidelberg (not west heidelberg) Doncaster, Bulleen etc) You also have Essendon, Ascot Vale (airport side of city), Fairfield, Northcote/Thornbury which are all on the outer perimeter of the city. centre. Whatever you do, THINK BIG, then it won't be a shock. A sat nav would come in handy, it does for me and I am a local, born here, as Petals mentioned there are some places I haven't been and new suburbs popping up in the West and North of the city which I have only discovered myself from looking to purchase another house. Also, the weather, it can be cranky and extreme, i.e. go from hot to cool/cold very quickly, bring winter clothes you will need them. February when you arrive will be the hottest month though.
weemster Posted January 1, 2011 Posted January 1, 2011 Hello and Hapy New Year to all. We're moving to Melbourne in February (flying on the 1st!) and are very lucky to have a few friends already established in the City, who have offered us somewhere to stay when we arrive. However not forever! I have a job lined up and will be working in Carlton. We've been researching the different suburbs and are thinking of looking for an appartment in Brunswick/Brunswick East. Does anyone know the area? If so, any facts of advice would be greatly received. Even similarities to UK towns so we can get a feel for the place. Also (and I'm sure this must have been asked in countless other posts) but can anyone let me know if there may be any surprises we might encounter when we arrive. We've done a lot of research but surely won't have covered everything! Thanks in advance for your help. We're happy to make some Melbourne friends as well, if anyone is interested! We lived just up the coast in Portsmouth before we came out to Melbourne. Happy to meet up for drinks anytime.
Guest The Pom Queen Posted January 2, 2011 Posted January 2, 2011 Hi and welcome to PIO, I think Petals and Olly have already given you some good advice. I suppose you need to think what kind of house do you want and what is your budget. Are you happy living in the city or do you want to be closer to the sea? Brunswick is lovely but do you have the funds to eventually buy there, some people can afford to rent in certain suburbs and settle really well but then when it comes to buying they are forced out of the market and have to move out of the city. I also like Parkville and Clifton Hill. When you say surprises what are you thinking as in the cost of items or things like the weather etc.
junellew Posted January 2, 2011 Posted January 2, 2011 so many people moving to melbourbe! good luck on your decision, can't wait till its our turn to move out! It all seems very close now 2011 has hit! :biggrin:
Guest Oz Boots Posted January 3, 2011 Posted January 3, 2011 Thanks Guys, for your help and advise. Its interesting to hear about the frequent weather changes, as when we were last in Melbourne, it was sunny, sunny, sunny! It helps to be prepared for the different tastes in food, even if they are the same brands. I won't be looking to food for my memories of home! The views on Bruswick mirror those of what I've already heard, so feel confident that it could be the right area for us. I'll be jotting down the other towns on the commuter belt though, just in case renting is too expensive. We certainly won't think about buying at this early stage - the Australian lifestyle might not suit us so we're going to play it year by year. Weemster, we'll be in touch!
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