Ballarat Private Schools (Clarendon) - we're moving (we think!?)
#1
Ballarat Private Schools (Clarendon) - we're moving (we think!?)
Hi all,
Have done a few searches and see various threads on Ballarat in general, so I won't go over old ground re weather etc., though I will say the cold would be a welcome change after the Perth summers.
Main reason for our move is schools (as always) .....becoming too much $$ for three here. Getting towards $75K p/a. It doesn't allow for getting out of Perth, which for us is what makes us appreciate it. With housing costs and school fees we can't afford to leave
Being from London I like the idea of being an hour away from Melbourne and having the proximity to Sydney and Brisbane. But husband is from the country so we fancy a more rural option.
Had never considered Ballarat until I started researching schools and saw how well Clarendon College is doing, plus it's got some history about it which appeals. We're looking for best school + affordable housing, which the Western Suburbs of Perth don't offer.
We'll go over shortly to have a scout but do need to make a fairly quick decision so where better to ask for some thoughts than here.
I know league tables don't tell the full story, but when you see a school in rural Victoria outranking all but one in WA (which is selective anyway) it makes you evaluate the affordability.
Not sure if there's a real question in this thread, but I suppose I'm keen on any thoughts on top schools in Vic that also have affordable housing.
Thanks in advance
Have done a few searches and see various threads on Ballarat in general, so I won't go over old ground re weather etc., though I will say the cold would be a welcome change after the Perth summers.
Main reason for our move is schools (as always) .....becoming too much $$ for three here. Getting towards $75K p/a. It doesn't allow for getting out of Perth, which for us is what makes us appreciate it. With housing costs and school fees we can't afford to leave
Being from London I like the idea of being an hour away from Melbourne and having the proximity to Sydney and Brisbane. But husband is from the country so we fancy a more rural option.
Had never considered Ballarat until I started researching schools and saw how well Clarendon College is doing, plus it's got some history about it which appeals. We're looking for best school + affordable housing, which the Western Suburbs of Perth don't offer.
We'll go over shortly to have a scout but do need to make a fairly quick decision so where better to ask for some thoughts than here.
I know league tables don't tell the full story, but when you see a school in rural Victoria outranking all but one in WA (which is selective anyway) it makes you evaluate the affordability.
Not sure if there's a real question in this thread, but I suppose I'm keen on any thoughts on top schools in Vic that also have affordable housing.
Thanks in advance
Last edited by Cosmo Knott; Jul 31st 2015 at 1:59 am.
#2
Victorian Evangelist
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Melbourne, by the beach, living the dream.
Posts: 7,704
Re: Ballarat Private Schools (Clarendon) - we're moving (we think!?)
Hi all,
Have done a few searches and see various threads on Ballarat in general, so I won't go over old ground re weather etc., though I will say the cold would be a welcome change after the Perth summers.
Main reason for our move is schools (as always) .....becoming too much $$ for three here. Getting towards $75K p/a. It doesn't allow for getting out of Perth, which for us is what makes us appreciate it. With housing costs and school fees we can't afford to leave
Being from London I like the idea of being an hour away from Melbourne and having the proximity to Sydney and Brisbane. But husband is from the country so we fancy a more rural option.
Had never considered Ballarat until I started researching schools and saw how well Clarendon College is doing, plus it's got some history about it which appeals. We're looking for best school + affordable housing, which the Western Suburbs of Perth don't offer.
We'll go over shortly to have a scout but do need to make a fairly quick decision so where better to ask for some thoughts than here.
I know league tables don't tell the full story, but when you see a school in rural Victoria outranking all but one in WA (which is selective anyway) it makes you evaluate the affordability.
Not sure if there's a real question in this thread, but I suppose I'm keen on any thoughts on top schools in Vic that also have affordable housing.
Thanks in advance
Have done a few searches and see various threads on Ballarat in general, so I won't go over old ground re weather etc., though I will say the cold would be a welcome change after the Perth summers.
Main reason for our move is schools (as always) .....becoming too much $$ for three here. Getting towards $75K p/a. It doesn't allow for getting out of Perth, which for us is what makes us appreciate it. With housing costs and school fees we can't afford to leave
Being from London I like the idea of being an hour away from Melbourne and having the proximity to Sydney and Brisbane. But husband is from the country so we fancy a more rural option.
