I had a German friend come to visit Australia not all that long ago. She booked herself into accommodation in Sydney for a week, but was ready to go after the first day (she really took a dislike to the place).

But she said to me, "I guess I expected Australian cities to be like European cities."

What she meant was that you're not going to find history on every corner, or a lot of beautiful architecture, or things like that. She whizzed around on a sightseeing bus and climbed the Bridge, and she was done.

It is the same kind of situation in Perth. Nice to look at, but not all the attractions Europeans take for granted. The difference is that there isn't anywhere to escape to over there.

The only Australian city with all the big 'National' monuments, buildings, museums and galleries is Canberra.

But then surely nobody comes to Australia for the culture!!

I couldn't live in Perth, largely because I'm not all that attracted to the outdoors stuff. I don't mind it from time to time, but once I've sat on a beach for a couple of hours I've had enough. It all depends what you want out of a destination.

I agree! Im in serious danger of becoming the solo, at home drinker.......through choice and by means to cope with the place.

Don;t come to Perth if you are wanting to carry on the pub life you have been doing ever wsince you left school as thats not the way off life here.
Plenty to do just got to get out there and do it.

Do you still have petrol roster in Perth?

I agree with the earlier poster. It is a superb place for young kids. I also feel that I am on holiday every day pretty much and don't feel a desperate need to have a break.

I kind of like the small town feel because I think it's a fair trade-off for having such a calm, soothing place to bring up children. I do wish I'd have had the great lifestyle that Perth offers children when I was young.
I've also realised that if you are the type of person who is constantly criticising the place then this will rub-off on your kids.

Wherever you live I think you get bored. When I lived in the UK I was constantly bored. There are only so many times that you can look at a beautiful tree or the old church - you soon take it for granted and travelling to London or Edinburgh every weekend for something new isn't practical or affordable. We talk about access to Europe but, really, how many times a year do you do this?
When we lived in SE Asia I got bored - there are only so many times you can swim in the South China Sea and find it stunning. Only so many times you can go rainforest trekking in any one year. What do you do for the other 90% of the time?

So, ultimately you have to look at the broad picture. Where will your children be healthiest, happiest and most content in the day to day routine that is life? Let's be honest kids don't want to be whisked off at every opportunity to a different activity.(and on that front I think Perth is great - our kids still nag for AQWA and Scitech even though they've been many times - it's also brilliant for the multitude of after-school activities for kids). Kids want their parents, they want their friends, they want decent weather to play out and they want opportunities for getting out of breath. Perth provides all of this.

My eldest is approaching 10. And when I think back to when I was 10 I still don't think there's a better place to be. What do 10 year olds do that younger kids don't? And more so what do 10 year olds do that Perth can't provide? I really can't see that she'll be thinking "I'm so trapped. I'm bored". Well she might but she would also be saying that if we were in the UK or SE Asia.

I think we often perceive that things will be more interesting elsewhere - and for the first 6 months or so they might be. But ultimately we settle in to everyday life. Before you make a move to Perth, to the UK, to anywhere, ask yourself where you and your family will be most content with the everyday normality - not with the potential access to the Natural History Museum, Edinburgh Castle or Paris.

I couldnt agree more.My two are extremely happy here.I know because every now and then they tell me how lucky they are,bless.
Last year my husband quit his job as he wasnt happy there so he went to lots of interviews.I picked the kids up from school one day and to see their reaction told him that Dad was having trouble finding a new job and that he may have to go back to England.Their answer was "Dad we will miss you" Sums it up.

That's a good post I live in London and my family are forever telling me to go and visit London's museums. I sorta feel guilty im not making the most of my time here.

Isn't that the same everywhere though?

Carol

I once had a job that involved watching paint dry, in comparison to Perth it made me dizzy with excitement.

Anyone who thinks Perth is uncultured is a MORON or totally uncultured themselves. It's the Perth International Arts Festival people, and it's going on right now: http://www.perthfestival.com.au/

Last week you could have seen Fat Boy Slim, a few weeks earlier Neil Young and on Sunday I'm off to see Paul Okenfold, Basement Jaxx and N E R D.

Nine Inch Nails are playing on Monday.

The only people who find Perth boring are either people who miss the pub and soccer or extremely boring people themselves.

most people who bang on about lack of culture etc, couldn't even tell you who painted the Mona Lisa

Loads happening in Perth. Tomorrow and Saturday my wife is going to watch Cate Blanchett in a Shakespeare production. Not my idea of fun but there is no question that Blanchett is a good actress and a top Hollywood star. Michael Parkinson is also in Perth today for a Q & A event.

Agree with your description of boring people!

but ... but ... I'm dead cultured me ... yet I still miss the soccer & pub ... what does this make me???

Someone who finds Perth boring.

You haven't claimed Perth to be uncultured though, have you?

The "culture" thing doesn't really bother me much. I mean, I guarantee half the people (more?) who moved to OZ in the first place never spent their weekends reading the Spectator, visiting museums, immersing themselves in the fine-arts and watching the theatre.
But now it seems like that is what they miss?
I bet, more likely, they were spending their free time down't pub, immersed in watching Eastenders on the goggle-box, popping around to their mums for a gossip, going to car-booters, and living a mundane 9-5. (not that there is anything wrong with that if that is what you enjoy)
I have a hunch that most of the people who don't like OZ fit this profile quite well. Im also starting to notice a disturbing trend. It seems like it's the women who can't settle?