britbird

What are you lot like? All this thread was supposed to do was help the guys in the UK feel better while they wait for thier visas, which is the most awful limbo to be in.(maybe you can climb off you high horses and remember that)
Then I get these people that are so far up their own 'whatsits', that they could look at their tonsils from inside, using this forum as a sparring ring.
Why not set your own website up, so those who find these kind of comments amuzing, exactly where to look and leave the others to use this website the way it was intended to be used.
I do not like being patronised by people who clearly feel that they are 'above' everyone else. Grow up and go away!!
Britbird

2thick

What is your motivation??

guess your opinion is never biased????????
nice generalization has the sun fried your brains or have you got a carrot stuck somewhere?

sydneyrose

true
and it wasn't meant to patronise
rather a takeover of your thread for a cross the continent spar
sorry

britbird

MMMmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

california88

Hi, I will probably move to Brisbane too in the coming months. Which suburb do you live in? I have two kids. Is the humidity really bad? If you must choose 5 negative things, what are they?
thanks...

pommiesheila

Hi - we also live in Brisbane area. We're in a part called "Bayside suburbs" - which is exactly what the name suggests - a group of suburbs (all pretty nice) close to Moreton Bay (also very nice).

Humidity here is not as intense as inland - we're around 20kms from Brisbane CBD - but apparently it's at its worst in Feb/March time, so we've yet to experience it. Dotty did say that on the 30th December at 9.00 a.m. you could "stick to the wall with the humidity" - certainly wasn't like that where we are.

We've also got 2 children - they've both settled well into their new schools and made new friends.

We're still undecided as to whether we'll stay here permanently, but are enjoying the experience.

5 negative things? From a purely personal viewpoint, would have to say the following:

1. Missing long-term friends and family back in the UK
2. Schools are not as good as UK - both my children have
been allowed to coast. (mind you, there are apparently
some excellent private schools around our area, which are
a lot cheaper than private schools in UK because over here
the Govt. subsidises them a bit.
3. Shopping - poorer quality and less choice.
4. Driving standards are attrocious.
5. Low wages

There are many positives, but as you only asked for negatives, I've only given them. This is not meant to be a "negative post".

Stan J

Which suburb of Brisbane were you attracted to ?

pommiesheila

"Attracted to" is, unfortunately not how it was with us. Hubbie's family lived in Bayside Suburbs and we stayed with them for the first few weeks and just couldn't wait to get out so spent first week house-hunting in that area and found something which was OK.

It is, however, good here. Close to the bay, so you do get bay breezes, still find properties on 1.5 acres at reasonably sensible prices (although they're shooting up bigtime now local council has said they won't release any more land and its all got to be infill now).

We're only 5 minutes away from good state and private schools for the children, the crime rates are low, shopping centres (although nowhere near as good as the UK) are only 10 minutes away.

Also, it only takes us 40 minutes to reach the beaches of the Gold Coast and around 45mins/1 hour to get to the Sunshine Coast.

Brisbane CBD is around 30 minutes drive, so we're pretty handy for most things.

We are trying to build up a business, so will probably stick around here, although I do feel we should explore other areas - its a huge place and to stay in the place where we "landed" so to speak may be a mistake. We shall see.

Stan J

If things get to you head into Cleveland take the water taxi/ferry to Dunwich (a bus runs between the train and ferry) and catch the Island bus to Cylinder Beach.

Carindale is probably the biggest Shopping Mall close to you (complete with Irish theme pub)

andie

we also heading for brisbane, we did some traveling round brissy and loved it. where abouts have you settled, we cant make our mindsup. we wanna be within a range of about 20 miles to brisbane centre. Being very into fitness, do you know if there are many good bodybuilding gyms about. happy new year to you. andie.

karenvirginia

we are heading for coolangatta area, all being well, around august with the intention of buying land to build on. (alan is a builder, he will build and sell a few times before we do our own) anyone give any pros and cons of the two states - nsw and queensland, as its right on the border and certain factors could push us either way.
we will rent first as realise it may not be where we want to stay for ever but we had some experience on a holiday there and feel (hope) that it would be a good place to live.
happy new year to you all and look forward to your comments.
karen

Stan J

With the exception of Tweed Heads which hugs the border Northern NSW is quite rural with either small coastal settlements or country towns, Goldcoast Queensland is a concrete strip of motels and rental units for the length of the coast until the Broadbeach/Surfers/Southport main conurbation is reached. That strip is punctuated with places like Coolangatta and Burleigh Heads and is surrounded by estate upon estate of low rise housing.

Tweed has a cluster of large clubs (a throw back from the days when poker machines (one arm bandits) were outlawed in Queensland.

The momentum is probably in Queensland although a brand new town is taking place at Casurina Beach (South of the border), but you should anticipate having to gain Registered Builder status to do as you propose in Queensland. (Although you don't need to be a Registered Builder to be an owner builder as far as I know)

Robina is presently the limit of the Brisbane Suburban rail network.

pommiesheila

Personally, I think Coolangatta is lovely - there are some fantastic beaches around that area - Tallebudgera Creek is beautiful for children - swim with the dolphins and all that - Tweed Estuary similarly beautiful - "Twin Towns" as they call the TH/Cool. region is one of my favourite spots on the Gold Coast - personally I can't stand Surfers Paradise, but then I'm not a 20 year old surfing disco freak!

The hinterland around Coolangatta is also beautiful - have a look around Mudgeeraba, Currumbin Valley etc. Some lovely plots with fantastic views of the hills and land around 5-10kms from the sea is still very reasonable.

Can't comment on the differences between NSW and QLD, but if you're heading for the border, I suppose the main ones would be legislative - e.g. different driving regulations, licencing laws for businesses etc. Don't think you'd notice as much difference between the people than if you compared say Brisbane folk to those living in Central Sydney.

Have a look at realestate.com.au and click on the relevant suburbs for an idea of house prices.

pommiesheila

Thanks Stan - yes we've been to Carindale and its the best around, but compared with the shopping centres in Southampton it seems very tame!

Haven't tried the trip to Dunwich yet, but we do hop across to Coochiemudlo Island quite often from Vicky Point.

What's Cylinder Beach like and Dunwich generally?

karenvirginia

stan and sheila thanks for your comments.

we actually loved the clubs when we were in coolangatta, it was funny the first time we saw keno was in the twin towns and i rushed to place some numbers not knowing they were drawn every ten minutes virtually 24 hrs a day! the seagulls club even had a free bus till around 4am which is great, though our time spent there was 7 years ago. there was a great pub /bar called blue something which had great bands on most evenings, a bit studenty but good fun, all with the obligatory tab of course. not that we're alkies or anything, but we do like to socialise! i'm looking forward to barbies too.

i remember it was very pretty around currumbin, but it could have changed alot by now suppose.

surfers is somewhere we'd avoid though we visited it but felt it was ugly and could have been anywhere in the world.

does anyone know what al would need to do ref the builders registration? he has mastic asphalt as a trade and supported himself as builder/roofer for 30 years.

any replies gladly anticipated.

karen