Had never considered Ballarat until I started researching schools and saw how well Clarendon College is doing, plus it's got some history about it which appeals. We're looking for best school + affordable housing, which the Western Suburbs of Perth don't offer.
We'll go over shortly to have a scout but do need to make a fairly quick decision so where better to ask for some thoughts than here.
I know league tables don't tell the full story, but when you see a school in rural Victoria outranking all but one in WA (which is selective anyway) it makes you evaluate the affordability.
Not sure if there's a real question in this thread, but I suppose I'm keen on any thoughts on top schools in Vic that also have affordable housing.
Thanks in advance
You are proposing moving to Ballarat because the private schools are better than in Perth?
You are spending $75k/year on private schooling but you want somewhere with affordable housing?
Have you thought of moving somewhere where the housing is more expensive but the public schools are better? They may even be better than private schools in Ballarat? $75k/year mortgage buys a very nice area with fantastic public schools.
BB
#3
Re: Ballarat Private Schools (Clarendon) - we're moving (we think!?)
How funny. I was looking for a thread on boarding schools and stumbled across this one. We moved to a nice area with expensive housing in country WA and I still don't think the local public school comes near to the private ones. Didn't like the fact that private schools are so religious and are non selective. $75K. Pah! Seriously considering boarding school in the UK and kissing goodbye to $65K for each child. I have 4. Then I have to ask what am I doing here........
Hi
You are proposing moving to Ballarat because the private schools are better than in Perth?
You are spending $75k/year on private schooling but you want somewhere with affordable housing?
Have you thought of moving somewhere where the housing is more expensive but the public schools are better? They may even be better than private schools in Ballarat? $75k/year mortgage buys a very nice area with fantastic public schools.
BB
You are proposing moving to Ballarat because the private schools are better than in Perth?
You are spending $75k/year on private schooling but you want somewhere with affordable housing?
Have you thought of moving somewhere where the housing is more expensive but the public schools are better? They may even be better than private schools in Ballarat? $75k/year mortgage buys a very nice area with fantastic public schools.
BB
#4
Re: Ballarat Private Schools (Clarendon) - we're moving (we think!?)
FWIW, friends of ours were living in Melbourne and their son was attending a well known private school. He is a highly intelligent boy but a bit 'geeky' as well as sporty but he wasn't very happy in this school. They moved to Ballarat a year ago (father is a GP so work was readily available) and the boy started attending Clarendon College. They bought a hobby farm out Learmonth way and last time we saw them a few months ago they said the boy is 'absolutely thriving at Clarendon College' and is a very happy chappy. They couldn't speak more highly of the school.
We had 5 very happy years in Bendigo and much of what we enjoyed there applies also to Ballarat (both being former gold mining towns). Here's a Ballarat piccie (a successful Scottish miner paid to have a large statue of William Wallace erected in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens - conservatory in the background where they hold the renowed Ballarat Begonia Festival).
We had 5 very happy years in Bendigo and much of what we enjoyed there applies also to Ballarat (both being former gold mining towns). Here's a Ballarat piccie (a successful Scottish miner paid to have a large statue of William Wallace erected in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens - conservatory in the background where they hold the renowed Ballarat Begonia Festival).
#5
Re: Ballarat Private Schools (Clarendon) - we're moving (we think!?)
Hi
You are proposing moving to Ballarat because the private schools are better than in Perth?
You are spending $75k/year on private schooling but you want somewhere with affordable housing?
Have you thought of moving somewhere where the housing is more expensive but the public schools are better? They may even be better than private schools in Ballarat? $75k/year mortgage buys a very nice area with fantastic public schools.
BB
You are proposing moving to Ballarat because the private schools are better than in Perth?
You are spending $75k/year on private schooling but you want somewhere with affordable housing?
Have you thought of moving somewhere where the housing is more expensive but the public schools are better? They may even be better than private schools in Ballarat? $75k/year mortgage buys a very nice area with fantastic public schools.
BB
#6
Re: Ballarat Private Schools (Clarendon) - we're moving (we think!?)
How funny. I was looking for a thread on boarding schools and stumbled across this one. We moved to a nice area with expensive housing in country WA and I still don't think the local public school comes near to the private ones. Didn't like the fact that private schools are so religious and are non selective. $75K. Pah! Seriously considering boarding school in the UK and kissing goodbye to $65K for each child. I have 4. Then I have to ask what am I doing here........
