Discovery

Well 13 people murdered in the Territory last year. This is probably less than the number of people murdered in some other states in a month. To be honest the rate per capital figure is not really of any help to those who have victims of crime. It is a fact that in absolute terms there is more homicide in the other state capitals.

asprilla

You've convinced me. Lets all move to Darwin, its safer up there....less murders.

ShawnMcCrea

Your joking about fatal stabbings occuring once a day in any city in AUS right? There wasn't even 365 Murders In the ENTIRE COUNTRY in 2007, almost half of that. Detroit with a population of approx 1 million has over 400 murders some years. The whole damn country of Australia has less than 1 city in the States and your actually thinking someone gets murdered once a day in any city in AUS?

As ive stated before Australia is not bad at all in terms of crime and number of murders.

That is 1 of the last things I would be worried about moving to Aus personally. Not sure why people even discuss it very often?

Perthine

If you have lots of money, Singapore is not cheap

Perthine

The look of Darwin? What look

Lord_Farquar

Really? When did you last go to Singapore?

Just returned from a shopping trip! It was incredibly cheap. I got a nice pair of leather work shoes for $50 AU!

Much better than the poor quality, rip off shopping in Sydney.

mohogony

Some people like it but l would'nt want to live there, l think theres much better places in OZ to live.

Lord_Farquar

Don't you live in Canberra?

mohogony

No l don't live in Canberra.

oldandbold

I arrived oct 2008 and wife and son in feb 2009.
Weather:-
Hot and humid in the wet season, but you do start to get used to it.
Last year had the air con on most of the wet season, this year the lounge for about 4 hours in the evening and the bedroom ones on for a couple of hours when going to bed.In the dry dont have it on at all.
Most days don't tend to notice, only thinking about it when I hear someone from down south commenting on the humidity.
Dry season absolutely georgous, although the down side is the pool is a bit too cold for me then.
All depends on the individual, I wouldnt much like some of the 40 degree days recently seen in other places!

Crime/broken jaws/murder:-
I believe most of those murder statistics relate to crimes in aboriginal communities. Broken jaws relate to people who have drunk quite a lot. Most of the violence seems to relate to either remote communities or leaving night clubs/pubs at 4.00am in mitchel street in the CBD.Personally I havnt seen any violence/crime but then I am a bit old for the early morning clubbing!!

Employment:-
Plenty of job adds in the paper and internet. People will say there is not many job adds for a _______ but then in a city with only 120.000 ish people the amount of jobs will be less but unemployment is very low.

Prices:-
Shops more expensive than other cities (maybe in the order of 20%) but you need to look around.Just picked up 3 steaks for $6.00 which I thought was pretty good. Petrol more expensive, just been out and the local garage $1.32 at coles and $1.26 at woolies per litre.
Power and water prob more expensive, last bill $630 for the 3 months but on the other hand a friend of mine was $1900 (I think his air con is on all the time).

Biggest down side is the price of housing, have a look at realestate.com.au .
Darwin and northern suberbs in particular but houses in palmerston which is 20km or so down the road is much cheaper. Renting also expensive, I pay $625 per week for an old 3 bed elevated in the northern suberbs although it does have a massive pool.There are cheaper ones near me but I was in a bit of a rush to get things sorted before the rest of the familly arrived.

The locals are mostly friendly and very laid back. We love living in the tropics, even though occassionly it can be a little challenging with the humidity and even my son (an awkward 12 year old) has settled down. We have no regrets (and we did have some aprehension before arriving mostly due to starting this in our mid forties). I dont know if we will still be living in Darwin in 20 years time but at this stage have no plans to move.

Old.

mohogony

Tasmania has the lowest crime rate in OZ, if l was going to live somewhwere a bit remote l'd choose Tasmania nice cool climate , nice green countryside and probably the best scenery in OZ.

Lord_Farquar

Tasmania is beautiful e.g. places like Freycinet and Cradle Mountain. But Darwin has Kakadu, Litchfield National Park (which are arguably some of the most spectacular places in Aus) all within easy reach.

stevenglish

i got no idea what Darwin is like, although we'll find out later in the year when we do the Ghan.

Gotta admit my first reaction to the thread title was 'old dead bloke with a white beard' burt had to post something remotely sensible too.

Amazulu

I no longer buy clothes in Australia - maybe a few things at a surf or outdoor shop like Kathmandu. I buy all my clothes on our twice annual trips to Singapore ($300 or less return on Tiger) or KL.

I think Singapore is expensive for drinking and eating though - apart from hawker markets. Quality hotels can be expensive there too.

Lord_Farquar

I stayed at the Fullerton! Certainly beats Best Western!

Hawker market $3 for a laksa. $4 for a beer. I am happy.