In Perth metro 2000 more houses for sale than this time last year
#7
Re: Ballarat Private Schools (Clarendon) - we're moving (we think!?)
FWIW, friends of ours were living in Melbourne and their son was attending a well known private school. He is a highly intelligent boy but a bit 'geeky' as well as sporty but he wasn't very happy in this school. They moved to Ballarat a year ago (father is a GP so work was readily available) and the boy started attending Clarendon College. They bought a hobby farm out Learmonth way and last time we saw them a few months ago they said the boy is 'absolutely thriving at Clarendon College' and is a very happy chappy. They couldn't speak more highly of the school.
We had 5 very happy years in Bendigo and much of what we enjoyed there applies also to Ballarat (both being former gold mining towns). Here's a Ballarat piccie (a successful Scottish miner paid to have a large statue of William Wallace erected in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens - conservatory in the background where they hold the renowed Ballarat Begonia Festival).
http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...pswf3q6lxe.jpg
We had 5 very happy years in Bendigo and much of what we enjoyed there applies also to Ballarat (both being former gold mining towns). Here's a Ballarat piccie (a successful Scottish miner paid to have a large statue of William Wallace erected in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens - conservatory in the background where they hold the renowed Ballarat Begonia Festival).
http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...pswf3q6lxe.jpg
#8
Re: Ballarat Private Schools (Clarendon) - we're moving (we think!?)
Never understood the British system of selecting children on the basis of one exam
Last edited by Amazulu; Aug 1st 2015 at 2:36 am.
#9
Re: Ballarat Private Schools (Clarendon) - we're moving (we think!?)
Thank you for your response
#10
Re: Ballarat Private Schools (Clarendon) - we're moving (we think!?)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catego...bs_of_Ballarat
#11
Re: Ballarat Private Schools (Clarendon) - we're moving (we think!?)
Thanks, if you wish to be near the College and want the best location in Ballarat then look no further than on or near Lake Wendouree with the best and most expensive being Wendouree itself. We are not talking Melbourne or Perth prices for very good property though! Good luck.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catego...bs_of_Ballarat
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catego...bs_of_Ballarat
#12
Re: Ballarat Private Schools (Clarendon) - we're moving (we think!?)
Good luck. Out of interest I just did a Google on 'Wendouree property for sale' and a lot came up in Wendouree and adjoining suburbs. There's some serious real estate on and near the lake and some for a more modest budget. You'll notice how busy the road around the lake is/can get, especially in warmer weather so maybe a house in a leafy, quiet street near the lake but with water views might be suitable?
#13
Victorian Evangelist
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Melbourne, by the beach, living the dream.
Posts: 7,704
Re: Ballarat Private Schools (Clarendon) - we're moving (we think!?)
BB
#14
Re: Ballarat Private Schools (Clarendon) - we're moving (we think!?)
Ballarat is good if you can find work. The weather always befuddles me - very cold, very hot and not when you expect it to be either.
Some of my husband's relatives sent their kids to Clarendon and were very happy, others sent theirs to Grammar and were very happy with that too. If they're rowers they'll enjoy it (assume Wendouree is full now?!)
Nowhere is far from anywhere in Ballarat really so it all depends if leafy old or new builds or acreage float your boat. It's one of those mixed places - half and half bogan/moneyed. The kids probably won't stay in town once they've done with school, it's not that brilliant for young adults, they tend to drift into the big smoke.
Some of my husband's relatives sent their kids to Clarendon and were very happy, others sent theirs to Grammar and were very happy with that too. If they're rowers they'll enjoy it (assume Wendouree is full now?!)
Nowhere is far from anywhere in Ballarat really so it all depends if leafy old or new builds or acreage float your boat. It's one of those mixed places - half and half bogan/moneyed. The kids probably won't stay in town once they've done with school, it's not that brilliant for young adults, they tend to drift into the big smoke.
#15
Re: Ballarat Private Schools (Clarendon) - we're moving (we think!?)
Good luck. Out of interest I just did a Google on 'Wendouree property for sale' and a lot came up in Wendouree and adjoining suburbs. There's some serious real estate on and near the lake and some for a more modest budget. You'll notice how busy the road around the lake is/can get, especially in warmer weather so maybe a house in a leafy, quiet street near the lake but with water views might be suitable?